MELINDA SALLINS
Track, 1992-96
Inducted February 15, 2003

Melinda Sallins was one of the top track and field athletes in SMS history as she turned in an outstanding career as a hurdler for the Bears of coach Jeff Berryessa. A native of North Miami Beach, Fla., Sallins finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1995 and eighth in the same event in the 1996 NCAA meet to earn all-America honors both years. She earned all-conference honors in indoor track (1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995) and outdoor track (1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996) four times each. She still holds the SMS and Missouri Valley Conference indoor records in the 55-meter hurdles (7.92 seconds) and the school and league outdoor records in both the 100-meter hurdles (13.50 seconds) and the 400-meter hurdles (56.64 seconds) as well as the Plaster Sports Complex records in the 400-meter hurdles (57.71 seconds) and the 400-meter dash (54.23 seconds). She won five individual conference titles during her career and she was a two-time MVC Outdoor Championship Most Valuable Athlete. Sallins was also selected the SMS Outstanding Female Athlete in both 1995 and 1996. She participated in the U. S. Olympic Trials in 1996 and 2000 and continues to run in international competition, having been ranked in the top 50 in the world and top 10 in the United States in the 400-meter hurdles.