Stacked with talent

• Two-time champion Peterson leads MU

With many of its star athletes returning and a handful of exciting new faces, assistant coach Jeff Pigg likes his team’s chances in Big 12 and non-conference competition in MU’s 100th season of track and field.

WILL HORTMAN/ Missourian MU track runners, from left, Timothy Dunne, Jason Franken, Derrick Peterson and Stewart Kimball, practice in the Hearnes Center Field House on Thursday. Peterson, an All-American, will compete in the 800-meter run at today's meet.

“We worked really hard in recruiting regarding what is potentially the best class in the history of the University of Missouri, but only time will tell,” Pigg said.

Leading the MU men’s team into the new millennium is returning two-time NCAA champion and American indoor collegiate record holder in the 800-meters, Derrick Peterson. The senior is undefeated in conference meets and will be looking to defend both his ind oor and outdoor Big 12 Conference and NCAA titles this season.

“The true leader on this team is Derrick,” said freshman thrower Christian Cantwell. “The guy is all-world.”

“I’m looked upon by my peers as someone who’s going to steer them in the right direction,” Peterson said. “Hopefully the direction a lot of these guys would like to follow.”

Peterson said the middle-distance group is the nucleus of the men’s team. Joining the seven-time Big 12 champion in the middle distances is freshman sensation Stewart Kimball. The six-time Missouri 3A state champion was ranked No. 2 in the 800-meters by Track & Field News while in high school.

“Stewart now has his Tiger uniform on, and that’s obviously really exciting for us now,” Pigg said. “With the freshman class of throwers we have, our strong middle distance and distance runners, we’re excited about our team.”

One of the new throwers joining the team this year is Cantwell, already regarded by Pigg as “the strongest guy in school history.”

Earlier this school year, the 1999 Missouri 3A state champion broke MU’s bench press record by pressing 570 pounds.

Team captain Jay Meystedt, who is coming off injuries over the past two seasons, will look to return to his All-Big 12 form in the high jump.

All-Big 12 member and team captain Espen Strindeberg returns for his senior year and hopes to improve on his 10th-place finish at the conference championships in the decathlon from a year ago.

If there is one event in which the Tigers lack depth, it has to be in the sprints. Kristian Fagerland, Chad Shade and Thomas Woods, three runners on MU’s 1,600-meter relay team, have all completed their eligibility. Peterson is the only remaining member of this relay team.

MU football standout Carlos Posey, who started for three years at cornerback, indicated he is interested in returning to the track team after qualifying for the 1999 NCAA championships in the 60-meter dash and earning All-Big 12 honors.

“Carlos has talked about running, and if he does, he’s a contender,” Pigg said. “He’s a guy that could walk out of here in a week and get excited about running and be Big 12 champion. Line up a guy like that, the sprint group has got a little stronger — and that’s a real exciting possibility.”

Leading the women’s side will be two-time All-American Ashley Wysong. The junior set both indoor and outdoor school records in the 800 last season after returning from a 1998 injury.

“Wysong is a great competitor and a great leader. It’s exciting to have her on board and healthy and doing well,” Pigg said. “Man, you never know, the sky’s the limit with what she might do. She was only a sophomore when she ran all these great races last year.”

“Ashley is a very lively and talented person,” said junior middle distance runner Sunny Gilbert, a five-time All-Big 12 selection.

Gilbert looks to improve on her runner-up finish at the 1999 Indoor Big 12 Championships. She also qualified for the NCAA championships in the heptathlon.

In the throws, MU will continue to rely on three-time co-captain and four-time Big-12 selection Heather White, owner of the hammer (outdoor) and weight (indoor) throw school records.

Team co-captain Lindsey Miller, the best triple jumper in school history and a four-time All-Big 12 selection, will be looking to reach the national championships during her senior campaign.

In the jumps, the Tigers will rely on freshmen Fiona Asigbee, Avis Evans and Kristin Pogemiller.

“It’s fun that track season is here. It’s exciting to see what these kids are going to do,” Pigg said. “We have so many unknowns, so many exciting possibilities that we’re very anxious to get into the season and see what unfolds. Most definitely the most anticipated season I’ve ever been a part of.”

Head coach Rick McGuire was unavailable for comments due to a bout with the flu.

Missouri will host the Outdoor Big 12 track and field championships in May, and the Tigers know the importance of getting off to a good start.

The MU men and women hope to improve on their fifth and seventh place indoor finishes, respectively, in last year’s Indoor Big 12 Championships and hope to make some noise in the NCAA Championships in March.

Comments? E-mail News or Sports

Back to top     News    Sports    Search    Classifieds