Feb. 6, 2005
Results
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Junior Tim Ross, a native of Alto, Mich., broke the Missouri indoor record in the 3000-meter run Saturday with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8:04.86 in the second day of the Meyo Classic, held at Notre Dame. Ross, now holding the school record in two events, was part of a handful of Tigers to take six NCAA provisional qualifying marks on the weekend.
Ross, an NCAA Cross Country Championship qualifier, broke the school's record in the indoor 5000 in 2003. Ross knew of the team's old school record of 8:09.37 set by Ray Hughes in 1997, and knew he could break it. Previously, Ross had a personal best of 8:20 in event, out of the team's all-time top five.
"That was my goal," Ross said. "I didn't tell anybody before the race that I would break it, except for my mom and dad, and felt real good about it during the race. It's great to have both records, but, it's time to take down that 5k record next week."
Women's distance added three to the NCAA qualifying list with provisional marks as well. Junior Ashley Patten (Clarkston, Mich.) ran a 2:06.54 in the 800-meter run to win her race, coming back from fifth place in the final 150 meters to take the tape, and record the third-fastest time in the event so far in the NCAA collegiate season.
Senior Amanda Bales (Bettendorf, Iowa) earned her mark in the Mile, running 4:46.35 in her sixth-place performance. Senior Serena Ramsey (Waukesha, Wisc.) her 3000-meter race in 9:31.52 to earn her mark and earned the fifth spot in the Tiger all-time top five.
"All of this was another step in the right direction," Ross said. "The Wilmes (their coaches), have the right plans in place and it's really starting to pay off."
Additional highlights from Tiger distance included freshman Trisa Nickoley's race in the 800-meter. Doubling-back from an 800-meter leg last night in the distance medley relay, Nickoley ran in 2:09.06, just missing a qualifying mark, but finished strong in seventh place. Senior Neville Miller (St. Louis, Mo.) came back from 20 meters behind in the final 200 meters from the fourth-lane out to win his heat in the 800-meter, placing fourth overall in an indoor personal-best time of 1:49.96. Personal bests were also earned by sophomore Tipper O'Brien in the Mile at 4:07.30, winning his heat; Wade Souza in the 800-meter at 1:54.23; Anne Case-Halferty in 800-meter at 2:15.97, slicing five seconds off of her old best; fvreshman Michael Barrows in the 3000-meter in 8:34.07; junior Kristin Hansen in the 3000-meter at 9:53.93
Adam Burla (Ellisville, Mo.) keeps on climbing up the ladder in the men's shot put, once again breaking a personal best for the seventh time in his eight events this season. Burla tossed his best of the day with a hurl of 56 feet, 10¾ inches (17.34m), placing third.
The Tiger 4x400-meter relays also had a successful day, both earning season bests and placing fourth all-time at Missouri. For the women, Whittney Stuart, Trisa Nickoley, Kaela Rorvig, and Laura Brandt, placed seventh in 3:48.04. For the men, Jimmie Jones, Neville Miller, Marquis Davis, and Marcus Mayes timed in 3:12.61
The Meyo Invitational may have been one of the most thrilling track meets in America in the distance events so far this season. During the Meyo Mile, four competitors broke the coveted four-minute mark including two brothers from Indiana, Sean and John Jefferson.
For complete results, visit und.com or mutigers.com. The Tigers will next travel to another "big" track next weekend with the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa, held next Friday and Saturday.