Feb. 3, 2006
SOUTH BEND, Ind.--It was quite an evening for the Missouri Tiger Track and Field teams Friday night at the first of two days at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational. First, the women's distance medley relay team earned a solid NCAA-provisional qualifying mark in a competitive race. Then, the Tiger male weight throwers blasted off, grabbing the top four spots in the final order of their event, all earning new personal bests and NCAA-provisional qualifying marks. Redshirt freshman Chris Rohr (Lee's Summit, Mo.) uncorked a 65 foot, five inch toss (19.94m) in the final rounds to win the competition, securing the Tigers' second-straight title in that event and setting a new Tiger freshman record.
Usually at the Meyo Invitational the headlines are saved for the distance runners as it is a traditional harrier event. The Tiger distance runners had a great day as well, but it was the Mizzou throwers that opened the eyes of the 30 schools invited to the Big Ten-heavy meet.
Rohr entered the finals in third place of the men's 35-lb. weight throw, having already hit a new personal best with a 62 foot marking in the preliminary round. Defending champ, sophomore Bobby Musil (DuBois, Neb.) came in to the final with the lead after capturing a new personal best with a mark of 63-10¼ (19.46m), earning his first NCAA mark of the season, finishing third. Sophomore Tyler Dailey (Joplin, Mo.) came into the final at second at 62-4 (18.65m), but was passed initially by sophomore Nate Englin, who ended the competition fourth after a personal-best 62-5¼ (19.03m) throw in round four, and Rohr with his throw. Then, Dailey hit a throw in round five that became his "official" best, with a 64-7¾ (19.70m) marking that would put him back in second. Sophomore Jason Morris also had a PR in the event with a 59-5½ mark.
QUICK RECAP: 1. Chris Rohr, Missouri, 19.94m, 65-5 ... 2. Tyler Dailey, Missouri, 19.70m 64-7¾ ... 3. Bobby Musil, Missouri, 19.46m, 63-10¼ ... 4. Nate Englin, Missouri, 19.03m, 62-5¼
Of all, the Tigers now have four throwers, all freshmen and sophomores, who have earned NCAA-provisional qualifying marks this season. Maybe more impressive, Rohr also broke Missouri's freshman record in the event, surpassing eventual 70-foot throwers in Christian Cantwell, Russ Bell, and Micah Shanks. Rohr moves to fourth all-time at Missouri in the event, behind the aforementioned three.
Now, to the women's DMR. The lady Tigers clocked a 11:18.65 time in their distance medley relay race to earn an NCAA-provisional mark and a fourth-place standing. Their time came within three-hundredths of a second of their 2005 season best of 11:18.62 which earned them entry into the NCAA Indoor Championships. Running the opening 1200-meter leg was senior two-time All-American Ashley Patten. Patten handed to Kaela Rorvig for the 400-meter leg. Rorvig and Patten took the Tigers to third after two legs. Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2005, Trisa Nickoley was next, she ran her 800-meter in 2:06.9 to place Tigers on pace again for a solid time. Senior Kristin Hansen closed the book on the team's time in with her 1600-meter leg.
In the women's weight throw, freshman Kendra Richardson (Boonville, Mo.) placed second with a new personal best toss of 58-10¾ (17.95m). Sophomore Elisha Hunt (Linn, Mo.) was fourth at 58-¼ (17.68m) and sophomore Elizabeth Robe was fifth adding three feet to her PR to throw 56-½.
In the long jump events, two Tigers made finals, defying their seeding in from the non-final flights. On the women's side, freshman JaNay Woolridge (Jessup, Md.) added eight inches to her all-time personal best to place eighth at 18-11 (5.77m). Senior Chris Horn made the final on the men's side, leaping to 23-2.
Millrose Games Recap
Tiger post-collegian Christian Cantwell placed second in the VISA Men's Shot Put at the 99th Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City Friday evening. Cantwell notched a 68 foot, 6 inch (20.88m) on the night, falling runner-up to Reese Hoffa's 71-½. Post-collegian Derrick Peterson was fourth in the men's 800-meter, clocking 1:53.80 on the short-track oval.
ESPN2 will air tape-delayed coverage of the meet on Sunday, starting at 5:30 p.m., central.