Mizzou Track & Field Opens 1999 Season
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
January 15, 1999
Columbia, Mo - The Missouri track and field team will open their season Saturday with the Missouri Invitational indoor meet. The Tigers will host Illinois State and Wichita State of the Missouri Valley Conference, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City of the Mid Continent Conference.
On both the men's and women's side MU will field a deep team, with strengths in several areas, including middle distance , distance and combined events (formerly named multi-events). Indoor All-American Derrick Peterson (800m) is a top returner for the Tigers, as is distance man Ryan Pirtle, and throwers Judd Price, Darrell Meinke and Micah Shanks. MU's 4x400 relay team of Peterson, Kristian Fagerland, Thomas Woods, and Chad Shade, was a national qualifier last year with a school record maker of 3:09.49. The team returns all its members for 1999.
The women also possess talent throughout their ranks, but as with the men, middle distance and distance will be a strength. Katie Meyer (3,000m), Becky Rigel (800m), and Ashely Wysong (800m) were all All-Big 12 performers last year indoors. Sophomore Justa Dahl was also an all-conference runner last year in the 3,000m as well as a national qualifier in the event. Senior Heather White set MU's school record for the indoor weight throw three times last season, she will be a top athlete for the Tigers in '99. Senior Rannveig Kvalvik, juniors Jill Osenbuagh and Jill Aholt and sophomores Michelle Moran and Eli Sommerfeldt create a potent fivesome in the women's combined events indoors.
As for the visitors, Illinois State is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Champions, they return several key members that team including All-American thrower Tom Barrett who has already provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships with a 66'1/2" 35 lbs. weight throw earlier this season. Wichita State counts three 1998 All-Americans among its ranks and boasts MVC women's 1,500m champion Cristy Swartz. Saturday's meet will mark the fourth of the young season for UMKC. They are also competeing a the Arkansas Inviational on January 15 in Fayetteville. The Kangaroos will return to the Hearnes Fieldhouse on January 30 to take part in the Missouri, Bradley, UMKC Triangular.
The meet begins with field events at 9 am, track events start at 12 pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under.
