Feb. 16, 2003
The University of Missouri track and field team had a strong showing at the two-day ISU Track & Field Classic in Ames, Iowa Friday and Saturday. Eight Tiger athletes set provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships next month and one Tiger, Amanda Bales in the 3000 meters, set an automatic qualifying mark.
The Tiger women were led by Bales who won the 3000 meters in a time of 9:17.62 which is an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Championships and is the third-fastest time in school history in that event. Bales has also automatically qualified in the mile. Junior Jennifer Bennett tied her school and season-best record in the pole vault with a jump of 13 feet, 1.5 inches and won the event. Janae Strickland also won her event, the shot put, with a provisional qualifying throw of 52-1. The Tiger women Distance Medley Relay team also set a provisional mark with a time of 11:25.29
On the men's side, Christian Cantwell won his fifth consecutive shot put title of the season throwing 67 feet, 1.5 inches. Cantwell has already automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Teammate Russ Bell finished third in the shot put with a provisional qualifying mark throw of 59-1.25, Bell also finished fourth in the weight throw. Tiger sophomore high jumper Jesse Sims set a provisional mark with with a leap of 7 feet, 1 inch, which is a season-best for him. Senior Timothy Dunne finished the 800 meters with a provisional qualifying time of 1:49.51. The men's distance medley relay team also set a provisional qualifying mark with a season-best time of 9:44.94.
The Tigers are in action next week at home for the Missouri All-Comers Meet in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse.