May 22, 2000
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri track and field program wrapped up arguably one of its' greatest weekends in recent memory on Sunday at the 2000 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Not only did Missouri put on a great event, the Tigers enjoyed great success as both the men's and women's teams climbed into the upper echelon of the Big 12 Conference over the three day event.
Led by the 800 meter tandem of DERRICK PETERSON and ASHLEY WYSONG, the Missouri men ended Sunday's competition with a fourth place finish with 91 points while the Mizzou women placed fifth overall with 58 total points. Nebraska swept the team titles with Texas finishing second in both the men's and women's divisions.
For the Tigers, two more Big 12 champions were crowned, both the in the 800 meter run. Peterson made it 4-for-4 in his career, claiming his fourth 800m Big 12 title with a time of 1:48.42. Peterson will advance to the NCAA Championships in Durham, N.C. in two weeks where he will be looking to repeat his 1999 outdoor national title.
Proceeding Peterson on the track was the sophomore, Wysong, who made news of her own winning her first Big 12 championship in the 800m. Wysong cruised past two-time champ LIZ DIAZ of Texas and ran down Kansas State's KORENE HINDS to claim the title. Wysong's time was 2:03.60, breaking Diaz's old Big 12 record.
Wysong was joined in the top eight by junior SUNNY GILBERT who finished in fourth place (2:09.17) and senior BECKY RIGEL who placed sixth (2:11.75).
The titles won by Peterson and Wysong brought Mizzou's total to four after junior MICHELLE MORAN (Heptathlon) and freshman CHRISTIAN CANTWELL (Shot Put) won titles on Saturday.
Missouri had plenty of other individuals to be proud of on Sunday. On the men's side, senior RYAN PIRTLE improved his U.S. Olympic Trials cut time in the steeplechase by placing second in a time of 8:35.90. Teammate ADAM MCDOWELL also put together one of the top performances of his career with a fourth place finish (8:54.35). However, he was not done there.
McDowell and his teammates solidified fourth place for Mizzou later on in the evening in the 5,000m run. Senior MIKE LARSON, running the final race of his career, led three Tigers in the top eight with a third place finish (14:35.12). McDowell came in fourth place (14:35.54) and senior NICK SMITH finished eighth (14:40.60).
On the women's side, freshman KERRY HILS placed sixth in the 1,500m run in an event that was dominated by Colorado junior Kara Wheeler who finished the event with a new Big 12 record 4:12.15.
After a very good performance in the heptathlon over the first two days, junior ELI SOMMERFELDT still had enough gas in the tank to claim fifth place in the javelin. Sommerfeldt's mark was 135-2.
Mizzou's 4X400m relay team rounded out the event with an impressive fifth place finish (3:41.12). Senior CHRISTINA PAGE ran a strong third leg for the Tigers and handed the baton to SUNNY GILBERT to claim the victory in the heat.
The men's 4X400m relay also scored two points with a time of 3:11.25, a race that Peterson anchored.
Five Tigers: Peterson, Wysong, Cantwell, Moran and Pirtle have all qualified for the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Missouri will wait until Thursday to find out whether more Tigers will be making the trip to Durham, N.C.