May 19, 2003
AUSTIN, TEXAS - The University of Missouri track and field has had another outstanding day at the Big 12 Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas today. The women's team finished fourth and the men's team finished fifth. The women's team had their highest-ever conference finish since joining the Big 12. Texas won both the men's and women's team titles.
Tiger senior Christian Cantwell grabbed his third Big 12 Outdoor title by winning the men's shot put today with a throw of 69 feet. Cantwell beat longtime friend and rival Carl Myerscough of Nebraska who threw 68-10.5. Tiger teammate Russ Bell finished third with a throw of 61-10.25, Bell also won the hammer throw and finished fifth in the discus. Cantwell, who finished seventh in both the hammer throw and the discus, said, "I felt good about my throws until Carl Myerscough threw 20.99 meters. I had one chance to beat that and after my throw I didn't think I beat it, but it turned out to be good enough. That was my second-best throw of the year but I could have done better. I couldn't deal well with the humidity today. I thought I could have thrown 71 or 72 feet today but I was struggling to get the ball to stick to my neck." Cantwell won the event on his final throw. Also, on the men's side senior Tim Dunne finished fourth for the Tiger in the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:48.93. Other Tigers who scored points today were Marquis Davis (100), Matt Noonan (Steeplechase), and Knut Sommerfeldt (Javelin).
On the women's side freshman Ashley Patten finished second in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:09.12 to continue her strong freshman campaign. Another Tiger freshman, Valerie Lauver finished fourth in the women's 5000 meter run in a time of 17:12.06. Sophomore Jenny Bybee finished third in the women's high jump with a jump of 5 feet, 8.75 inches. Teammates Fiona Asigbee and Liz Young finished tied for sixth. The women's 4x400 meter relay team of Avis Evans, Whittney Stuart, Asigbee, and Jessica Stockard finished fourth in a time of 3:41.46. Other point scorers for the Tigers were Lindsey Markworth (Discus), Jill Petersen (1500 meters), and Asigbee (100m Hurdles).
The Tiger track and field team will now set their sights on the NCAA Central Region Championships in Columbus, Ohio on May 30-31.