April 9, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri Track & Field's Christian Cantwell along with Kansas State multi-event performer Austra Skujyte were selected as the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of April 1-7, the conference announced Monday. This is the first award for Cantwell and the Tigers during the outdoor season thus far.

Cantwell, the Big 12's repeat outdoor men's shot put champion (2000, 2001), threw 68-2.5 April 6 at the Missouri Relays in Columbia. His mark currently ranks as the best throw in the collegiate field and third in the world as of Monday.

The Eldon, Mo., junior also broke the MU, the Walton Stadium and Missouri Relays records en route to setting his personal best toss. In addition to his success in the shot put, Cantwell has turned in discus (180-1) and hammer (174-7) performances which are among the top ten conference marks in those events. Cantwell now has registered two NCAA automatic-qualifying marks this season - he threw 64-8 at the College Station Relays March 16.