ATHENS, Ga. - Mizzou Track and Field opened up the two-day Spec Towns Invitational in Athens, Georgia, on Friday (April 8).  Highlighting the day's performances was an event win for senior Will Crocker, and a pair of PR's from sophomores John Warren and Valeska Halamicek, junior Drew White, and freshmen Will Fife and Charles Graham, Jr.

ABOUT THE MEET
Meet Schedule // Live Results // Friday Heats // Saturday Heats

RANKED FIELD (M // W) - Georgia (No. 11 // No. 7), Kentucky (-- // No. 9), North Carolina (No. 20 // --), South Caroline (No. 9 // --), Virginia Tech (No. 19 // No. 20)

#MIZTF RECAP - FRIDAY
Junior Tanner Buschmann and freshman Will Fife started the day off with the men's discus.  Buschmann led the pair with a seventh-place finish, throwing just under his PR with a top toss of 50.12m (164-5).  Freshman Will Fife placed 11th in the competition with a new best of 46.54m (152-8). 

The men's hammer throw took to the ring next, with junior Ahren Bohanan leading the Tigers with a ninth-place finish (56.44m // 185-2).  Senior Nick Sublett finished just behind him in tenth overall.

Sophomore John Warren and senior Tony Carodine kicked off their two-event weekend with performances in the long jump Friday evening.  Warren closed the competition in third overall with a new PR jump of 7.40m (24-3.50), followed by Carodine in ninth.

Friday evening also saw the first set of track events, beginning with the men's 110m and women's 100m hurdles.  Freshman Charles Graham, Jr., earned a new PR in the event with his second-place crossing (14.36).  Junior Valerie Thames's 13.43 finish, good for a school record had it not been for the wind-aid, gave her fourth in the field while Felton crossed in ninth.

A pair of Tigers also competed in the elite sections of the 1500m run, starting with the winning effort of senior Will Crocker, who ran just over his current PR (3:43.66) to cross first in 3:45.51.  On the women's side, sophomore Valeska Halamicek knocked four-seconds off of her previous best, finishing in 4:26.59 for second overall.

The men's and women's 3000m runs closed out the day's events on the track, with freshman Kate Smith leading the women in second overall (9:54.79) and freshman Thomas George leading the men (8:36.12).

Events will resume Saturday at 11 a.m. ET with the men's javelin throw.  Track events are scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. ET for the Tigers.  For the latest on Mizzou Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.

#MIZTF RESULTS - FRIDAY
Pole Vault, Men - 4. Matt Ludwig, 5.11m (16-9.25)
Long Jump, Men - 3. John Warren, 7.40m (24-3.50) PR // 9. Tony Carodine, 6.90m (22-7.75)
Long Jump, Women - 8. Lynnsey Brim, 5.76m (18-10.75)w // 15. Keyoni Mbroh, 5.30m (17-4.50)w
Discus, Men - 7. Tanner Buschmann, 50.12m (164-5) // 11. Will Fife, 46.54m (152-8) PR
Hammer, Men - 9. Ahren Bohanan, 56.44m (185-2) // 10. Nick Sublett, 54.29m (178-1)

1500m Run, Men - 1. Will Crocker, 3:45.51
1500m Run, Women - 2. Valeska Halamicek, 4:26.59 PR
3000m Run, Men - 2. Kate Smith, 9:54.79 // 6. Nicole Mello, 10:04.21 // 17. Sam Garrett, 10:58.12
3000m Run, Women - 4. Thomas George, 8:36.12 // 6. Drew White, 8:44.16 PR // 9. Sheldon Keence, 8:52.48
110m Hurdles, Men - 2. Charles Graham, Jr., 14.36 PR
100m Hurdles, Women - 4. Valerie Thames, 13.43w // 9. Alyssa Felton, 13.81