Track and Field Fairs Well At First Annual Missouri Relays
4/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
April 2, 2000
The University of Missouri men's and women's track ad field teams brought their talents to Columbia on Saturday, April 1 as MU hosted the first annual Missouri Relays at the Audrey J. Walton Track-Soccer Complex. On Friday 45 high schools from the state of Missouri showcased their talents in the preliminary session. Saturday's meet consisted of the collegiate portion as well as the finals from Friday's meet and 10 high school invitational events.
Saturday was a day that featured the throwers and distance runners for MU. Five Tigers came away with individual wins while several athletes placed in the top-3. The Black and Gold throwers won three events, sweeping two, while the distance runners claimed two titles.
For the Tigers, the day began at sunrise with the hammer throw and ended in the discus ring at sunset. Russ Bell and Micah Shanks started the day off placing third (179) and fourth (174-6) overall in the hammer throw. Senior captain Heather White made her first home appearance in over a year finishing second (167-11) overall in the hammer. Fellow hurler Brooke Ennen turned a personal best throw of 148-11 placing fourth in the event.
The highlight of the day for MU was the shot put and discus. Mizzou swept the top three places in the men's shot put marking Mizzou's first 1-2-3 finish of the 2000 outdoor season. Leading the charge was Christian Cantwell. The freshman posted the best throw with a heave of 60 feet. Fellow freshman standout Russ Bell claimed the No. 2 spot with a new personal best throw of 56-7 ?. Junior Micah Shanks turned in a third place performance with a throw of 53-0.
On the final event on the women's side, Mizzou posted its second 1-2-3 finish. Heather White continued to leave her mark on the field winning in the discus with a throw of 136 feet, 6 inches. MU's Brooke Ennen and Carla Grewe finished second and third overall.
Kent Shelton opened up at home in style. The senior won the pole vault with a jump of 15 feet, 1 inch. It was his best leap of the outdoor season. His jump was also a Missouri Relays record. Freshman Knut Harold Sommerfeldt turned in a third place jump of 14-1 ?.
Sommerfeldt was not done after the pole vault, however. The multi-event specialist went on to finish second in the javelin with his best mark as a Tiger, 192 feet, 10 inches. Former Tiger All-American Darin File was victorious in the event with a toss of 212-3. Senior Dan McCollum also cam in fourth in the javelin, 177-9.
In the running events, Ann Marie Brooks claimed the women's 1500m run while Katie Meyer claimed the 3000m run. Brooks's time in the 1500m, 4:33.90 was also a Missouri Relays record as was Meyer's 10:09.01 in the 3000m.
The only relay to finish in the top three was the women's 4x100m relay. The team of Ada Ibe, Christina Page, Avis Evans and Jill Aholt ran to a third place performance with at time of 48.20.
MU next competes at the prestigious Texas Relays in Austin, Texas next weekend. Roughly 30 Tigers will take part in the meet that features some of the best competition in the county. Mizzou's next home meet will be the Tom Bott's Invitational on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, April 14-15.
