April 11, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - High winds gusting to 40 miles per hour shortened day one of the 12th Annual Tom Botts Invitational. Competing against Brigham Young University and the University of Tulsa, the Missouri men's and women's track and field squads recorded five individual wins at Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Friday. The men's pole vault that was rescheduled for Friday had to be suspended due to high winds.
Missouri took four of the top five spots in the women's discus led by meet winner Shernelle Nicholls' NCAA Regional qualifying toss of 162 feet, 9 inches (49.62m). Freshman Hope Harris (Clinton, Mo. / Clinton HS) was third, followed by junior Krishna Lee (Kansas City, Mo. / O'Hara HS) and senior Elizabeth Robe (Waukesha, Wisc. / Waukesha West HS).
The Tigers went 1-2 in the men's shot put. Senior Nate Englin (Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View HS) won with a NCAA Regional qualifying throw of 55-9¼ (17.00m) as sophomore Andy Oaker (Steelville, Mo. / Steelville HS) took second.
The Tiger women swept the first four spots in the shot put. Nicholls (St. Andrew Parrish, Barbados / Missouri Baptist) won her second event of the day with her toss of 50-11 (15.52m). Lee, Robe and senior Elisha Hunt (Linn, Mo. / Linn HS) rounded out the top four.
In the men's discus, an Audrey J. Walton Stadium record fell as BYU sophomore Leif Arrhenius hurled a toss of 207-01 (63.12m), the longest collegiate throw to date in 2008. Missouri's Chris Rohr (Lee's Summit, Mo. / Lee's Summit North HS) and Jason Morris (St. Louis, Mo. / Priory HS) finished second and third, respectively, and qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional. Rohr's toss of 176-6 (53.79m) was a personal best for the junior.
John Thies (Cape Girardeau, Mo. / Cape Central HS) won the men's javelin with a hurl of 192-0 (58.53m).
Junior JaNay Woolridge (Jessup, Md. / Long Reach HS) won the women's long jump with a wind-aided mark of 18-9 (5.71m). Sophomore Lana Mims (Tulsa, Okla. / Metro Christian Academy) grabbed fifth place.
Freshman David Shanks finished fourth in the men's long jump with a jump of 20-5½ (6.23m).
With better conditions expected tomorrow, all track and remaining field events will be completed starting at 11 a.m. The women's 3000-meter steeplechase will kick off Day Two, which is scheduled to conclude at 3:25 p.m. with the men's 4 x 400-meter relay. A Senior Day presentation is scheduled for noon.
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