Missouri State University

Seven Missouri State track and field student-athletes earned all-conference honors at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship held March 1-2, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Juniors Asher Kyger and Jamie Vestal, sophomores Leander Ernest, Yaneika Malcolm and Cortenee Boulard and freshmen Emily Fletcher and Jacqui Lindsey each finished in the top-three of their events at the conference meet to receive All-MVC recognition.

Ernest, a native from Castries, St. Lucia, received indoor All-MVC recognition in the 800m, distance-medley relay and the 4x400-meter relay. She took first-place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.88, beating her nearest competitor by more than a second. Ernest ran the third-leg of the Bears’ distance-medley relay that won the conference title in a record time of 11:43.16. She also ran on MSU’s 4x400-meter relay squad that finished third at the MVC meet.

An Oldfield, Mo. native, Kyger earned All-MVC honors in the mile run and distance-medley relay at the conference’s indoor meet. She claimed first-place in the mile with a personal-best time of 4:54.77. Kyger was also the anchor-leg of the record-setting distance-medley relay.

Vestal took third in the 5,000 meter run at the MVC Indoor Championship with a time of 17:37.59, to earn all-conference honors.

Malcolm picked up all-conference recognition as she helped bring home a first-place finish in the distance-medley relay and a third-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay at the MVC Indoor Championships. Malcolm ran the second leg of the distance medley relay and the first leg of the 4x400-meter relay.

Fletcher, a freshman from Fort Dodge, Iowa, ran the first-leg of the Bears’ distance medley relay team that won the MVC title, earning All-MVC honors.

Lindsey and Boulard earned MVC All-Conference running the second and third-legs of the 4x400-meter relay team.

Missouri State ended the 2008 indoor season with a sixth-place finish at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship meet. The Bears will open up the outdoor season March 28-29, when they travel to Columbia, Mo. to compete in the Missouri Relays.