Former Missouri Southern track and field National Champion Tongula (Givens) Steddum will be inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Wednesday night as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Angelo State University.

Steddum, will be the first athlete from MSSU to earn the coaches association’s highest honor. Steddum is a member of the Southern Hall of Fame (2004), and as a 14-time All-American, Steddum is the school record holder in the outdoor triple jump (42-05.50), the indoor triple jump (40-07.00) as well as the outdoor long jump (20-00.50) and the indoor long jump (19-00.75).

She won the national championship in the outdoor triple jump in 1994 and took the indoor triple title the next season in 1995. She was also the runner up in the outdoor triple and long jump in 1995.