April 11, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo.-- On the last home track meet of the year, the Mizzou track and field team wanted to have another strong team effort before embarking on a month long road trip away from Columbia and finished the day with 15 winners and five regional qualifying marks in the 13th annual Tom Botts Invitational.
The women's team took first place in the team standings finishing with 225.5 points, followed by Indiana State, Air Force and Tulsa, while the men's team finished second earning 191 points while the Sycamore men finished with 199.50 points on the day. Although being recognized as a senior, Krishna Lee also took home outstanding female athlete in the event, while Kellen Curry of Air Force took home the outstanding male athlete award.
Tim Cornell set a personal and meet record in his 3:46.42 win in the men's 1500-meter run, and in the process hit a regional qualifying mark.
Brian Hancock earned another men's pole vault win, also hitting a regional qualifying mark clearing 16 feet, 6.25 inches, clearing two more notches better than second place finisher Brandin Bear of the Falcons.
The tandem of Lee and Elisha Hunt claimed another one-two finish in the women's hammer throw, as Lee took the title on her first throw of the event with a toss of 192 feet, 7 inches (58.71 meters), with Hunt coming in second with a toss of 168 feet, 1 inch (51.23 meters).
Lee went on to also take the women's shot put on her last toss of the event, throwing 50 feet, 5.50 inches beating Air Force's Sara Neubauer for her second title of the day.
JaNay Woolridge won the women's long jump over teammate Lana Mims, with Woolridge's 19 feet, 2.50 inch (5.85 meters) jump besting Mims' jump of 18 feet, 9.25 inches.
A hundredth of a second would separate Woolridge and Kaela Rorvig from first and second place in the final heat of the women's 100-meter hurdles, as Woolridge just edges out Rorvig in 14.38 seconds to Rorvig's 14.39 seconds.
The women's 4x400-meter relay not only set a regional qualifying time, taking first in 3:41.11, they set a meet and new school record in the process. The men's team also took first place in the men's 4x400 meter relay
Shannon Leinert dominated from start to finish in her 800-meter run victory, taking the first place spot in a time of 2:08.64, continuing the winning streak of Mizzou women in the race at five straight wins.
Chris Rohr's toss of 222 feet, 9 inches in the men's hammer throw was good enough for first place in the event. One of the top throwers in the country, this is Rohr's second consecutive hammer throw victory this year.
Stacy Swineburg continued her dominance of the women's high jump, taking her third individual title of the year clearing 5 feet, 5 inches (1.65 meters), two inches better than Indiana State's Annie Beasley.
Bobby Schaffer won the men's long jump with a leap of 21 feet (6.42 meters) on his second jump of the event, besting the Sycamores Jon Lautzenheiser who jumped 20 feet, 11.75 inches.
Junior Daniel Hunter took his second men's high jump individual title of the outdoor season on Saturday, clearing 6 feet, 8.75 inches (2.05 meters) on his first attempt.
Ryan Blackwell took first in a close men's 400-meter dash race, edging out Sean Wright of Indiana State by two-tenths of a second at 47.77 seconds.
Ashley Mark started strong and finished first in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase in 11:53.90 in the first race of the day, while Megan Kowalik finished third in a time of 12:22.24.
The Missouri women's 4x100-meter relay team needed a strong comeback in the race, but got a fierce comeback by Sierra Gant on the final leg and helped the team take first in 46.96 seconds.
The Tigers will hit the road next week, traveling to Fayetteville for the John McDonnell Invitational at the University of Arkansas beginning Saturday.