University of Missouri
Gene Edmonds Cup
Mizzou Track Takes Third at Purdue's Gene Edmonds Cup
1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Jan. 27, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Missouri track and field squads took second-place out of four teams in combined men's and women's scoring at Purdue's Gene Edmonds Cup on Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind. The Tigers scored 78 points on the day, trailing host Purdue who scored 127 1/6 and Indiana State who scored 79 5/6. Illinois State finished fourth with 43. The Tigers claimed victory in six events on the day, including a total sweep of points in the women's weight throw and a four-of-four sweep in all throwing events. In addition, freshman Brian Hancock made things interesting in the men's pole vault.
Not surprising, the Tigers mopped up in the throwing events, scoring 37 of the teams' total points. Mizzou grabbed all 11 possible points in the women's weight throw, sweeping the top five spots. Sophomore Krishna Lee (Kansas City, Mo.) continues a solid indoor season by winning the event for the first time in her career with a 60 foot, 6 inch (18.44m) mark, an inch shy of her personal best. Junior Elisha Hunt was second at 58-9½. Junior Shernelle Nicholls added to her personal best with a 58-1¾ toss, and sophomore Kendra Richardson was fourth at 53-9¼.
In the women's shot put, the Tigers took the 1-2-3 spots. Nicholls won the event with a 48-6¼ (14.79m) toss. Elizabeth Robe was second at 47-11½. Lee was third at 46-9.
In the men's weight throw, junior Tyler Dailey (Joplin, Mo.) extended his NCAA-provisional qualifying and season best mark to 64-11¼ (19.79m) in winning third career title in the event.. Sophomore Chris Rohr was second with a 64-2¼ toss, and Bobby Musil was fourth at 61-11½.
Tiger Nate Englin (Shoreview, Minn.) came back from injury to win his first men's shot put competition of the season. The junior won with a 56-7¼ (17.25m) mark. Dailey was third at 52-10 (16.10m). Freshman Andy Oaker was fifth at 51-7¼ (15.79m), a personal best with the 16-pounder.
One of the biggest thrills of the day came from the men's pole vault. Freshman Brian Hancock (Monroe City, Mo.) finished second in the event, leaping over the bar at 16-6¾ (5.05m) on his second attempt to catapult to second all-time at Missouri in the event, topping his indoor personal best from high school of 16-6. In addition, Hancock turned in the best Tiger performance in the event indoors since 1997. Hancock needed three attempts to clear the previous bar at 16-¾, but the wait was worth while as Hancock eventually attempted the bar at 17-¾ (5.35m) which would have tied the 1993 school record held by Tom Jordan and gained the frosh an NCAA-provisional qualifying mark. Purdue's John Porter also attempted at 17-¾ and failed, but won the decision after clearing 16-6¾ on his first attempt.
Sprinter Greg Bracey (Milwaukee, Wis.) was impressive in his first race of the season, winning the 60-meter dash in 6.85. The victory was the senior's third all-time at the distance.
Sophomore JaNay Woolridge (Jessup, Md.) took home her first career victory in the women's long jump, marking a season's best 18-8½ (5.70m).
Senior Tipper O'Brien (Kirkwood, Mo.) was involved in the race-of-the-day in the men's mile. O'Brien took the lead in the event from Indiana State's Jordan Fife at the bell. O'Brien retained the lead until the mid-point on the final curve when Fife and Purdue's Justin Stadt started their stretch run. It was a foot race to the finish and Fife snuck in the inside of O'Brien to take the tape at 4:12.20. O'Brien was next, in second, at 4:12.50. Stadt was third at 4:12.64.
Another thriller came in the men's 3000. Sophomore Tim Cornell (Columbia, Mo.), in his first race of the season bouncing back from injury, also had a battle of Indiana State's Fife. With Cornell challenging late and closing in the final lap, Fife took the tape at 8:30.63. Cornell was second with a personal best 8:30.84.
The Tigers will continue the indoor season next weekend with split-squad action on both Friday and Saturday. Most of the Mizzou team will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for the Indiana Relays, while the Tiger distance contingent will travel to Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational.
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Players Mentioned
