June 10, 2003

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior Shelton Scott of Southeast Missouri State University will be jumping for a top eight finish in both the long and triple jumps at the NCAA finals in Sacramento, Calif.

The long jump preliminaries will be at 2:30 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday with the triple jump prelims at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. The long jump finals will be at 4:45 p.m. Friday with the long jump finals at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

The top eight in each event score in the meet and earn All-America honors.

Scott enters the long jump ranked 17th out of 27 entries with a qualifying jump of 25-feet 6 ¼ inches. He is ranked 18th out of 28 in the triple jump finals with a qualifying jump of 52-2.

"Scott is capable of placing in both events, he just has to hit the board and get some big jumps," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "He had a bruised heel that bothered him in the triple jump at the NCAA Regional, but the injury is much improved going into the NCAA finals. I know he is excited about jumping in the finals."

A former Missouri state champion in the triple jump for Fulton High School, Scott is the only Ohio Valley Conference athlete qualified for the NCAA finals. He won a total of seven OVC championships at Southeast.

Scott, who flew to California on Monday, will be participating in his first NCAA national finals.