June 8, 2006

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Missouri senior Serena Ramsey (Waukesha, Wis.) placed sixth Thursday at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif., in the women's 10,000-meter run, setting a new school record with a 33:52.59 clocking. Ramsey, the Big 12's runner-up in the event, came into the meet as the 25th seed, but ran an even-paced race to earn All-America honors.

Ramsey ran a smooth race, staying on pace the entire 25 laps, picking off runners in front of her one-by-one while breaking Valerie Lauver's school record (34:07.04) by over 14 seconds.

"I knew it was important to run an even-paced race in this heat," said Ramsey. "I felt very comfortable the whole race, and I knew eventually be able to pass some of them."

What was a comfortable night for a spectator during the dusk in Sacramento was not ideal conditions for long-distance runners as temperatures hovered around 80 degrees when the race began.

Ramsey, in her final collegiate race as a Tiger, earned her first All-America certificate. In 2004, Ramsey qualified for the NCAA meet in the 10k as well, placing 18th.

"I was just so happy to be here," continued Ramsey. "Our team has had a rough meet, and I just didn't want it to end that way. I can't believe I finished in the top eight."

A sixth-place finish also equals three team points for the women's team and places Mizzou on the scoreboard.

Otherwise, what a rough two days it was for the Tigers. Even with the largest squad to represent Missouri at the NCAA Championships, things did not fall in the way of the Tiger.

Tigers Hans Uldal and Bjorn Sommerfeldt withdrew from the men's decathlon after both registering no heights in the pole vault event. Uldal fouled his three throws in the discus event as well at the beginning of the day. Uldal will continue his season later this year with the European Championships and the Norwegian National Championships, an event that he his defending champ. Uldal also has one year of eligibility remaining for the 2007 indoor season. Collegiate-record holder and defending champ Trey Hardee of Texas had a similar fate after no heighting in the pole vault. Hardee did finish the competition and challenged for the eighth-overall spot.

Senior Amanda Bales ran a 4:22.59 in the women's 1500-meter preliminary rounds to place 18th nationally.

Junior Bill Hobson and senior Nate Englin placed 22nd and 24th, respectively, in the men's shot put. Hobson threw 56-8½ (17.28m).

Sophomore Elizabeth Robe was 27th in the women's shot put, throwing for 44-¾ (13.43m).

Two days remain of the NCAA Championships, however none from Mizzou advanced to further rounds. Live television coverage can be seen on CSTV Friday night and on CBS Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers next will travel several collegians and post-collegians to the AT&T USA Track & Field Championships held in Indianapolis later this month.