May 28, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - A very busy week for Missouri Athletics continues in Louisville, Ky. as 23 Tiger track athletes will participate in the Mideast Regionals hosted by the University of Louisville Friday and Saturday afternoon. Coming off a strong showing in the Big 12 Outdoor Championships two weeks ago in Lubbock, the Tigers had a week off to rest and prepare for the meet that will determine who will make it to nationals at the University of Arkansas.
The Mideast region is comprised of universities in 12 states including Missouri and those states will be represented by 78 schools that participate in men's track and field and 81 schools that sponsor women's track and field. On the men's side alone, there are six teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, while there are five on the women's side.
In Mizzou's last outing, the Tigers brought home three individual championships in Chris Rohr, Krishna Lee and Shannon Leinert, with Lee also being the top point earner in the women's events. Rohr and Lee took home the hammer throw titles, while Leinert won the 800-meter crown.
Nine women athletes will take part in nine events, beginning with Leinert in the 800-meter run, Emily Baker in the 1500-meter run, Kaela Rorvig and JaNay Woolridge in the 100-meter hurdles, Leslie Farmer in the 400-meter hurdles, Rorvig again in the long jump, Krishna Lee and Elisha Hunt in the hammer throw and shot put and Lee and Katie Vanarsdall in the discus. The women's 4x400-meter relay team has also made the field with their time of 3:41.30 just making the cut.
14 men will represent Mizzou in ten events also with Rick Scheff, Aaron Dixon and Blake Irwin competing in the 800-meter run, Tim Cornell and Brian Graybill in the 1500-meter run, Dan Quigley and Michael Barrows in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Nick Adcock in the 110-meter hurdles, Chris Davis in the 400-meter hurdles, Daniel Hunter in the high jump, Brian Hancock in the pole vault, Rohr in the hammer throw and discus and John Thies in the javelin.
The regional meet will begin at 11 a.m. EST with the men's javelin preliminaries and finals. Live results will be posted at DeltaTiming.com.