Preview: Mizzou takes The Plains for SEC Outdoor Championships

Championship play has arrived for Missouri Track & Field. The Tigers recreation to Auburn, Ala., this week for nan SEC Outdoor Championships, group for Thursday done Saturday, May 14-16. The meet will beryllium held astatine Hutsell-Rosen Track, wherever immoderate of nan nation’s champion athletes will conflict for convention titles nether nan Alabama sun.

Thursday is simply a packed first time highlighted by nan commencement of nan decathlon and heptathlon, on pinch respective preliminary moving events and nan throwing events of nan weekend.

Field events statesman astatine noon pinch nan women’s hammer throw, who are presently classed No.19 overall, followed later successful nan day by nan men’s hammer, women’s javelin (with Mizzou classed No.1 overall), and men’s javelin. Some acquainted Mizzou faces group to compete includes Sam Innes and Petra Gombas.

The women’s javelin will characteristic Skylar Ciccolini, who continues to make an effect some connected and disconnected nan field. Ciccolini precocious earned nan prestigious Brad Davis Community Service Leader of nan Year award, becoming conscionable nan 3rd student-athlete successful Missouri history to person nan honor. Her activity and consistency person made her 1 of nan standout athletes ranking No.3 nationally, earlier entering title weekend.

On nan track, preliminary rounds statesman pinch nan women’s and men’s 800 meters earlier moving into nan 200 meters and 400-meter hurdles. The evening closes pinch nan women’s and men’s 10,000-meter finals nether nan lights, which prima jock Drew Rogers will hopefully compete in. I wrote astir him in this feature.

One of nan biggest storylines of time 1 will beryllium nan women’s heptathlon, wherever Brianna Utecht is expected to compete. Utecht enters nan SEC Championships coming disconnected a thrilling capacity astatine nan Drake Relays, wherever she placed 4th wide against elite competition. Her momentum heading into SECs could make her a superior contender during this meet.

The decathlon besides gets underway Thursday greeting pinch nan 100 meters earlier athletes conflict done nan agelong jump, changeable put, precocious jump, and reason nan time pinch nan 400 meters.

Meanwhile, Utecht will tackle nan 100-meter hurdles, precocious jump, changeable put and 200 meters during nan opening time schedule.

Friday’s events statesman connected nan field, pinch nan women’s changeable put and agelong jump earlier progressing into nan precocious jump, men’s rod vault, men’s changeable put and men’s agelong jump. This will beryllium a awesome chance for Mizzou athletes specified arsenic Chase Crawford, Sam Albert and Clayton Kamp to make valuable strides.

On nan track, fans will spot Mizzou athletes compete successful preliminary rounds of nan hurdles, 1,500 meters, 400 meters and nan highly anticipated 100-meter dash prelims, which will apt characteristic Robert Hines. Distance specialists will past return halfway shape successful nan women’s and men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase finals later successful nan evening, pinch each eyes connected Elijah Limo.

The multi-events reason Friday arsenic decathletes decorativeness pinch nan 110-meter hurdles, discus, rod vault, javelin and 1,500 meters, while heptathlon athletes adjacent title successful nan agelong jump, javelin, and 800 meters. Brianna Utecht’s versatility crossed each 7 events will beryllium 1 of nan cardinal performances to watch arsenic nan women’s heptathlon crowns its SEC champion.

Saturday’s section events statesman early pinch nan women’s discus, apt featuring Ames Burton and Kaitlyn Morningstar, earlier moving done nan triple jump, rod vault, men’s precocious jump, men’s discus and men’s triple jump.

The moving finals commencement pinch nan women’s and men’s 4x100-meter relays earlier transitioning into a nonstop lineup of title races. Fans will spot races specified arsenic nan 1500 meters, hurdles — apt featuring Dillon Leacock — 400 meters, 100 meters, 800 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and 200 meters.

The region information of nan evening concludes pinch nan women’s and men’s 5,000 meters earlier nan women’s and men’s 4x400-meter relay closes nan meet.

The upwind successful Auburn will beryllium clear and pleasant passim nan week. Thursday’s forecast calls for a precocious of 76 degrees and a debased of 57 degrees. Temperatures will emergence somewhat connected Friday, reaching a precocious of 80 degrees and a debased of 51 degrees. The warming inclination continues into Saturday, erstwhile highs are expected to scope 85 degrees, pinch a debased of 59 degrees.

The Tigers competed successful nan Rock Chalk Classic May 1-2, which provided immoderate friends neighborly occurrence and tons of apical results.

Day 1 saw immoderate victories, pinch Lasse Funck winning nan men’s 1,500 meters, finishing successful nan 2nd fastest clip successful schoolhouse history. Alongside him, Tyler Freiner took 2nd successful nan men’s 5,000 meters, finishing arsenic nan tenth fastest Tiger clip successful history.

As for nan men’s and women’s hammer throw, Morningstar took 2nd for nan women, and Sam Innes did nan aforesaid for nan men. Morgan Cannon claimed a second-place people successful nan women’s javelin, while Val Galligan took 3rd and Marysa Flieg took fourth. Natalie Barnard vanished 4th wide successful nan women’s 5,000 meters, finishing retired a successful first time for nan Tigers.

Day 2 had immoderate much highlights, pinch each 3 Tigers finishing successful nan apical 4 successful nan men’s changeable put. Crawford came retired 2nd overall, while Sam Albert and Clayton Kamp took 3rd and 4th place.

In nan 100-meter dash, Hines besides claimed a 2nd spot decorativeness pinch a people of 10.42. Ames Burton took sixth wide successful nan women’s discus, and a notable last time successful Kansas was had.

Championship outdoor meet play astatine Hutsell-Rosen Track represents a large jump for nan Tigers arsenic they move from nan regular play to nan postseason. Mizzou will travel face-to-face pinch immoderate of nan apical schools successful nan SEC, from Arkansas connected nan men’s side, to Georgia connected nan women’s side. That being said, this meet will springiness nan Tigers a chance to beryllium themselves beyond what accomplishments they person made during nan regular season.

Competitors specified arsenic Brianna Utecht, Drew Rogers, Sam Innes and Skylar Ciccolini person gone supra and beyond this season, and beardown performances astatine nan SEC Championships could further elevate their success. Beyond those standout athletes, each Tiger competing successful Auburn will beryllium challenged to beryllium themselves connected 1 of nan conference’s biggest stages.

Cedric Cade has officially signed and will bring immoderate spark to nan program’s multi-event group.

Originally from Las Vegas, Cade competed astatine Palo Verde High School earlier continuing his profession astatine Pima Community College. Known arsenic a beardown multis athlete, Cade placed first successful nan men’s decathlon during nan NJCAA Region I Track & Field championships, from April 24-30.

His athleticism and expertise to compete successful aggregate events is precisely who nan Tigers need, making him an important contributor successful nan early for this program.