March 4, 2007

AMES, Iowa - It was the third trip to Ames, Iowa, in four weeks for members of the Missouri Track & Field squads as they competed yesterday in the final regular-season meet of the indoor season, the Cyclone National Qualifier. While the pure objective of the weekend is to strengthen season bests for consideration of NCAA Indoor Championship entry, some competed for a last tune-up before the national meet while others used the opportunity as springboard for the outdoor season.

Junior transfer Shernelle Nicholls (St. Andrews Parrish, Barbados) won the women's shot-put competition with a personal best throw of 53 feet, 1¾ inches (16.20m). Nicholls, entering the weekend 16th-ranked nationally, added six inches to her previous best set a week ago, adding over three feet to her overall best in the past five weeks. More importantly, the mark all but guaranteed Nicholls entry into the NCAA Indoor Championships next week, by placing her in the NCAA's top 15.

Senior Marcus Mayes (Sand Springs, Okla.) will likely travel to his third-consecutive NCAA Indoor Championship as a result of his 1:48.60 clocking in the men's 800-meter run. Ranked 22nd nationally entering the weekend, Mayes' time at least places him in the NCAA's top eight and moves him to fourth all-time in Mizzou indoor history in the event. Mayes earned All-American honors a year ago at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Also, senior Jimmie Jones grabbed an NCAA-provisional qualifying mark with a 1:49.87 clocking in the 800 meters. Jones will likely finish the indoor season just outside the national top 25.

Junior transfer Hedvig Glomsroed broke Missouri's women's triple jump school-record for the fourth time this season, leaping to 41-3 (12.57m) in a second-place finish.

The 4x400-meter relay team of Jerron Forte, Mayes, Jones, and Nick Adcock bettered their NCAA-provisional time with a 3:10.16 clocking. The team consisting of two freshmen and only one true 400-meter runner ran the squad's fastest time since the school record was set in 1999 and will finish as a national top-20 team.

Junior Nate Englin, ranked 22nd nationally, came five inches from his season's best with a winning mark of 60-3 (18.36m) in the men's shot put.

Sophomore Chris Rohr, ranked eighth nationally in the men's weight throw, won the event with a 67-11½ (20.71m) mark. Rohr likely is going to earn an at-large bid into next week's national championships.

The final national descending order lists will be announced later tonight while the final list of athletes accepted into the NCAA Indoor Championships will be announced late Monday evening. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held next Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

The final lists will be posted here ... http://web1.ncaa.org/track/events.jsp

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