Feb. 11, 2004
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COLUMBIA, Mo.--The University of Missouri track and field team will depart to Ames, Iowa for this weekend's two-day Iowa State Classic to commence Friday and Saturday. The meet, hosted by Iowa State University, will be held in the Lied Recreation Center.
Only Ten Times Around, Not Fifteen
The track at the Lied Center is an oversized 300-meter oval, fantastic for distance runners.
"When you go to a 300-meter track you know you're going to be faster," said Rebecca Wilmes, assistant track coach. "You are on the straight-aways longer and that leads to a lot of PRs."
"Confidence is a big issue as well," said Jared Wilmes, assistant track coach. "When you go to a track like that, it has an outdoor like feel and it makes you think to yourself that you are going to have a personal best. Mentality is a big issue, if you know you are going to do something great, chances are, you have a better chance of doing something great. It's a reason a lot of teams flock to the place."
For example a 3000-meter race goes for ten laps on a 300-meter track as opposed to fifteen times with a 200-meter course.
Distance Leads Charge in Husker Land
At last weekend's Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., the Missouri distance runners poured it on for some great personal bests and improvements in the conference ranks. Juniors Amanda Bales (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Ryan Hampton (Liberty, Mo.) took second place finishes in the mile run with current conference leading times. Bales' time of 4:45.00 advanced her NCAA provisional qualifying time by more than three seconds and puts her first on the Big 12 performance list, up by over a second-and-a-half. Hampton's time of 4:05.07 was .17 second off of an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and also ranks number one on the conference list by over two seconds.
Woolsey Takes Third In Tough Field
Junior transfer Conrad Woolsey (Excelsior Springs, Mo.), already an NCAA provisional qualifier took third in the men's shot put competition at the Husker Invitational. Woolsey entered the event as the seventh-seeded thrower, with 13 in the contest already with NCAA provisional qualifying marks. Woolsey held his own and came close to a personal best with a throw of 60-2?. Nebraska's Carl Myerscough, the NCAA defending indoor and outdoor champion in the event, took first in his opening indoor meet of the season, and Kentucky's Jeff Chakouian took second.
On The Conference Performance List
Bales and Hampton in the men's and women's mile run are the only Missourians leading on the Big 12 performance list entering this weekend. Junior Jill Petersen is second on the list after coming near an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 3000-meter run with a time of 9:38.58. Woolsey stands third on the conference list in the men's shot put. School record holder, senior Holly Scherder, is third in the women's weight throw event, with roommate, Ann Snider at fourth. After the pentathlon events at the Husker Invitational, sophomore Jessica Stockard is fourth on the conference list after scoring 3,597 points. Teammate, Liz Young, is close behind in fifth place 3,547 points.
About the ISU Classic
Like mentioned before, the Iowa State Classic will be held on an oversized, 300-meter track, which should have the spotlight squarely on the distance events for this weekend. Of the nearly 35 schools at this weekend's meet, only Kentucky's women are ranked in the Trackwire Top 25. Big 12 schools will also be in contention with Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas A&M will take part in the two-day unscored meet.
For more information visit mutigers.com.