March 1, 2001

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri track and field team travels to Ames, Iowa Friday, for the Last Chance Qualifier hosted by Iowa State.

The Big 12 Champion women's distance medley relay team has the best time in the nation entering the last week of the season before the NCAA Championships. The DMR team, composed of seniors Ashley Wysong and Sunny Gilbert, junior Ann Marie Brooks and sophomore Kerry Hils, posted a 11:12.81 en route to the victory at the Big 12 Conference Championships Feb. 24. Seniors Gilbert and Wysong are also competing at Iowa State. Gilbert has provisionally qualified in the 800 (2:08.37 at the ISU Cyclone Inv. Feb. 9-10).

Head Coach Rick McGuire has chosen 11 athletes (including Wysong and Gilbert) who have provisionally qualified or are seeking NCAA berths to compete at this event. High jumper senior Jay Meystedt is seeking to improve his provisional mark of 7-1 (at the Meyo Invitational Feb. 2-3). Sophomore Christi Myers also hopes to improve on her provisional mark of 5-9.75 (recorded at the MU All-Comers Feb. 17). MU sophomore thrower Russ Bell has provisionally qualified in the shot put (60-2 MU All-Comers) and in the weight throw (64-3.75 Big 12 Championships). Other Tigers vying for NCAA qualifying marks are senior milers Joel McCune, Lee Tittle and Katie Meyer, senior triple jumper Eli Sommerfeldt and sophomore 800m runner Stewart Kimball. Senior Phil Councilor will also compete, but it has not been decided if he will run the mile or the 800.

Depending on the results in Ames, MU may compete in the Last Chance meet hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln before traveling to the NCAA Championships at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville Mar. 9-10.