June 25, 2014

Peoples and Rushin at the SEC Indoor Championships

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Juniors Kearsten Peoples and Jill Rushin once again demonstrated why they are two of the top female throwers in the U.S. on Wednesday, as they both finished in the top ten of the shot put field at the U.S. Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.  After making it out of the preliminary round of 18 in the morning, the pair proceeded on to the final round Wednesday afternoon, with Peoples leading the way in seventh (16.96m / 55-7.75), followed closely by Rushin in eighth (16.54m / 54-3.25).

"A terrific end to our season.  I thought both Jill and Kearsten competed exceptionally well in their first international championship format - qualifying in the morning and competing in the afternoon for the final," Head Coach Brett Halter said. "Finishing in the top ten in the United States amongst professionals and collegians is a terrific honor."

The duo has had quite the one-two punch during 2014, holding the top two shot put marks in the NCAA throughout much of the season.  Peoples, who owns the Missouri School Record in the event (18.22m/59-9.5) from 2012, maintained the top collegiate toss of 17.90m (58-8.75) from the Emporia Mid-Week Open partway through the season.  She was followed closely in both the Mizzou Record Books and the NCAA Rankings by Rushin with her 17.62m (57-9.75) personal record (PR).

They also took the reins in the conference, with Rushin assuming the lead to claim her first SEC title, followed by Peoples in second.  They then advanced on to the NCAA Championships, where Peoples earned her seventh All-American honor, and Rushin finished Second Team All-American.

"Our Tiger Family is certainly proud of their efforts throughout the year," Halter said. "We will now turn our attention to some much needed rest and recovery as we begin our planning for next year."

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