Roos excel at EIU Mega Meet

TRACK & FIELD

By: David Cordill

Posted: 1/22/07

The University of Missouri-Kansas City indoor track-and-field team performed with productive results at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Mega Meet in Charleston, Ill., last Saturday. The team struck gold in four events, in addition to posting nine other top-five finishes.

With a leap of 5'08.00", Courtney Huber, junior, took top honors for the Kangaroos in the high jump. Huber's effort ties the school record she set at the Mid-Continent Conference Championships in 2006.

Teammate Jessica Hulbert, junior, was runner-up at 5'03.75". Sophomore Kathryn Tenkku finished fifth for UMKC in the event.

UMKC freshman Orianna Rackley topped the field in the women's 400-meter dash, turning in a time of 59.98. Junior Stephanie Williams placed a respectable fifth.

The women of UMKC also dashed their way to victory in the 4-by-400 relay, beating out McKendree College and Rend Lake College with a time of 4:03.70. Participating on the relay for the Roos were Williams and Rackley, along with senior Stefanie Lasley and freshman Lacey Modlin.

Jessica Scott, junior, who finished fourth in the event at EIU Mega Meet in 2006, won the women's 3,000-meter run for the Roos with a time of 10:42.

At the women's triple jump, Jamaica-born UMKC senior Khadian Kelly recorded a mark of 36'05.50", good enough for third place.

In the men's 4-by-400 relay, the Kangaroos placed third behind two teams from EIU. Juniors Peter Kisicki, Kenny Webb and Colin Smith, and sophomore Anthony Boyer, timed out at 3:31.50 in the event.

UMKC's Colin Smith tied for third in the men's high jump with EIU's Ian Winston; both cleared the bar at 6'03.25". The Roos placed fifth in the event as well, with junior Kaleb Stoppel's leap of 5'11.25".

Placing third for the Roos, sophomore Charlie Larson posted a jump of 45'08.00" in the men's triple jump.

Junior Sky Hagy took bronze in the men's shot put, inching out EIU's Jimmy Schultz with an effort of 48'10.25". Hagy also placed fifth in the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 51'10.00".

The track-and-field team travels to Madison, Wis., next weekend for the Wisconsin Elite Invitational.

dcordill@unews.com