May 1, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.--The news keeps pouring in for Missouri Track and Field. After an incredible weekend at the 97th Drake Relays that saw the Mizzou men take two relay titles and Tiger collegians and post-collegians smashing records, it's time to see where the dust settled. Post-collegian Christian Cantwell was named today as the 2006 Drake Relays Outstanding Performer after a World-leading effort in the men's shot put. In addition at the Drake Relays, sophomore Jason Morris eclipsed the USA Championship `A' standard in the men's hammer throw, earning an automatic ticket to Indianapolis.
Saturday, Cantwell, who won the 2004 World Indoor Championships, broke one of the oldest Drake Relays records in the men's invitational shot put with a throw of 72 feet 6¼ inches, bettering the previous mark of 69-6½ by Al Feuerbach of the Pacific Coast Track Club in 1972.
It also marked the second straight week he posted the best outdoor throw in the world after recording a mark of 70-3¾ to win the Kansas Relays April 21. His mark was also his best since his overall personal-best mark of 73-11¼ was set in June 2004.
The award is the second of his career and he becomes the first two-time male Drake Relays Outstanding Performer since Michael Johnson was named the meet's best performer in 1996 and 1997.
Morris Has Automatic Ticket to USA Championships
One accomplishment that was overlooked during a busy weekend at the Drake Relays was the school-record breaking performance of St. Louis native Jason Morris in the men's hammer throw. Not only did the sophomore smash his own school record and personal best in the event by six feet, trudging through a partially-flooded ring, he also topped the 66.60-meter mark with his second-place best throw of 218-1 (66.73m). The barrier of 66.60 meters was the standard set by USA Track & Field as the automatic-entry standard into the national championships in the event that will be held in late June in Indianapolis.
The USATF Championships features the best in America from both collegiate and professional ranks, competing against each other for national accolades and selections for national teams.
Big 12 Tenth Anniversary Team Released Soon
Another list to look out for Cantwell is the Big 12's 10th Anniversary team, which the conference will announce within the next days.
Next for Mizzou
Missouri will next travel to State College, Pa., for the Penn State Open next weekend. The weekend will be a celebration of Penn State Coach Harry Groves who is retiring as the Nittany Lion coach after 38 years and 53 years overall.
Also some Tigers will compete in the Billy Hayes Classic in Bloomington, Ind., as this weekend is the last warmup before the Big 12 Championships, May 11-13, in Waco, Texas.
Next for Cantwell is the Coca-Cola Modesto Relays this Saturday in Modesto, Calif.