February 2016 – Health and Exercise Sciences

Exercise Science Alum Runs in Second Olympic Marathon Trial

Posted on February 19, 2016

Danna Kelly Herrick just ran in her second Olympic Marathon Trial and sent us this update.

“I am proud to be a Bulldog and feel honored to have had the opportunities while at Truman State University in academics (Exercise Science major, Spanish minor), athletics (2-time All-American in Cross Country and Track and Field, school record holder in the 3000 meter steeplechase), and extra-curricular activities (Cardinal Key service organization, Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Following graduation from Truman State University (2009) I went on to earn my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University (Des Moines, Iowa) in 2012. I continued competitive running on the roads while in physical therapy school, qualifying for the Olympic Trials Marathon in 2012. I began working in the outpatient orthopedic setting for Rock Valley Physical Therapy following my schooling and continue work part-time, currently. I trained and raced Ironman Wisconsin with my husband (Justin) in 2014, where we both qualified for and raced in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in the fall of 2015. I recently competed in the Olympic Trials Marathon for the second time in Los Angeles. It has been such a fun and exiting journey through work, competitive triathlon and marathon, and life in the ‘real world’ since leaving Kirksville. I often reflect on my opportunities and special experiences during my time at Truman and feel very blessed to have had the encouragement and support to push beyond myself. I am so thankful for the relationships I formed and the memories I made as a bulldog, as these helped shape who I am today and what I continue to strive to become as I journey onward.”

Former Student Update: Lee Anne Flagg

Posted on February 12, 2016February 18, 2016

Lee Anne Flagg, ( BS, Exercise Science, ’09), recently graduated from UAB with a PhD in Medical Sociology.

She contacted us to update everyone on her current activities:

“I will be starting February 22nd as an Associate Service Fellow in the Mortality Statistics Branch within the Division of Vital Statistics at the National Center for Health Statistics. My primary responsibility will be monitoring the quality of mortality data, especially cause of death. This branch also publishes on infant mortality so I think it will be a great fit (my thesis and dissertation projects were on exercise during pregnancy)! Thank you all for your support throughout the years! My studies in Health and Exercise Science at Truman, especially Research Methods and Statistics, were a great foundation for graduate school and they will continue to serve me well in my new position.”

Club Basketball Team Provides Aid at Crash

Posted on February 2, 2016

The bonds that come from hours spent together at practice and playing alongside one another in games proved to be beneficial for members of the women’s club basketball team when they encountered a potentially tragic accident.

In November, while en route to a tournament in Milwaukee, Wis., five members of the team witnessed an automobile accident on Highway 63, just north of the Missouri-Iowa border. A deer jumped in front of an oncoming vehicle, shattering the windshield and causing the car to swerve before the driver was able to bring it to a stop on the side of the road.

“We all saw the deer hit the car and it instantly looked like a situation that could have caused massive injuries to the passengers in the car,” Rachel Meinert said. “It was just our human nature to stop and make sure that the people in the car were OK. We never even considered not stopping.”

While the club basketball team typically caravans to tournaments, this was the only car making the trip that witnessed the accident. As luck would have it, four of the five team members had first aid and/or CPR training.

To see the rest of this article from Truman Today please visit http://newsletter.truman.edu/article.asp?id=13094