June 19, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.--Starting Wednesday, 18 current, former, and future track and field Missouri Tigers will compete in either the AT&T USATF Championships or the Finish Line USATF Junior Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. National team spots and World-wide recognition is up for grabs in the five-day meet which will feature the best collegiate and professional American athletes. Storylines for the Tigers range from post-collegian Christian Cantwell going for his second-consecutive U.S. shot put title to five Missouri freshmen making their first appearance in a national championship, competing in the junior ranks.
Watch, Listen, Cheer: The AT&T USATF Championship meet will be aired on television at the following dates and times, some events will be shown live, others will be tape-delayed (including most of Friday's events)
Saturday, June 24: ESPN2, 5-7 pm, central
Sunday, June 25: ESPN2, 4-6 pm, central
NOTE: Indiana is currently on Eastern time.
Columbia, the Half-Miler Hot Bed
Six current and former Tigers will be taking to the track in the national championships of the 800 meter run. For the second-consecutive year, four, Neville Miller, Marcus Mayes, Timothy Dunne, and Derrick Peterson, make up the men's contingent of only 24. Ashley Patten and Trisa Nickoley are in the women's field. In addition, freshman Blake Figgins is entered in the junior men's 800-meter run.
Young Guns
Sophomore Jason Morris enters the men's hammer throw field as one of the youngest competitors. In the collegiate ranks this year, Morris was the youngest American among the national top-20 and third-best overall American. In this case, Morris will go up against 30-year-olds and people that have trained in the event for several years, compared to Morris' two.
Cantwell Looks to Chase Down Gatlin
No, the 6-6, 330 lb., Christian Cantwell is not literally trying to chase down co-World record holder Justin Gatlin (That would be worth watching though). But, if the numbers crunch out correctly, Cantwell just might catch him. While the primary objective, a tough one to begin with, will be for the Missouri post-collegian Cantwell to win his second-consecutive U.S. crown, the secondary prize, and the most lucrative, could come from winning the VISA Championship Series. A $100,000 purse will go to the competitor with the best overall performance from the USATF Championships (as long as it tops Gatlin's 9.88 run at the Reebok Grand Prix).
How does that work? It's a little complicated, but for each performance a certain point total is awarded based on the IAAF World Ranking tables ... more info on that here ... http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/VisaChampionshipSeries/standings.asp
Currently, Gatlin, the defending 100 and 200 U.S. Champ, leads with 1,263 points to Cantwell's 1,251. Cantwell was assigned that total after throwing 72-9 (22.17m) at the Prefontaine Classic in late-May. Cantwell's season best is 73-8, thrown at a meet in England two weeks ago and that sort of throw again would score the former Tiger around 1,270 points which would top Gatlin's total. But, Gatlin's score reflects a non-wind affected 9.88 from the Reebok Grand Prix, and not his 9.77 co-World record mark (1,300 points). The scores are not cumulative, just the best meet (among the four American meets) is counted. Got it?
Cantwell and Gatlin both have more competitors to worry about, both in the other events for the ViSA crown, and in their events alone to defend. The 100-meter dash and shot put events are both currently dominated in depth by Americans. Six of the top-10 performers in the World this year in the 100 meters come from America, and five of the top-10 shot putters come from the U.S. as well.
However, Cantwell has won six-consecutive finals in the shot put event and has the three-best competitions in the World this year. His outdoor season average is the best of his career as he's marked an average of 71-6 (21.79m) in each meet, compared to his 2004 previous best of 70-10¼ (21.60m). The 71-6 outdoor season average for Cantwell is actually better than the best mark put up by No. 2 in the World, Reese Hoffa, this outdoor season with his best of 71-5 (21.76m).
Friday is the day to look out for results from both Cantwell and Gatlin.
