Feb. 20, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Tigers know they are in one of the more competitive conferences in the country when it comes to track & field. This Friday and Saturday will determine what teams are the best in the Big 12 for the 2002 indoor season.
Last season, both the Nebraska men and women won the titles for 2001 Big 12 Indoor Champions. This year for the men, Texas Tech looks strong in the sprints, Nebraska has a number of great jumpers and Missouri has depth in the throws. For the women, Texas and Texas Tech have league-leaders in the sprints and Kansas State has a number of good throwers.
In all, there are 74 provisional qualifiers and 18 automatic qualifiers from the Big 12 who are expected to compete this weekend at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb.
All-Comers Meet in Review
The Missouri women's pole vault record was shattered once again by sophomore Lyndsey Tait. Tait cleared 12-1 in the Hearnes Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The Jefferson City, Mo., native's height was also a fieldhouse record. Sophomore Jennifer Bennett tied her personal best Saturday in the pole vault as well with her mark of 11-6.
Junior Christian Cantwell had another automatic qualifying mark in the men's shot put. He had a mark of 64-4.5 in the event. Junior Russ Bell had a provisional mark with his toss of 61-6.75 in the shot.
The All-Comers meet was the last home meet of the indoor season for the Tigers.
Tigers in the Nation
With their provisional and automatic qualifying marks, many Missouri athletes are ranked nationally for their performances.
On the men's side, five athletes are ranked nationally. Junior Timothy Dunne (Jerome, Idaho/Jerome HS) provisionally qualified in the 800m Feb. 2 (1:49.84) and is ranked 15th. Freshman high jumper Jesse Sims (Paola, Kan./Paola HS) is ranked 21st this week with his provisional-qualifying leap of 7-1 from the KSU-KU-MU Triangular. Throwers Christian Cantwell (Eldon, Mo./Eldon HS), Russ Bell (Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City HS) and Micah Shanks (Casey, Ill./Newton Community HS) are also ranked for the men. Cantwell is ranked third in both the shot put and the weight throw, Bell is fifth in the weight throw and 21st in the shot and Shanks is fourth in the weight throw for the Tigers.
On the women's side, sophomore Christi Myers (Raytown, Mo./Raytown HS) provisionally qualified in the high jump after her leap of 5-9.75 at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational. She is ranked 21st in the nation.
On a global scale
Three men's throwers not only make the list of nationally ranked athletes, but are rated in the world.
Christian Cantwell is ranked sixth in the world in the shot put and seventh in the weight throw.
Also in the weight throw, Micah Shanks and Russ Bell are ranked ninth and 11th, respectively in the world.
From the little apple to the Big Apple
Russ Bell, Christian Cantwell and Micah Shanks have been busy making the rounds to various meets for the throws.
The men were in Manhattan, Kan., Feb. 15 and will travel to the New York City burrough of Manhattan for the USA Track & Field Championships at the Armory March 1-2.
Up Next
Next up for the Tigers is the NCAA qualifying meet held March 1 at Iowa State University.