June 22, 2004
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Four freshmen from the University of Missouri track and field team will take part in USA Track & Field's Junior National Championships this weekend in College Station, Texas. Marcus Mayes, Jimmie Jones, Melanie Uher, and Bobby Musil will be looking to advance to the World Junior Championships this July in Grossetto, Italy, by finishing in the top three in their event. To participate in the meet, athletes must meet a certain qualifying mark and be under the age of 19.
Marcus Mayes and Jimmie Jones will compete in the 800-meter run starting with the first round on Friday. Mayes (Sand Springs, Okla.) achieved a personal best of 1:49.94 and qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional at the Ward Haylett Invitational in mid-May. Mayes became a two-time all-Big 12 performer during the indoor season with a sixth place finish in the 800 and as part of the 4x400 relay team that took seventh. Mayes also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying mark during the indoor season.
Jimmie Jones (Oak Park, Mich.) finished runner-up at last year's AAU Junior Olympic Championships in the 800 meters. His best time of the year of 1:50.20 in the indoor season earned him an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships, Jones earned two all-Big 12 honors, finishing seventh in the 800 and being part of the seventh place 4x400-relay team.
Mayes enters with the fourth fastest qualifying time; Jones has the sixth.
Melanie Uher (Wilber, Neb.) entered Missouri's all-time top five in the women's discus with a personal-best, NCAA Regional qualifying throw of 162 feet, 11 inches (49.66m) at the 2004 Missouri Relays. Uher finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships in the event. In high school, Uher threw for the third longest mark all-time in National High School History during her junior year.
Bobby Musil (DuBois, Neb.) became an NCAA Mideast Regional qualifier with a personal-best discus toss of 172 feet, 4 inches (52.54m). Musil was the National Junior Olympic Discus Champion in 2003 and was a high school all-American.
Qualifying for the World Junior Championships are similar to what Americans must do to qualify for the Olympic Games. The top three will advance will continue on to the World Juniors provided they have achieved the World Junior qualifying standard. Currently, Mayes, Uher, and Musil have eclipsed the standard, and if someone from the top three did not achieve the qualifying mark, the next to advance will be the highest finisher with the qualifier.
Many of Missouri's incoming recruits are also participating in the meet; however, it is against NCAA Rules and Regulations to release specific information on whom they are.