May 14, 2000
The majority of the Missouri track and field team took this weekend off to prepare for the upcoming Big 12 Championships while two long jumpers and the throwers traveled to Emporia, Kan. to compete at the Emporia State Twilight Qualifier. At final count, MU claimed one victory, 12 top-10 finishes and two personal best marks.
Emporia State has primarily been a "throwers" meet for the Tigers for a couple of years now because of the wind. Mizzou took advantage of the conditions in their final tune-up before the rest of the conference comes to Columbia, Mo. for the league championships next weekend, May 19-21.
Christian Cantwell was the Black and Gold lone individual champion as the freshman claimed the shot put with a toss of 59 feet, 10 ? inches. It was the young Tigers fifth victory in the event and the sixth time he has bettered the NCAA provisional standard. Currently, Cantwell stands in 15th overall in the country in the event.
Fellow freshman sensation Russ Bell competed in three different events on the day placing no lower than fifth in any of the three. Bell led all Tigers throwers in the discus with his fourth place overall finish with a heave of 180-11. He was the highest placing collegiate in the event just in front of Cantwell who placed fifth, 177-7. Bell also turned in a fourth place performance in the hammer throw and finished fifth in the shot put.
Juniors Micah Shanks, the school record holder in the hammer throw, competed in the shot put as well as the hammer throw. Shanks finished sixth in the shot put with a throw of 55-2 ?, just one inch from his personal best. In the hammer, Shanks placed fifth overall with a heave of 177-8.
Darrell Meinke competed in the discus placing tenth overall. His throw of 160 feet, 11 inches was his second best showing of the season. In the long jump, Ochuko Ekepere was competing for the second time this season. His jump of 21-1 ? placed his seventh overall.
For the women, Heather White led all competitors with her third place performance in the hammer throw. White threw the hammer 171 feet marking the fourth time this season the senior captain has thrown over 170 feet.
Also in the hammer, Brooke Ennen continued to improve. Ennen placed eighth overall with a throw of 156 feet, 2 inches. It was the sophomore's third personal best mark in 2000 in the hammer. Her toss was a four foot PR.
In the women's discus, Carla Grewe was MU's lone Tiger to finish in the top-8. Grewe also finished eighth with a throw of 148-6. For Grewe, it was also a personal best mark by over four feet.
The Tigers have no time to rest as they are hosting the conference championships this weekend at Walton Stadium. Friday's session begins at 11:00 a.m. with the women's hammer throw. The majority of Friday's competition will consist of the decathlon and heptathlon. Saturday and Sunday's session's begin at 10:00 a.m. and run throughout the day.
At the 2000 indoor championships the women's team finished sixth overall while the men were the third best team in the conference. Some of the best track and field in the county will be in Columbia this weekend as all 12 league schools will be competing for both individual crowns as well as the team title.