Missouri State University

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SPRINGFIELD - The track and field Bears are picked to finish fifth at this weekend's 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa, by the pre-championships' coaches poll.

The three-day meet, May 13-15, will give the Bears a chance to improve on their sixth-place showing last season, when they finished out of the top four for only the second time in Director of Track and Field/ Cross Country Ronald Boyce's 14 seasons.

The Bears are led by Kimsue Grant (So., Arlington, Va.) and the rest of the triple jump group. Grant has the top mark in The Valley at 41-06.00 feet and is well on her way two a second straight NCAA Preliminary Round appearance.

Jordan Bond (So., Normal, Ill.) and Ahshane Johnson (Fr., Moberly, Mo.) team with Grant to give the Bears three of the top four triple jumpers in the conference. Bond is currently third at 40-09.50 feet, while Johnson is fourth at 38-11.75.

At the 2011 Indoor Championships, the triple jump event produced 17 of the Bears 44-point total.

The Wichita State Shockers are the favorites, receiving seven first-place votes and 63 points. They look to end the two-year reign of Southern Illinois, who was picked second.

The meet will begin Friday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m. with the start of the Decathlon. The first day will be heavy on throws, but only feature two running events.  Saturday will continue the action with a variety of preliminary and finals rounds. Sunday begins at 11 a.m., with the last event scheduled for 4:05 p.m.