The Junior Meet, Vying for a bid to World Meet in Beijing
The top three finishers from the Finish Line USATF Junior Championships will earn a bid to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, provided they earn a qualifying mark. The junior meet exposes the best athletic talent among those 19-years-old and younger. Five current and three future Tigers are entered in the junior meet. More on info on those athletes below.
TIGERS IN THE MEET
Collegians (USATF Championships)
Marcus Mayes (Junior, Sand Springs, Okla., men's 800m run)
PR and entry mark: 1:47.78, 2005 Big 12 Championships
SB: 1:47.99, Big 12 Championships
2005 USATF result: 23rd, 1:51.64
2006: Qualified for NCAA Outdoor Championships at 800 meters with second-place Mideast Regional finish ... ran season best of 1:47.99 in runner-up performance at Big 12 Championships ... part of two winning relays, 4x800 and DMR, at Drake Relays, anchoring the 4x800 team ... winner of Tom Botts Invitational 800-meter run, clocking 1:48.94, and was named Outstanding Performer of the Meet.
Career: Two-time NCAA All-American ... 2004 World Junior Qualifier ... Two-time Drake Relays Champion ('06 DMR, '06 4x800) ... Two-time USATF Qualifier ... Nine-time All-Big 12
Neville Miller (Senior, St. Louis, Mo., men's 800m run)
PR and entry mark: 1:47.78, 2005 Music City Distance Festival
SB: 1:48.13, Big 12 Championships
2005 USATF result: 22nd, 1:51.28
2006: Was on two winning relays at the 97th Drake Relays, winning as the third leg in the 4x800 and as the 800-meter leg in the distance medley relay, splitting under 1:49.5 in each race ... placed third at Big 12 Championships at 800 meters (1:48.13) to earn sixth All-Big 12 honor ... tripped at NCAA Mideast Regional and was prevented from moving to event final and ultimately the NCAA Championships ... winner of Arizona State Invitational 800-meter run.
Career: All-American (2005, indoor DMR) ... Big 12 Champion (2005, DMR) ... seven-time All-Big 12 ... also works as on-air meteorologist at Columbia ABC affiliate KMIZ-TV.
Jason Morris (Sophomore, St. Louis, Mo., men's hammer throw)
PR, SB, school record, and entry mark: 66.73m, 218-11, 2006 Drake Relays
2005 USATF result: none, first appearance at USATF meet
2006: Qualified for the NCAA and USATF Outdoor Championships with the hammer throw, becoming a top-10 collegiate hammer thrower in only his sophomore year ... improved personal best by 22 feet in first meet, throwing 207-6 (63.26m) at the Arizona State Invitational ... initially broke Russ Bell's school record in the event at the Missouri Relays with 213-11 (65.21m) mark ... improved own school record by five feet with a 218-11 (66.73m) toss in finishing second in a rainy Drake Relays ... finished second at the Big 12 Championships (213-8) ... placed second in the Mideast Regional (209-6) ... in all nine meets marked above 203-11 ... winner of the Penn State Open, Tom Botts Invite, and Missouri Relays with hammer ... also threw discus, marking a new personal best of 175-8 (53.55m) at the UCLA Invite.
Career: Four-time NCAA Regional qualifier ... three-time All-Big 12 ... Missouri school record holder
Trisa Nickoley (Sophomore, Tecumseh, Kan., women's 800m run)
PR, SB, and entry mark: 2:05.03, 2006 Music City Distance Carnival
2005 USATF result: none, was 8th in USATF Junior Championships in 2005
2006: Qualified for USATF Championships with huge personal-best run of 2:05.03 at the Music City Distance Carnival at 800 meters ... placed third at the Big 12 Championships at 800 (2:07.25) ... winner of 800 at Arizona State Invite and Cardinal Invite ... on third-place 4x800 team and fourth-place DMR team at Drake Relays.
Career: 2004 World Junior qualifier with third-place finish at 2004 USATF Junior Championships at end of senior year in high school ... 2005 Big 12 Indoor Freshman of the Year (won 800 meters and was on winning DMR team) ... nine-time All-Big 12 ... 17-time Kansas High School Champ.
