December 1, 2003

Three Join Track

Lopers Add Talented Trio

      Kearney, NE – Nebraska-Kearney head track and field coach Andy Meyer announced today that Chris Campbell (Beatrice), Shayna Fruit (Ogallala) and Brett Shipp (DeWitt/Tri-County H.S.) have signed national letters of intent to join the Lopers next season. These are the team’s first recruits of the season.

      Campbell is currently one of the top throwers in Nebraska and hopes to follow in the long line of great Loper throwers. This past spring, he placed sixth in the shot put (52-9) at the  Class B state meet.

      “Chris will be a nice addition to an already strong group of throwers. As one of the top returning shot putters in Nebraska, Chris has a lot of overall athletic ability,” Meyer said. “Not only has he been successful as a shot putter but really has the tools to become a good discus thrower. We are excited to have Chris joining our team.”

      With UNK having several senior jumpers and sprinters this year, Shipp will help fill that void next season. He helped Tri-County win the 2003 Class C state title as he was third in the triple jump (43-10.25) and fifth in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles (40.74). 

      “We’re very excited about the potential Brett brings to UNK. He is a proven jumper and sprinter that will restore depth to a team that is graduating a few seniors in his areas,” Meyer said. “We think he will help maintain UNK’s high level of performance in the triple and long jumps and also enhance a very young and talented hurdle group, both at 110 high hurdles and the 400 intermediate hurdles.”

      At the 2003 Class B state meet, Fruit placed third in the high jump with a leap of 5-4. 

      “We are very encouraged to have Shayna join us next year. She will add a high level of competition that we are looking for in the high jump. Shayna is a sound student-athlete that takes both athletics and academics very seriously,” Meyer said.

      UNK will hold its annual intrasquad meet December 12^th (Friday) and then begin the regular season the weekend of January 17^th.