Jan. 9, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri Indoor Track & Field season will get underway Friday, Jan. 11 as the Tigers host the Missouri Triangular at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.
The Tigers return after a strong year for both the men's and women's teams in 2001 and hope to add to the excitement of last season's success. MU is up against Wichita State University and Big 12 rival Kansas in the home and season opener. Head Track & Field Coach Rick McGuire said the opener will be a good one for his teams.
"Both Kansas and Wichita State have strong track programs this year," McGuire said. "And, the Kansas-Missouri rivalry always makes for spirited competition. It's a perfect season opener."
The men's team returns two All-Americans in Russ Bell and Christian Cantwell, who are both juniors this season. Redshirted athletes including thrower Micah Shanks and middle distance runner Timothy Dunne return this season along with an exciting group of freshmen including Travis Pearman in the 800m, Rem Moll in the mile, Jesse Sims in the high jump, Brandon Goebbert in the heptathlon/decathlon and Neville Miller in distance events. Seniors Mike Pitts and Adam MacDowell along with junior Stewart Kimball will be strong in the distance events as well for the men. Junior Knut Sommerfeldt will make an impact as a decathlete.
The women were hit heavily by graduation -- a number of All-Americans and conference champions were lost. This year, the women have a good nucleus from the 2000-2001 season returning and a very talented freshman class that joins the Tigers. Senior Ann Marie Brooks, a national champion and four-time All-American, will be the obvious leader for Missouri. Joining Brooks is sophomore Christi Myers, who was ranked in the Top 10 in the high jump collegiately last season. Other consistant conference scorers for the women include sophomore Katherine Bonugli and juniors Amy Chipman, Becky Froelker and Jennifer Leerssen. Juniors Fiona Asigbee and Abbe Ohneck will add strength in the heptathlon and long jump. The freshman class will add a lot to throws and distance events. Taby Robbins and Lindsey Markworth are two freshman throwers for the women, while Amanda Bales, Jill Petersen, Lesley Smith, Serena Ramsey and Jackie Pirtle will compete in a range of middle distance and distance events. Freshman Whitney Stuart will also be a great addition to the women, and will participate in sprints.
Currently however, Brooks, Pitts and Pirtle are less than 100 percent.
"The challenge we face is to get everyone healthy," McGuire said. "We're hoping to get everyone healthy when championship times arrive."
Starting Early
Three Tigers already have their season underway. Cantwell hit an NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the shot put in December with a indoor career best in the event (64-6.5) at the Kansas State All-Comers Meet. Bell, Cantwell and Shanks all had NCAA provisional marks in the weight throw at the meet in Manhattan, Kan.
Tradition in the Works
This will be the third year in a row that the MU indoor season has featured home track meets on Friday nights instead of having all home meets on Saturdays.
"It's proven to be a crowd favorite in the past and has been fan-friendly," McGuire said.
The Tigers' first two home meets are on Fridays -- Jan. 11th and Jan. 18th. Missouri's last home meet of the indoor season will be Saturday, Feb. 16th.