Mizzou and Big 12 Track Meet Heads For the Mountains
May 14, 2008
-Big 12 Championships- Boulder, Colo. Quick Info and Links Shades of the Season Latest USTFCCCA Rankings
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri Track & Field teams will compete in the Big 12 Championships in Boulder, Colo., starting Friday. In what should be a very intriguing team race on both sides of the circuit, an added factor of the effects of altitude should be compelling. Colorado is hosting their first conference championship since the Big Eight days in 1993 and is ready for three exciting days of some of the best collegiate track & field in the world. Altitude Adjustment No, it’s not grandma’s “attitude adjustment” … it’s Boulder’s altitude adjustment. Boulder placed at the base of the Flatirons with the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains on either side is nearly a mile above sea level in elevation. Any competition contested above 1,000 meters in elevation is considered to be “at altitude” and will forever have an “A” beside the official historical results. With an official elevation of 1,665 meters (5,430 feet), some events gain advantages because of the altitude while others, like distance events do not. Therefore, different concessions are made for NCAA qualifying in the distance events. Here’s what Track & Field News’ Big Gold Book says about altitude, “… it is recognized that the lowered air resistance at high altitudes produces better marks in the sprints, hurdles, and jumps. The 800m seems to be close to the cusp, where the benefit of lowered air resistance is canceled by the reduction in available oxygen …” For the record, here are the qualifying marks and time allowance (also the time that will be used to convert the actual clocking for record purposes) prescribed by the NCAA specifically for Boulder and the distance events: WOMEN MEN For all of those still thirsting for more altitude conversions and seeking all locations needing altitude adjustments, visit here: Rocky Mountain Way The Tigers captured three event titles at the Big 12 Indoor meet in February in Lincoln and would like that momentum to continue. Senior Nate Englin’s huge shot put toss earlier in May places him as the favorite on the men’s side. With a career best of 62-5¾ (19.04m), Englin paces the field of season bests by nearly four feet. Englin won his first conference crown during the indoor season and was also that meet’s co-high scorer. Englin is also 10th in the NCAA ranks currently. Second verse, same as the first. It’s again Missouri versus Kansas, U.S. versus Russia in the men’s hammer throw. During the indoor season, it was Mizzou’s Chris Rohr going toe-to-toe with KU’s Egor Agafonov in the weight throw. The duo then entered the Big 12 meet at 1-2 in the nation, but Agafonov prevailed to win his third-straight title in the event. Now, the story is nearly the same for the hammer, but now its school-record holder Jason Morris, along with Rohr, chasing the Jayhawk. Agafonov leads the Big 12 and is third in the NCAA with his season’s best of 226-2 (68.94m) achieved in defeating Morris at the Drake Relays. Morris is sixth in the country, second in the conference with his school-record effort of 224-5 (68.41m), which was also accomplished at the Drake Relays. Rohr is also in the hunt with a season best of 216-5 (65.98m) which is third in the Big 12 and 13th nationally. Englin and Tyler Dailey sit 4-6 in the conference rundown. The men’s hammer has been the Tigers’ bread-and-butter in the past conference meets, producing 22 points in 2006 as Morris placed second as part of a Mizzou 2-3-4-6 finish. Sophomore Nick Adcock has been quasi-laying low during this outdoor season. After an All-American effort and Big 12 Championship during the indoor season, Adcock has been in only one decathlon so far this outdoor go-round. At a blustery Kansas Relays, Adcock was able to tally 7,329 points for a solid NCAA qualifier and current Big 12 leader. Freshman Lars Rise scored 7,310 points at the same meet and is second among conference foes in terms of season’s bests. Lots of variables are still unknown about this particular championship: what effect will altitude play?, will NCAA and Big 12 Champ, Texas’ Donovan Kilmartin compete in his final Big 12 meet in the decathlon?, who is ready to make the championship push? Should be an edge-of-your-seat, back-and-forth, Pepto Bismol type of competition Friday and Saturday. Should everyone be at peak potential, the men’s pole vault has the chance to be as drama filled. A whole host of prospective suitors could be on the championship stand including sophomore Brian Hancock. After vaulting to 17-5 (5.31m) in Arkansas earlier this month, Hancock is among six that have went over 17 feet this season in the conference. Only Texas frosh Maston Wallace (17-6½) and reigning champ, Jordan Scott of Kansas (17-7) have went higher this season. The trio is among the top 15 collegians in the country. Hancock has also been eyeing the school record of 17-6½ (5.35m). On the women’s side, senior Trisa Nickoley has three Big 12 Indoor titles at 800 meters, and attempts at her first outdoor crown will not be easy. While only two this year in the league have run under 2:07, six more have ran under 2:08. Nickoley has to chase UT junior Katara Rosby and Texas senior Temeka Kincy along with Baylor’s Lauren Hagans, among others for a chance at the crown. Kincy was the one who went shoulder-to-shoulder with Nickoley at the indoor meet this year until Nickoley turned on the jets on the final turn to take the tape. Hagans, most likely running the 1500 and not the 800, was just barely beat by former Tiger Amanda Bales at 1500 meters at the 2006 Big 12 Championships in Waco. Quick! Name two female Tigers who are in the league’s top five in two separate events …. Got it? I hope you guessed Krishna Lee and Shernelle Nicholls. Lee who was a two-event NCAA qualifier last season brings her talents again to the shot put and hammer throw events, ranking fourth in the league in both. Nicholls who has a long-documented history in the throws is in the Big 12’s top five in the shot and discus. Nicholls is Barbados’ national record holder in both events. Last year at the Big 12 meet in Lincoln, Nicholls lost the Big 12 title to Texas’ Michelle Carter by a single centimeter, throwing to a school record of 56-3 (17.14m). ### |
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 Rohr, Lee Finish As All-Americans06/12/2009 - Track Although Friday marked the end of the 2009 outdoor season for Missouri Track and Field, the Tigers finished the season with two more All-Americans in Chris Rohr and Krishna Lee despite more weather issues pushing back the start of the NCAA Outdoor Championships well past the 11 a.m. start time. |
 Rise Repeats As All-American06/12/2009 - Track After a grueling, nearly nine-hour competition, Tiger decathlete Lars Rise battled the elements and 21 other competitors over two days to finish his 2009 track season as an All-American for the second straight year on day two of the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. |
 Tigers Qualify Despite Weather Issues06/10/2009 - Track Although weather problems would affect day one of the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Tigers were still able to compete, paying off with three finals qualifiers in the hammer throw and pole vault and a top ten placing so far in five events of the decathlon. |
 Rohr Advances to Finals on First Attempt in Hammer Throw06/10/2009 - Track The Tigers had a strong start during the first event of the NCAA National Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. as Senior Chris Rohr automatically advanced to the finals of the Hammer Throw |
 Tigers Ready For Nationals06/09/2009 - Track Six Tigers have made it through the regional round of qualifying and have been accepted to the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Arkansas' John McDonnell Field beginning tomorrow morning. |