Ashley Patten (Senior, Clarkston, Mich., women's 800m run)
PR and entry meet: 2:04.04, 2005 Big 12 Championships
SB: 2:04.98, NCAA Mideast Regional
2005 USATF result: 15th, 2:10.12
2006: Winner of the 800-meter run at the NCAA Mideast Regional, running a 2:04.98 in qualifying and a 2:05.67 in the final, coming from last in the final 250 meters ... placed second at Big 12 Championships at 800-meters, running 2:07.00 ... winner of the 800 also at UCLA Invite and Tom Botts Invite ... part of second-place 4x1600 and fourth-place DMR teams at Drake Relays ... 26th at 800 in NCAA Championships.
Career: Three-time All-American ... Four-time Big 12 Champion ... 2003 USATF Junior National Champion ... 13-time All-Big 12
Collegians (USATF Junior Championships - 19 & under)
Blake Figgins (Freshman, Detroit, Mich., junior men's 800m run)
PR, SB, and entry mark: 1:51.74, 2006 Cardinal (Louisville) Invitational
2006: Drake Relays Champion, running second leg in 4x800 relay ... earned another All-Big 12 honor with Mile Relay at Big 12 Championships (8th place) ... ran personal best at Louisville's Cardinal Invitational taking runner-up at 1:51.74.
Career: Two-time AAU Champion ... two-time All-Big 12 (relays)
Dan Hedgecock (Redshirt, St. Louis, Mo., junior men's 5000m run)
PR, SB, and entry mark: 14:39.73
2006: Redshirted outdoor season, ran unattached ... indoor season, ran an 8:30.09 season best at 3000 meters, earned All-Big 12 honors as part of all-freshman squad in DMR ... cross country season, redshirted.
Daniel Hunter (Freshman, Hallsville, Mo., junior men's high jump)
PR and entry mark: 7-0 (Imperial units), 2.13m (6-11¾), 2005 Show-Me State Games
SB: indoor, 2.02m, 6-7½, Missouri All-Comers ... outdoor, 2.00m, 6-6¾, Missouri Relays
Career: 2005 AAU Junior Olympic Champion ... 2005 Track & Field News High School All-American
Garett Jeffries (Freshman, Clarkson Valley, Mo., junior men's 5000m run)
PR, SB, and entry mark: 14:23.95, 2006 Stanford Invitational
2006: Nearly grabbed All-Big 12 honors his freshman year with a ninth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships at 5000 meters ... nearly broke into Mizzou's all-time top five with season best 5k clocking of 14:23.95 at the Stanford Invite ... was part of fifth-place 4x1600 relay team at Drake Relays.
Career: Was standout for Tiger cross country team in 2005 as team's second scorer at both the Big 12 and NCAA Regional Championships.
JaNay Woolridge (Freshman, Jessup, Md., junior women's long jump)
PR, SB, and entry mark: 5.90m, 19-4¼, 2006 UMKC Invite
2006: Grabbed new personal best in winning at the UMKC Invite with a long jump of 19-4¼ (5.90m) ... 12th at the Big 12 Championships with 14.49 collegiate personal best in the 100-meter hurdles ... also competed in a heptathlon.
Post-Collegians (USATF Championships)
Fiona Asigbee ('03, Walford, Iowa, women's heptathlon)
PR and entry mark: 5,994, 2005 USATF Championships
SB: 5,481w, Walton Combined Events
2005 USATF result: 3rd, 5,994 ... 13.56, 1.81, 12.64, 24.68, 6.09, 37.45, 2:18.29
2006: Finished second at the Walton Combined Events (5481).
Career: 2005 NACAC (North American) Champion ... 2005 USATF Bronze Medalist ... 2003 Big 12 Champion (both indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon)
Christian Cantwell ('03, Eldon, Mo., men's shot put)
PR: 22.54m, 73-11½, 2004 adidas Oregon Track Classic, Gresham, Ore.
