Feb. 21, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo.--The Missouri track and field squads are set to compete at the Big 12 Indoor Championships this weekend in Ames, Iowa. The meet will feature 54 men and 55 women in the nation's top 25 in their respective events. The race on the men's side looks closer than ever and the Tigers have a group that is poised to score a lot of points. It should be a interesting and exciting two days.

 

 

A Toss-Up on the Men's Side

Missouri head coach Rick McGuire would tell you that on the men's side in the Big 12 this year, the team race is closer than ever, involving the six to eight teams, all with a shot at the title. And, Missouri could be one of them. With highly-competitive events all around, with a diverse group populating the tops of the performance list, nearly anything can happen. On paper, Oklahoma seems to be the favorite with Nebraska and Texas stalking close behind. The Tigers, Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas A&M can also make a run if everything falls in place in their favor. Either way, this could be one of the most nail-biting conference meets in Big 12 history.

 

Topping the Charts

Making the conference race so tough to predict this year is the number of nationally-ranked athletes spread throughout the entire conference. The men's 400-meter dash for example houses seven Big 12 athletes in the national top 25. The men's weight throw has five, three of which are from Missouri.

 

Number of Athletes in the Top 25 - Big 12 Men (relays count as one)

Nebraska	12
Oklahoma	8
Baylor	7
Missouri	5
Texas Tech	5
Texas	5
Texas A&M	4
Kansas	3
Colorado	2
Iowa St.	2
Kansas State	1
Grand Total	54

 

Take a look at all of the Big 12's athletes in the NCAA's top 25 below.

 

Weighing Down the Rest

For the Tigers the men's weight throw again has the potential to be a point-maker. Entering the meet, the Tigers are listed 2-3-5-6 in the performance list with Tyler Dailey leading the way. Chris Rohr, Bobby Musil, and Jason Morris are in the fray as well. The quartet finished last year's Big 12 Indoor Championships by taking the 4-5-6-7 spots. Dailey and Rohr are in the national top 10 with Musil in 14th.

 

His Last Big 12 Meet

You won't find Hans Uldal listed in the national top 25 ranking of the men's heptathlon, yet. Uldal has not competed in one and neither has fellow senior Bjorn Sommerfeldt. Uldal is in a unique position however, as he will compete in his final Big 12 Championship this weekend. The 2004 Olympian does not have outdoor eligibility, so this is the last time the Tiger can score for his squad. In addition, both Uldal and Sommerfeldt will be looking for qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

 

Uldal has been such a mainstay for this Tiger team in the last four-plus years, and his impact will be remembered for ever. Uldal has score 49 points in conference competition, reaching deep down in the 2006 outdoor championships to score second in the decathlon and fifth in the open javelin event, even after suffering a major back injury.

 

ATHLETE	MEET	2006	2005	2004	2003	Grand Total
Uldal, Hans
	Big 12 Indoor Championships	8	*	^	6	14
	Big 12 Championships	12	10	8	5	35
TOTALS		20	10	8	11	49

 

* Uldal tripped in the 60-meter hurdle portion of the heptathlon and did not finish

^ Uldal redshirted to have an artery wrapped around his kidney repaired

 

Missouri's active scoring Big 12 Conference Championships leaders

(indoor and outdoor combined, male and female)

Hans Uldal	49
Trisa Nickoley	41
Marcus Mayes	27.5
Bjorn Sommerfeldt	27
Valerie Moll	27

 

Provisionally Speaking

For a complete ranking list, check here ...

http://www.trackshark.com/rankings/collegiate_lists.php

 

Indoor NCAA List							meet is March 9-10
updated February 21, 2007							in Fayetteville, Ark.
NCAA PROVISIONAL		Mark		NCAA Rank		Date	Meet
MEN
800m	Marcus Mayes (Sr.)	1:49.78		16th		Feb 10	Iowa State Classic
Mile	Tipper O'Brien (Sr.)	4:02.55		24th		Feb 3	Meyo Invitational
WT	Tyler Dailey (Jr.)	20.68m	67-6¾	8th		Feb 17	Missouri All-Comers
WT	Chris Rohr (So.)	20.59m	67-6¾	9th		Feb 2	Meyo Invitational
WT	Bobby Musil (Jr.)	20.31m	66-7¾	14th		Feb 17	Missouri All-Comers
WOMEN
800m	Trisa Nickoley (Jr.)	2:06.54		13th		Feb 10	Iowa State Classic
SP	Shernelle Nicholls (Jr.)	15.79m	51-9¾	21st		Feb 17	Missouri All-Comers
WT	Elisha Hunt (Jr.)	20.23mSR	66-4½	1st		Feb 17	Missouri All-Comers
Complete NCAA Lists

 

Post-Collegian Corner ...

Christian Cantwell and Neville Miller will be in Boston this weekend for the USATF Indoor Championships.