May 15, 2011
Norman, Okla. -- The University of Missouri men's and women's track teams finished up competition at the 2011 Big 12 Outdoor Championships at John Jacobs Track Complex in Norman, Okla. Mizzou continued to peak at the right time, seeing many new season bests and personal records. The men's team finished ninth overall with a total score of 35 points, in a field that contained eight teams ranked in the top 25, including top-ranked Texas A&M. Mizzou's men knocked off 25th ranked Kansas State. The women finished tied for 11th with 12 points in a field that contained nine teams ranked in the top 25.
"I thought everyone competed hard across the board today," Mizzou Head Track and Field Coach, Brett Halter said. "In a meet like this, you want to celebrate your accomplishments. I thought our team competed terrific, in a lot of cases, the athletes delivered more than others expected - they really over achieved in a lot of areas. Beating teams in this league is a huge accomplishment - the worst team in this league is a great track team."
In a field that contained four out of the nation's top 11 performers in the event, junior Leslie Farmer (Jefferson City, Mo.) broke her own school record in the 400m hurdles for the second time in as many days. Farmer placed fifth, earning All-Conference for the eighth time in her career with a time of 58.22. Also earning All-Conference honors for Mizzou was sophomore Laura Roxberg (Overland Park, Kan.) finishing sixth in the 1,500m run with a time of 4:27.80.
On the men's side, the 4x100m relay team of seniors Chris Davis (Riverdale, Ga.) and Mark Hughes (Center, Mo.), freshman Tre Chambers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and sophomore Tucker Bounds (Columbia, Mo.) placed eighth with a season best time of 40.74, earning All-Conference honors. Chambers also earned All-Conference honors in the 200m dash, placing eighth with a time of 21.24. Chambers also took ninth in the 100m dash with a 10.66.
Senior Aaron Dixon (Lee's Summit, Mo.) had a great final conference meet, earning All-Conference honors for the eighth and ninth times in his career. Dixon finished eighth in the 800m run with a time of 1:50.25. Dixon then played a huge role in helping the 4x400m relay team composed of fellow seniors Chris Davis (Riverdale, Ga.) and Mark Hughes (Center, Mo.) and Bounds to a fifth place finish with a season best time of 3:09.28.
Also earning All-Conference recognition after many off-season surgeries was junior Dan Quigley (St. Louis, Mo.), finishing seventh in the steeplechase with a time of 9:10.58.
Sophomore Brooks Mosier (Lee's Summit, Mo.) led the Tigers in the discus, throwing a personal record of 53.86m (176-08), placing ninth. Also competing in the event for Mizzou were junior Tim Opfer (Higginsville, Mo.) and freshman Alex McDonald (Wentzville, Mo.), finishing 11th and 18th, respectively, with throws of 52.55m (172-05) and 48.17m (158-00). The throw was a personal record for Opfer.
In the triple jump freshman Jeremy Lampley (Ballwin, Mo.) finished 13th with a jump of 14.49m (47-06 ½). Senior Chris Davis (Riverdale, Ga.) placed ninth in the 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 51.47. Sophomore Max Storms (Kansas City, Mo.) finished 16th in the 5,000m run with a time of 14:38.86.
Also competing today for the women was junior Stacy Swineburg (Camdenton, Mo.), who tied her personal record while placing in a tie with freshman Camille Hayes (Indianapolis, Ind.) for 12th in the high jump, jumping 1.66m (5-05 ¼). Senior Shawnte Middlebrook (Lee's Summit, Mo.) jumped to a new personal record of 12.23m (40-01 ½) and placed 15th in the triple jump.
In the discus, junior Katie Vanarsdall (Buckner, Mo.), sophomore Megan Collins (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and freshman Sandra Hampton (Lee's Summit, Mo.) finished 13th, 16th and 19th, respectively, with throws of 46.78m (153-06), 46.28m (151-10) and 45.08m (147-11).
In the pole vault sophomore Heather Green (Jefferson City, Mo.) and junior Holly Stewart (Lee's Summit, Mo.) took 14th and 16th, respectively, vaulting 3.68m (12-00 ¾) and 3.53m (11-07). The women's 4x100m relay team of freshmen Lauren Flaker (Columbia, Mo.) and Cara Forte (Kansas City, Mo.), junior Sierra Gant (Wichita, Kan.) and Middlebrook ran 47.48 and finished ninth.
Freshman Kaitie Vanatta (Littleton, Colo.) led the way for the women in the 5,000m run, finishing 10th with a personal record of 16:35.44. Also competing for Mizzou were senior Kinsey Farren (Dallas, Texas), junior Aimee Bonte (Fenton, Mo.) and sophomore Bailey Belvis (Prosper, Texas), finishing 17th, 23rd and 26th, respectively, running times of 17:11.59, 17:35.57 and 17:51.68. Farren ran a season best in the event after competing in the 10,000m run two nights earlier. Bonte's time was good enough for a new personal record.
Texas A&M won both the men's and women's titles with 175 and 146 points, respectively.
"We have to get a lot better and we are working at it," Halter said. "The seasonal bests and personal bests are a good move in that direction. Any disappointments weren't from a lack of effort."