May 10, 2006
WACO, Texas--The Big 12 Conference announced earlier today the members of the conference's 10th-Anniversary team in the sport of track and field. Four former Tigers--Christian Cantwell, Derrick Peterson, Knut Sommerfeldt, and Ann Marie Brooks made the list. In addition, the conference announced this season's Academic All-Big 12 team with 33 Tigers garnering first- or second-team honors. The 2006 Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Waco begin Friday.
Big 12 10th Anniversary Team
In recognition of the 10th season of the Big 12 Conference's existence, the conference has announced anniversary teams in each of the sports it sponsors. The anniversary track and field team was voted on by the conference's coaches and each candidate must have been either an indoor or outdoor conference champion. Four former Tigers made the list.
Derrick Peterson (Men's 800-meter run, Waycross, Ga., 1997-00)
Peterson is the only athlete in conference history to have won every possible conference championship in his respective event, the 800-meter run. Peterson went a perfect eight-for-eight, winning four indoor and four outdoor Big 12 titles, dominating the event beginning his freshman year, continuing through to his senior season in 2000.
Peterson is tied with Bob Simpson (hurdles, jumps) and Chidi Imoh (sprints) in holding Mizzou's all-time record in individual conference championships won.
In 1999, Peterson won both indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships at 800 meters and still is the American-collegiate record holder with a 1:45.88 indoor clocking from that national championship.
Peterson made the 2004 U.S. Olympic team in the 800-meter run after running a personal-best time 1:45.08 at the USATF Olympic Trials. Peterson still works and trains in Columbia.
Christian Cantwell (Men's Shot Put, Eldon, Mo., 2000-03)
Cantwell won four Big 12 titles in the men's shot put as a Tiger, winning outdoor titles in 2000, 2001, and 2003, adding an indoor title in 2001. Cantwell is tied with Gene Crews (1965-66) as Missouri's all-time leader in conference shot put championships.
In 2003, Cantwell finished his career with a 69-foot (21.03m) toss to win his final conference championship. He would go on to extend his school record in the event to 70-11¼ (21.62m) in a summer that would put him on the world stage after winning the IAAF Grand Prix final in Monte Carlo.
In 2004, his first year out of collegiate competition, Cantwell won the IAAF World Indoor Championship with the shot put in Budapest, Hungary. Later that year he would extend his personal best in the event to 73-11½ (22.54m) and be named No. 1 in the World in the event. Cantwell also won the 2005 USATF Championship in the event and currently leads the World this season with a throw of 72-6¼. Cantwell works and trains in Columbia.
Knut Sommerfeldt (Men's Decathlon, Krosteldeva, Norway, 2000-03)
Sommerfeldt was a three-time consecutive Big 12 champion in the men's decathlon from 2001 to 2003 and holds the Mizzou record for conference decathlon titles. His collegiate-best score of 7,685 once stood as Mizzou's school record in the event. Recently, Sommerfeldt came back into training an extended his personal best to 7,732.
Sommerfeldt also recently earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri in fine arts, tuning his skills as an accomplished violinist.
Ann Marie Brooks (Women's Distance, St. Joseph, Mo., (1998-02)
Brooks was a four-time Big 12 Champion, winning two in the indoor 3000-meter run, one in the outdoor 5000-meter run, and one as a member of the 2001 distance medley relay squad that also won a national title and had the World's fastest time. In 2001, Brooks was named a first-team member of CoSIDA's Academic All-America team.
33 Make Academic All-Conference Team
Thirty-three current Tigers were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team. Missouri's men led the conference with 15 on either the first or second teams.
In addition, seven Tigers-Rem Moll, Amanda Bales, Kristin Hansen, Kasey Kimball, Valerie Lauver, Serena Ramsey, and Elizabeth Robe--were cited as having 4.0 GPAs.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
Women's First Team
Name, Year, Major, Hometown
*Amanda Bales, Sr., Physical Therapy, Bettendorf, Iowa
Laura Brandt, Sr., Journalism, New Haven, Mo.
Kate Greer, Jr., Advertising, Marshalltown, Iowa
Ashley Guy, So., Biological Science, Columbia, Mo.
*Kristen Hansen, Sr., Nutritional Science/Dietetics, Milford, Iowa
*Kasey Kimball, So., Biological Science, Eureka, Mo.
*Valerie Lauver, Sr., Nursing, Allen, Texas
Erin Moses, Sr., Biological Science, Humble, Texas
Ashley Patten, Sr., Management, Clarkston, Mich.
Liz Peterson, Sr ., Exercise Science, Jefferson City, Mo.
Tommie Powers, So., Math Education, North Richland Hills, Texas
*Serena Ramsey, Sr., Human Development & Family Studies, Waukesha, Wis.
*Elizabeth Robe, So., Biological Science, Waukesha, Wis.
Kaela Rorvig, So., Undeclared Business, Columbia, Mo.
Rachel Stollings, Sr., Physical Therapy, Osceola, Mo.
Allison Werner, Jr., Religious Studies/Magazine Journalism, Danville, Iowa
Women's Second Team
Name, Year, Major , Hometown
Denise Gilmore, So., Political Science, Manhattan, Kan.
Men's First Team
Michael Barrows, So., Undeclared Business, Flint, Mich.
Dave Borchardt, Jr., Agricultural Systems Management, St. Louis, Mo.
Tyler Dailey, Jr., Biology, Joplin, Mo.
Josh Davis, Sr., Art, Liberty, Mo.
Bill Hobson, Sr., Management, Katy, Texas
Colten Green, So., Agriculture, Roach, Mo.
Jason Miller, So., Secondary Education, Stafford, Va.
Neville Miller, Sr., Communications, St. Louis, Mo.
*Rem Moll, Sr., Fisheries & Wildlife, Tulsa, Okla.
Bobby Musil, Jr., Food Science & Nutrition, Dubois, Neb.
Bjorn Sommerfeldt, Jr., Communications, Krokstadelva, Norway
Men's Second Team
Name, Year, Major , Hometown
Jimmie Jones, Jr., Business, Detroit, MI
Matt Noonan, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Baldwin City, KS
Tipper O'Brien, Jr., Journalism & English, St. Louis, MO
Hans Udal, Sr., Communications, Arendal, Norway
* denotes 4.0 GPA
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