May 3, 2003
LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Missouri men and women's track and field team had a good day at the Ward Haylett Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska today. The women's team finished third and the men finished fourth. Host Nebraska won both the men and women's competition at the meet by large margins.
On the women's side there were many outstanding Tiger performances. Freshman Ashley Patten continued with her impressive season by winning the 800 meters in a time of 2:09.40 and fellow freshman Valerie Lauver won the 5000 meters with a time of 17:09.51. Both Patten and Lauver have both qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships later this month. Junior Janae Strickland, who has already qualified for the NCAA Regional, finished third in the shot put with a season-best shot put of 53 feet, 8.5 inches. That throw also set a school record. Sophomore Jenny Bybee finished second in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 10.75 that sets a season and personal best for Bybee. Junior Jennifer Bennett finished third in the pole vault with a jump of just over 12 feet.
On the men's side, the Tigers also had some great performances. Senior Tim Dunne finished second in the 800 meters with a regional qualifying time of 1:49.44. Dunne was joined by two other seniors as stars of the Tiger track team today. The much anticipated matchup between Nebraska's Carl Myerscough and Missouri's Christian Cantwell lived up to it's billing as Myerscough won the competition with a throw of 68 feet, 10.25 inches. Cantwell finished second with a throw of 67 feet, 7.75 inches. Tiger teammate Russ Bell finished third throwing 59 feet, 7.75 inches. Bell also finished second in the hammer throw and fifth in the discus; both Bell and Cantwell have qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships.
The Tigers are in action next at the Big 12 Conference Championships in Austin, Texas in two weeks.