MSU Track Adds National Merit Finalist Simpkins To Signees
Simpkins will work closely with assistant coach Houston Franks, whooversees men's distance events.
"We are very excited to sign Daniel Simpkins to run both cross countryand track for us, Franks said. Daniel has won several cross countryand track and field state championships over the last few years. It isvery important to us at Mississippi State to try to keep the best kidsin Mississippi here at "home", so signing Daniel was very important tous. Daniel is not only a great athlete, but a great student as well. He will represent our university and our track and field programwonderfully both on the track and in the classroom.
Simpkins recently won the Boys' High School Division of the MississippiPremier Mile Championships in Hattiesburg, running 4:29. He alsocaptured his third state championship in the 1600-meter run, hissecond in the 800-meter run and first in the 3200-meter run. He wasalso a state cross country champion the past two seasons and was namedto the Footlocker all-South team for his age group. He is a five-timeall-District and all-State selection in cross country and a three-timeselection in track. His personal times include 2:00 in the 800, 4:28in the 1600 and 9:46 in the 3200. His best time in the 5K cross countryrun is 15:46.
I'm really excited to be coming to MSU, Simpkins said. It's a goodopportunity to expand my winning career. I'll be running and trainingwith some good guys. I'm hoping for the best.
At MCHS, Simpkins is a member of the Government Club, Mu Alpha Theta,Thespians and the Academic Decathlon team. He is a national meritfinalist, ranks 12th in his class and was a state finalist for theWendy's High School Heisman award. He was Mississippi's PopStar awardwinner for boys' cross country.
Simpkins is the son of Mary Ann and Monty Simpkins and plans to majorin electrical engineering. His mother is a MSU graduate and was acheerleader at the university.