April 15, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.--Missouri junior Marcus Mayes was named Athlete of the Meet at the 10th Annual Tom Botts Invitational on Saturday in Columbia, Mo. Mayes' win in the 800-meter run was clocked at 1:48.94, a time that will put him in the NCAA's top-10 of marks entering the weekend. Mayes was also part of the Tigers comeback win in the 4x400-meter relay that took Kansas to the tape.
The female athlete of the meet was Tracy Partain of Missouri State. She won the 400-meter hurdles and high jump events to conclude a weekend that also included winning the Audrey Walton Combined Event heptathlon.
The men's 800-meter run was a thrilling race for the Tigers, aside from Mayes' pull through for the win, Tiger senior Neville Miller took second timing 1:49.20. Junior Jimmie Jones was third at 1:49.36, in grabbing his first NCAA-regional qualifying mark of the season. Now three Tigers have qualified for the event's regional championship.
Tiger senior Matt Noonan won the men's 1500 in 3:47.49, defeating Cameron Schwehr of Kansas by over two seconds in qualifying for the NCAA regionals in the event. Noonan, running in his final race on his home track as a Tiger, has now qualified in two events for the regionals, adding the steeplechase from earlier in the year.
Senior Ashley Patten ran a close race with Iowa State's Ada Anderson in the women's 800. Patten clocked a 2:08.37.
Both Tiger 4x400-meter relay squads squeaked out victories over Kansas in their respective races. Kaela Rorvig carried the Tigers to victory in the women's race, coming back down the homestretch to nip the Kansas runner by one-hundredth of a second to clock 3:48.63 for her team. The men's team won in 3:16.14 over the Jayhawks.
Junior Jamie Wynn won the women's discus, throwing 153-10 (46.88m), coming closer to that NCAA-regional qualifying mark (47.30m).
Sophomore Nate Englin was second in the men's shot put, throwing 59-4¾ (18.10m). Sophomore Chris Feitz was second in the men's triple jump at 46-5¼ (14.15m). Sophomore Jason Morris was second in the men's discus at 166-11 (50.88m). Sophomore Tim Fritson was second in the men's 400-meter hurdles at 54.99, improving his personal best by a half-second.
Sophomore Jason Miller was the collegiate winner of the men's high jump, leaping over 6-8¾ (2.05m). Senior Serena Ramsey was the collegiate winner of the women's 1500-meter at 4:30.93.
Friday's Action
Tiger senior Chris Horn qualified for his second-consecutive men's long jump regional championship with a winning leap of 24-3½ (7.40m).
Tiger senior Amanda Bales was the winner of a top five sweep for Missouri in the women's 3000. Bales smashed the meet record in the event was a time of 9:32.70.
Friday was also full of Tiger victories and high marks. In the women's hammer throw, the Tigers took the top two spots with sophomore Denise Gilmore winning at 177-2 (54.00m). Elizabeth Robe was second at 168-0.
Sophomore Jason Morris won the men's hammer throw with a best toss of 212-9 (64.84m). All six of his attempts marked over 60 meters, making his series one of the best in Missouri history. Tyler Dailey was second at 206-4 (62.90m).
Freshman Angela Potrykus was the collegiate winner in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase, clocking a 11:11.51.
Next weekend the Tigers travel to the Louisville Invitational.