March 5, 2006
Complete Results
AMES, Iowa - When it comes to NCAA Indoor Track and Field, this past weekend proves to be one of the strangest in the world of the sport. Competitors go to different parts of the country to chase marks and times that will maybe put them in the magical top-15 in the nation in hopes of gaining entry into next weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville. Tiger freshman Chris Rohr in the weight throw and junior Marucs Mayes in the 800-meter run achieved performances worthy of strong selection consideration Saturday at the Cyclone National Qualifier in Ames, Iowa.
While a performance that would put an athlete in the top-15 nationally may be all that it takes (although only 14 spots are guaranteed and some events will get upwards to 17 entrants), the anxiety from the weekend comes from watching reports from the other meets and comparing them to the already established top-marks list. Rohr and Mayes put themselves on the preverbal "bubble" with stellar performances at Iowa State. The NCAA Track & Field Committee releases the list of those accepted into the meet late on Monday evening.
Rohr (Lee's Summit, Mo.) threw the 35-lb. weight 68 feet, 10½ inches (20.99m) to improve his NCAA-provisional qualifying mark and his own Missouri freshman record. His second-place performance improved his previous best, which he reset a week ago, by over 18 inches. Furthermore, Rohr has improved his overall best in the event in the past 30 days by eight feet. Rohr also had three other throws on the day around 65 feet, a testament to his consistency.
Mayes (Sand Springs, Okla.) ran a 1:48.72, 800-meter in winning his event to put himself in strong top-15 consideration. His new personal best also put him fifth all-time at Missouri in the event, passing his coach Jared Wilmes (1:48.73). Mayes had to run a very strategic race to put him in the correct position to run the time he wanted to achieve and to win the race to prevent anyone else to jump above him on the list. Mayes hung back to fourth through the first 400 meters, running 52.7 in the first quarter (coach told him to run a 52.8). In the final turn Mayes was able to make his move, take the lead and the tape.
Sophomore Tyler Dailey (Joplin, Mo.) was fourth in the men's weight throw, improving his personal best to 65-11½ (20.10m). His performance will finish the season in the top 25 in the country. Sophomore Jason Morris (St. Louis, Mo.) also improved his personal best, throwing 64-2½ (19.57m). Morris will finish in the top 35.
In the men's shot put, senior Bill Hobson (Katy, Texas) tied his season and personal best, throwing 60-7¼ (18.47m) in winning his event. Hobson will finish the season in the top 20 to 25 nationally in that event, eyeballing a future birth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Tiger sophomore Trisa Nickoley ran a season-best time of 2:07.36 in the women's 800-meter run, finishing sixth. Her time will finish in the top 30 of the nation for this indoor season.
One meet in the nation remains on Sunday: the IC4A Championships in Boston, Mass., will be all that remains to disrupt the current national list. Again, final selections by the NCAA committee will be released late Monday night on who they have accepted into the NCAA Indoor Championships to be held next weekend, March 10-11, in Fayetteville, Ark.