May 29, 2003

COLUMBIA, MO. - The University of Missouri track and field team had three athletes named to the Verizon Academic All-District track and field teams today. Sophomore Jenny Bybee was named to the women's second team and Tiger teammates Gary File and Knut Sommerfeldt were named to the men's second team. All three were honored earlier this month by being named Academic All-Big 12 first teamers.

Bybee, a sophomore from Springfield, Missouri, has a 4.0 GPA in human development and family studies. Bybee is a regional qualifier for the NCAA Regional Championships in the high jump with a season best mark of 5 feet, 10.75 inches. She was All-Big 12 in the high for both indoor and outdoor track. Bybee finished fourth at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and fifth in the outdoor championships. Bybee was also a member of the 2001 Missouri volleyball team.

Sommerfeldt, a senior from Krokstadelva, Norway, has a 3.80 GPA in Music Performance and Communications. Sommerfeldt is a four-time Big 12 champion, capturing in indoor heptathlon title earlier this year and recently completed a three-peat as Big 12 decathlon champion. Sommerfeldt has also qualified for the NCAA Championships in the decathlon. In addition to his success in the decathlon, Sommerfeldt is also a regional qualifier in the javelin throw.

File, a junior from Beloit, Kansas has a 3.71 GPA in Agricultural Economics. Last year, File was an All-American in the javelin throw continuing a tradition his brother, Darin, started in 1997. File is a regional qualifier in the javelin throw with his season and team best mark of 217-1.

Bybee, Sommerfeldt, and File will join 31 of their teammates this weekend at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in Columbus, Ohio.