NATIONAL CHAMPIONS RECEIVE AWARD

   The 2006 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Women’s National Championship teams in National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II are being honored by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. 

   The teams are receiving the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Award for their championship performances in a formal Enshrinement reception that begins at 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 11 in the University Plaza Convention Center (Springfield, Mo.).  During the ceremony, a plaque will be presented to the 2006 National Championship Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams from Lincoln University.  Head coach Victor Thomas and assistant coach Ailene Smith will be in attendance to accept the award for the Blue Tiger teams.  A banquet is to follow the ceremony. 

   The festivities begin with a reception that starts at 12:00 p.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mo.).

      In winning the 2006 Indoor Track and Field Championship, the Blue Tigers produced 87 points.  It is the third highest point total in the history of the NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

   Earning the 2006 Outdoor Track and Field Championship was a testament to the Blue Tigers will to win.  The Blue Tigers entered the final round of competition (May 26) at Francis G. Welch Stadium on Zola Witten Track at Emporia (Kan.) State University in a three-way tie for 25th in the standings with four points.  The Blue Tigers left the Sunflower State with 93 points and the 2006 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championship.  The team overcame injuries to four of their 11 student-athletes competing for the championship to become the second university to win four straight outdoor championships.

   Being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame are 15 individuals from a broad spectrum of sports backgrounds.  The record-breaking era (1941-48) of football teams from Missouri Valley College (Marshall, Mo.) are also being installed into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.  The 2007 John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award recipient (Hillyard Inc.) will also be recognized during the ceremony.  The presenting sponsor of the annual event is The Killian Group.

   The master of ceremonies for the event is President and Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Jerald L. Andrews.

   The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has selected these 15 individuals for induction in the class of 2007; Lou Adamie, Erma “Bergie” Bergmann, Mark Curp, Jim Eisenreich, Walt Jocketty, Pat Leahy, Gene McArtor, Curtis McClinton, Doug Potts, Jay Randolph Sr., Brian Reynolds, Bill Ross, Russ Sloan, Bruce Sutter and Ron Zetcher.

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