SB, entry mark, World-leading mark: 22.45m, 73-8, Norwich Union Grand Prix, Gatehead, U.K.
2005 USATF result: Champion, 21.64m, 71-0
2006: Owns the top three performances in the world for 2006, having a season best of 73-8 (22.45m) ... currently second in the VISA Championship Series, trailing Justin Gatlin by 11 points ... has won six consecutive-event finals ... in four of six outdoor meets and three of the last four, his best throw has came on his last attempt ... his outdoor season-meet average is at 21.79m (71-6), up from previous best of 2004 (21.60m, 70-10¼) ... indoor season, 2nd at USATF Indoor, 10th at IAAF World Indoor
Career: Defending U.S. Champion winning in 2005 ... 2004 World Indoor Champion ... seven-time NCAA All-American ... six-time Big 12 Champion ... 17-time Big 12 scorer
Timothy Dunne ('03, Jerome, Idaho, New York Athletic Club, men's 800m run)
PR and entry mark: 1:47.16, 2005 Music City Distance Festival
SB: 1:47.18, Music City Distance Festival
2005 USATF result: 9th
2006: Season-best clocking came at Music City Distance Festival at 1:47.18, just two-hundredths of a second off his meet record and personal best ... 5th at Drake Relays
Career: USATF Finalist (ninth) in 2005 ... 2003 All-American
Derrick Peterson ('00, Waycross, Ga., men's 800m run)
PR: 1:45.08, 2004 USATF Olympic Trials
Entry mark: 1:46.09, 2005 Leggera Sport Solidarieta, Lignano, Italy
SB: 1:47.51, Jamaican International Invitational
2005 USATF result: 4th, 1:47.30
2006: 2nd at Jamaican International Invitational ... 9th at Drake Relays
Career: 2004 Olympian ... 3rd at '04 Olympic Trials ... 2002 USATF Indoor Champ ... 2001 USATF Runner-up ... 1999 NCAA Outdoor Champion ... 1999 NCAA Indoor Champion ... 1999 World University Games bronze medalist ... Eight-time Big 12 Champion (all 800 meters, indoor and outdoor, freshman through senior years, only one in Big 12 history to do so)
Janae Strickland ('04, Houston, Texas, women's shot put)
PR: 16.92m, 55-6¼, 2004 Big 12 Championships
SB and Entry mark: 15.56m, 51-¾, UMKC Invite
2005 USATF result: 15th, 15.46m, 50-8¾
Career: 2004 USATF Olympic Trials Qualifier ... two-time All-American ... five-time All-Big 12 ... 2004 NCAA Mideast Region Champion
Incoming Freshmen (USATF Junior Championships - 19 & under)
These incoming freshmen have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Missouri
Lauren Begany (St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh HS, junior women's heptathlon)
2006: In the MSHSAA Class 4 Championships, Begany won the 300-meter hurdles at 42.93 (just off of the state's class record), placed second in the 100 hurdles at 14.68 (w: 2.5), and was second in the high jump with a leap of 5-7.
Brian Hancock (Monroe City, Mo., Monroe City HS, junior men's pole vault)
2006: In the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships, Hancock won his fourth-consecutive state pole vault title, leaping over the bar at 16-4, breaking his own class record ... Hancock also won the state meet by over three feet.
Andy Oaker (Steelville, Mo., Steelville HS, junior men's shot put)
2006: Oaker recorded the second-best throw in the nation for a high schooler with a 66-2 toss earlier this year ... Oaker swept the MSHSAA Class 2 discus and shot put championships, throwing 172-11 in the disc and 63-8 with the shot ... Oaker will also have to get used to a different implement, the high school shot weighs 12 lbs. (5.45 kg), the international junior shot weighs 6 kg ... in college, the weight moves up to 16 lbs. (7.26kg).
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