Lambert signs with Southeast

SIKESTON -- Sikeston multi-sport standout Andrew Lambert signed a letter of intent to compete on Southeast Missouri State's track and field team.

This year Lambert took fourth place at the state meet in both the long and triple jumps, but the high jump is his strongest event.

His personal best of 6-9 fell just one inch shy of the school record.

"I'm definitely going to miss football, but I'm excited to go on to the next level in track," said Lambert. "I will specialize in high jump, but I would like to continue to practice both the long and triple jump. Hopefully I will get to compete in those events a few years down the road."

Lambert only competed in track as a junior and senior, where he played a key role in Sikeston winning two district championships.

"He became one of the best jumpers in our area in all three events -- long jump, triple jump and high jump," said Sikeston track coach Jerry Dement. "He contributed a lot to our team's success. I think he's just starting to realize the potential he has as a track athlete. Now that he's concentrating on just one sport year-round, good things are yet to come."

Lambert's jump this year at the SEMO Conference meet would have been good enough to win the Ohio Valley Conference, which took place on the same day.

"That will probably be my main goal this upcoming season," said Lambert. "I would like to compete well in the conference meet and hopefully pull out first place."

In football, Lambert was an all-state kicker and made the all-region team as a defensive back.

"I think he had a very nice high school career for us in track and field and in football," said Dement. "He's just a good all-around athlete. He's got a good work ethic, and of course he has some ability. He was able to utilize the talent he had to achieve quite a bit."