Feb. 3, 2007
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Missouri track and field squads competed in the 20th Annual Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Notre Dame. The meet featured top-flight competition from nearly 30 NCAA schools, including many Big Ten and SEC squads, nearly mirroring the NCAA Mideast region used in outdoor qualifying. The Tigers picked up four new NCAA-provisional qualifying marks this weekend with several other personal bests and breakthroughs just three weeks before the Big 12 Indoor Championships.
On Friday, for the second-consecutive year, the Tigers dominated the men's weight throw taking the top-three spots once again this year. Sophomore 7th-nationally ranked Chris Rohr (Lee's Summit, Mo.) won his second-consecutive title at the Meyo and his fourth overall with a season-best 67-6¾ toss (20.59m). Junior Bobby Musil was second with a season-best 64-6½ (19.67m), becoming the third Tiger with an NCAA-provisional qualifying mark in the event. No. 15-nationally ranked Tyler Dailey was third at 63-8¾ (19.42m).
In the famous Meyo Mile, senior Tipper O'Brien (Kirkwood, Mo.) shaved two seconds off his personal best with a fourth-place finish and a 4:02.55 clocking. The time puts O'Brien second all-time in Mizzou indoor history in the event and gains him an NCAA-provisional qualifying mark.
Junior Trisa Nickoley ran a season's best 2:08.28 in the women's 800-meter run to finish seventh and gain her first NCAA-provisional qualifying mark of the season.
Junior transfer Shernelle Nicholls (St. Andrews Parrish, Barbados) jumped on the national list with a 50-2½ toss (15.30m) to place second in the women's shot put. Nicholls remains at second on the all-time Mizzou indoor list.
In the women's weight throw, junior Elisha Hunt, ranked No. 10 nationally, was third at 61-1¼ (18.60m) and sophomore Krishna Lee was fourth with a personal best 60-10¾ (18.56m) marking.
In the men's shot put, Nate Englin placed third at 56-6½ (17.23m). Freshman Andy Oaker had his fourth-consecutive meet with a personal best, placing eighth with a 52-10¼ (16.12m) heave.
The Tigers had other notable performances in the largely-fielded meet. On the women's side, Lana Mims jumps into Mizzou's all-time top five in the women's 60-meter dash with a 7.94 clocking ... In the women's mile, sophomore Ellen Ries ran a personal best 4:55.48 ... Also in the mile, freshman Emily Baker won her heat in a exciting fashion, taking her heat in a close race at 5:02.00, shaving three seconds off her personal best ... senior Valerie Moll was sixth in the women's 5000 with a 16:42.86 season opener.
On the men's side, sprinter Greg Bracey ran a season's best 6.83 to finish fifth in the men's 60-meter dash ... in the men's 400, Tigers Rickey Leathers and Austin Kerkhover recorded personal bests of 50.45 and 50.95, respectively ... sophomore Garett Jeffries and Dan Hedgecock had all-time Mizzou top-ten performances in the men's 3000 with 8:19.08 and 8:20.33 clockings, respectively ... freshman decathlete Nick Adcock cleared a personal best 6-9 (2.06m) in the men's high jump, coming very close twice to clearing 6-11 ... freshman Brian Hancock was sixth in the men's pole vault, clearing 16-4¾ (5.00m) ... transfer Steve Shimkus recorded a personal best in the pole vault with a 14-4 clearance.
The Tigers will travel next weekend to the Iowa State Classic, with competition taking place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. For complete results of the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational, visit und.com.
Cantwell Reclaims Meet Record at Friday's 100th Annual Millrose Games
Tiger post-collegian Christian Cantwell (Eldon, Mo.) had an impressive night at the 100th Annual Millrose Games in New York City Friday night. Recording his second-best all-time indoor performance, Cantwell took the field with a 71-9¼ (21.88m) toss, reclaiming the meet record in the event. His throw also is the early World's leader for 2007. Fellow American Reese Hoffa was second at 71-7 (21.75m), scaring Cantwell's mark on his next-to-last and final throws.
"It was sick, actually," said Cantwell. "Last week we all threw almost 70 feet, this week everybody threw around 71. I expected Hoffa to do really good. Millrose is what he lives for [because] [h]e's sponsored by the New York Athletic Club. It's nice to be able to spoil his party. I had the [Millrose] record here three years ago, and he broke it the last two years, so it's about time it comes back to me. This year seems to be really hot [in the shot put]. It's a good thing Adam Nelson is taking the indoor season off, otherwise it would be ridiculously far out there. Every time we come here, it's great. Anytime you can come out here and put on a good show, you can make history."