Close, Cook join MSSU track and field team

Missouri Southern women's track and field coach Patty Vavra has announced the addition of Seneca High School standouts Alexandra (Alex) Close and Tia Cook to her list of recruits for the 2008 track season. Both will attend Southern and participate in track and field beginning in the spring of 2009.

Close, a 5-9 sprinter, holds four different Seneca HS school records, including the 400m, and was part of record setting 400m, 800m and mile relay teams. A three-year letter winner for coach John Wydick, Close was a state qualifier the past two years and was a four time Big 8 Conference champion.

Close was also a four-year letter winner in both Volleyball and Basketball at Seneca. She was a two-time All-District selection in Volleyball and was an All-Academic selection in each sport. The daughter of Phillip and JoHanna Close, Alex plans on majoring in Business at Southern.

Cook is a 5-6 sprinter that holds the SHS school records in the 100m and 200m dash, as well as being part of the record setting 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams. She was the conference champion in the 100m dash in 2006, while being part of three conference championships in the 4x200m relay in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Cook was also on the conference champion 4x100m relay teams the past two seasons.

Also a letter winner in both basketball and volleyball at SHS, Cook was a four year starter at point guard for the Indians. The daughter of Bruce and Cathy Cook, Tia is undecided on her future major at Southern.