March 17, 2003

The University of Missouri track and field had five athletes earn All-American honors at this weekend's NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayeteville, Arkansas. All athletes that competed for Missouri were awarded with All-American honors.This is the largest group of individuals awarded All American Honors in School history from a single championship.

On the men's side Tiger senior co-captains Christian Cantwell and Russ Bell earned All-American honors in the shot put. Cantwell grabbed his sixth All-American honor by placing third in the shot put, he also finished ninth in the weight throw. Bell earned All-American recognition for the fourth time by placing seventh in the shot put, he also finished tenth in the weight throw. Sophomore Jesse Sims grabbed his first All-American honor by finishing seventh in the high jump.

On the women's side two juniors earned their first All-American honors. Janae Strickland recieved her All-American honor in the shot put by finishing in eighth place. Janae's mother Lorinda Richardson was an All-American, NCAA champion, and school record holder in the long jump when she was at Mizzou. Ashland, Missouri native Jennifer Bennett earned her first All-American honor in the pole vault. Bennett is the first Tiger athlete to achieve All-American status in the women's pole vault.

All-American honors are earned by finishing in the top eight in an event. The NCAA Championships mark the conclusion of the indoor track and field season. The Tigers begin the outdoor track and field season March 26-29 at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida.