Feb. 10, 2003

University of Missouri student-athletes Christian Cantwell and Amanda Bales were named Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week, as announced by the conference today. Bales and Cantwell are the first Tigers to receive the honor in 2003.

This weekend Bales won the mile at the Adidas Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska with a time of 4:41.45 which automatically qualified her for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Bales was twice named Big 12 Athlete of the Week this past fall for her accomplishments in cross country. The sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa mile time leads the Big 12 and is the second-fastest time in school history.

Cantwell won the men's shot put at the Adidas Classic with a throw of 68 feet, 5 inches. That throw is the farthest shot put throw in the NCAA this year and ranks second in the world for 2003. The senior from Eldon, Missouri also set a school record at the meet. Cantwell is a five-time All-American and was named Big 12 Male Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week last week.

The Tiger track team travels to Ames, Iowa this weekend to compete in the ISU Invitational.