Today is day five of the Southern Conference’s 10-day preview leading up to the induction ceremony on May 4 of the inaugural 10 inductees in the 2009 SoCon Hall of Fame class. The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. (EDT) at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, S.C., where the conference office is located.
Today’s highlighted inductee is Appalachian State track and field athlete Melissa Morrison Howard.
Melissa Morrison Howard
Appalachian State University
Track and Field
1989-1993
Morrison Howard was twice named All-American and helped the Mountaineers earn eight SoCon championships during her four years in Boone, N.C. A three-time NCAA qualifier, she won 17 individual conference championships and was named the SoCon Indoor Track Championships Most Outstanding Performer in 1992 and 1993 and also garnered the Most Outstanding Performer honors at the Outdoor Track Championships in 1992 and 1993. Morrison Howard captured two Olympic bronze medals (2000, 2004) in the 100m hurdles.
- Captured 17 individual SoCon championships in six different events during four-year track career at Appalachian State
- All-American in 55-meter and 100-meter hurdles, 1993
- Voted Most Valuable Performer at both indoor and outdoor conference meets, 1992 and 1993
- Earned bronze medals in 100-meter hurdles, 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2004 in Athens
- Four-time U.S. indoor 60-meter hurdles champion
Tickets for the event are available through the Chapman Center ticket office at 864-542-2787 or visiting the Chapman Cultural Center website.