May 14, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. -

With last week off after a six-week stretch of meets, the Missouri Track and Field squad heads to Lubbock for the Big 12 Outdoor Championships this weekend at the new Terry and Linda Fuller Track Stadium at Texas Tech.

After a solid start to the season, the Tigers seem ready for the challenge of competing with the Big 12's best, beginning Friday morning with the start of the Decathlon and Heptathlon. The rest of the meet will begin in earnest Saturday with the completion of the multi events and start of the individual running and field events.

Here's how the meet will stack up best for the Tigers:

Multi Events

Throws

Another area where Missouri looks to prosper will be in the rings. One of the strongest areas on the team, the Tigers, led by Chris Rohr and Krishna Lee, will have eight participants in the men and women's hammer throw, shot put and discus. The hammer should be solid for the Tigers, as Chris Rohr leads the conference on the men's side, while the tandem of Lee and Elisha Hunt have finished 1-2 in five meets this year. Surprises could come from some of the younger Tigers, such as Tim Opfer, Katie Varnarsdall and Pat Fitzgerald, who have been steadily improving over the course of the year.

Running Events

This could be one of the more impressive areas for Missouri, as the Tigers should get solid performances from many different areas on Saturday and Sunday. Shannon Leinert, the indoor conference champion in the 800-meter run, looks to go for the outdoor crown in Lubbock, and has the second best time in the conference behind Colorado Olympian Jenny Barringer. Other possible standouts for the Tigers could be Tim Cornell in the 1500-meter run, Leslie Farmer in the 400-meter hurdles and the women's relay teams.

Also this week, the Big 12 released their Academic All-Big 12 teams and 28 Tigers were selected between the first and Second Teams. Senior Brian Graybill was one of 15 athletes making the team with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Here's the list of Mizzou first and second teamers.

First Team (3.20-plus GPA; *indicates nominated wit h a 4.00 GPA)

Nicholas Adcock,        Missouri           Jr.        Accountancy                           Kansas City, Mo.

Michael Barrows,         Missouri           Sr.        Business Administration          Flint, Mich.

Ryan Blackwell,          Missouri           So.       Business                                  Fenton, Mo.

Tim Cornell,                Missouri           Sr.        Biological Sciences                  Columbia, Mo.

Aaron Dixon,               Missouri           So.       Business Management             Lee's Summit, Mo.

Brian Graybill,             Missouri*          Sr.      Mechanical Enginerring           Liberty, Mo

Brian Hancock,            Missouri           Jr.        Secondary Education               Monroe City, Mo.

Daniel Hedgecock,      Missouri           Jr.        English                                     St. Louis, Mo.

Philip King,                  Missouri           So.       Chemistry                                Columbia, Mo.

Tim Opfer,                   Missouri           Fr.        Biological Sciences                  Higginsville, Mo.

Michael Pandolfo,       Missouri           Fr.        Accountancy                           Lone Tree, Colo.

Daniel Quigley,            Missouri           Fr.        Mechanical Enginerring           St. Louis, Mo.

Steven Shimkus,          Missouri           Sr.        Mechanical Enginerring           Columbia, Mo.

John Thies,                  Missouri           Sr.        General Studies                        Cape Giradeau, Mo.

Ben Wade,                   Missouri           So.       Accountancy                           St. Charles, Mo.

Jessica Armstrong,       Missouri           So.       English                                     Dorr, Mich.

Lauren Begany,           Missouri           Jr.        Business Administration          Fenton, Mo.

Lindsey Boldt,             Missouri           Jr.        Business Administration          Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

Meaghan Brougher,     Missouri           Jr.        Business Administration          Highland Village, Texas

Krishna Lee,                Missouri           Sr.        Business Administration          Kansas City, Mo.

Angela Potrykus,         Missouri           Jr.        Journalism                               Evergreen, Colo.

Ellen Ries,                   Missouri           Jr.        Nutritional Sciences                 Ryan, Iowa

Katie Vanarsdall,         Missouri           Fr.        Elementary Education              Buckner, Mo

JaNay Woolridge,        Missouri           Sr.        Biological Sciences                  Jessup, Md

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 GPA)

Matthew Willingham,   Missouri           So.       Business                                  Cape Giradeau, Mo.

Emily Baker,                Missouri           Jr.        Secondary Education               Wildwood, Mo.

Melissa Coil,                Missouri           Fr.        Undeclared/Arts and Sciences             Clark, Mo.

Kaela Rorvig,               Missouri           Sr.        Business Administration          Columbia, Mo.

The Big 12 Outdoor Championships get underway Friday morning at 11 a.m. with the Decathlon 100-meter dash, with live results at http://www.flashresults.com/2009_Meets/outdoor/Big12/