Robert Simmons

Robert Simmons (Sr., Fort Bend Hightower, TX), one of the last remaining national ranked sprinters available on the recruiting circuit, officially signed with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Monday. Simmons, who's been one of the top rated sprinters nationally for the past two seasons, ran 46.40 for 400m last summer at the Pan-Am Junior Championships in Brazil, marking him as the top returnee at 400m heading into the '08 season. (Photo to left of Robert Simmons, from TXRunning.com).

The indoor season pretty much wrapped up this weekend, while outdoors continued to press forward, creating numerous national highlights. In this week's Monday News & Notes, we discuss the growing rivalry between Rachel Laurent (LA) and Shade Weygandt (TX) in the girls pole vault, a great 3200m race between Foot Locker finalists Evan Appel (CO) and Bobby Nicolls (CO) (pictured to left by Beth O'Neill) and a few more tidbits.   News & Notes Highlights - Laurent (LA) v. Weygandt (TX) pole vault rivalry continues - Foot Locker finalists Appel (CO) v. Nicolls (CO) at 3200m in CO - Pennsylvania & Texas weekend wrap-ups - Preview of the exciting week ahead