March 30, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou track and field team will host the annual Missouri Relays at Audrey J. Walton Track and Field Complex this Friday and Saturday (April 1-2). The meet will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and continue on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. For years, the Missouri Relays has showcased some of the top talent at the collegiate and high school levels as hundreds of athletes from across the area are expected to compete at the meet this weekend.
For the Tigers, they will look to build upon a strong indoor season under first-year head coach Brett Halter. In all, Mizzou saw two student-athletes - Lars Rise (Trondheim, Norway) and Brian Hancock (Monroe City, Mo.) - finish as All-Americans in their respective events and both should challenge for Big 12 and NCAA titles during the outdoor season. Combine those two with athletes such as Kearsten Peoples (Ottawa, Kan.), Laura Roxberg (Overland Park, Kan.), Tre Chambers (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Blake Irwin (Bettendorf, Iowa), Aaron Dixon (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and Chris Holly (Topeka, Kan.), Mizzou looks primed for a successful outdoor season.
Holly will be another athlete to watch on the men's side. He was the runner-up in the weight throw at the Big 12 Championships as he set a massive personal-best in the event at the meet. In fact, he recorded a new personal-best at nearly every indoor meet and his better event is the hammer throw. He is the 2009 NJCAA National Champion in the hammer and should challenge for a spot among the nation's elite after a great indoor season. Combine Holly with shot putters Brooks Mosier (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and Corey Jones (Boonville, Mo.), Mizzou should have a loaded throws group during the outdoor season.
Staying in the throws, Peoples set the Mizzou freshman record in the shot put and was an All-Big 12 honoree in the weight throw during the indoor season as she put together one of the best freshman seasons ever by a Tiger thrower. Combined her with the likes for sophomore All-Big 12 honoree Katie Evans (Powersville, Mo.) and classmate Jill Rushin (Jackson, Mo.), the throwers on the women's side are plenty reason for excitement.
Roxberg, Dixon and Irwin will all look to carry on the Mizzou middle-distance tradition this outdoor season. Dixon and Irwin both qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800m run last season and both will look to get back there this season. Roxberg had a sensational indoor season that led to her becoming the runner-up in the 1,000m run at the Big 12 Championships. She will compete primarily in the 1,500m run during the outdoor season, but look for her to make a statement in 2011 as well.
Lastly, Chambers will give the Tiger men a presence in the sprints during the outdoor season. He became the first Tiger to ever qualify for the men's 200m and 60m dash finals at the same Big 12 Championships and was the only freshman in the league to do so this season. Look for him to make some noise during the outdoor season as well.
For a complete recap of the Missouri Relays, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and be sure to follow the team on twitter @MIZ_TrackField.