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PrintWhile some people can’t wait to leave college, others end up sticking around.
For the Missouri track and field team, the later holds true most often. Of the 18 athletes traveling from Columbia to this week’s USA championships in Indianapolis, five are postcollegians
“When you have a group like this, you want to stick around, you know,” said Neville Miller, a distance runner who graduated from MU in May. “Especially when you have the ability to make it to the next level.”
Miller has every reason to keep working out with the Tigers. He says Jared Wilmes, the Missouri cross country coach and an assistant track coach, helped him shave 9 seconds off his 800-meter time and 35 seconds off his time in the mile.
Jason Morris, a sophomore who competes in the hammer throw, said it’s nice to have postcollegians practicing with the team.
“You get to see what life is like after you graduate and you’re still competing,” he said.
Morris said Christian Cantwell, a 2003 MU graduate and the defending U.S. shot put champion, is someone who helps him look ahead to the future. Morris said Cantwell has taught him about dealing with sponsorships and the press and other things he will face after college.
“He’s a really good friend of mine and I know I can ask him about anything,” Morris said.
Miller said without hesitation that he plans to continue running.”
“At least through ‘08,” he said with a grin,
The group of Missouri athletes says it is developing a strong bond as it prepares for the championships.
“Usually we’re kinda split into little groups,” Miller said. “But the last couple workouts we’ve done, we’ve been working out together,”
Morris said he is confident about the championships, though he admitted he is a little nervous.
“I think I need a few more days to rest and then I’ll be ready to go,” said Morris, who will not throw until Friday.
Morris is listed as one of the top-10 hammer throwers in the country, impressive because he has only been competing in the hammer throw since his freshman year. Morris came to Missouri as a discus and shot put thrower, but assistant coach Brett Halter had him try hammer throw. He doesn’t credit only Halter with his success, though.
“I can’t just say it’s been myself and it’s been my coach, it’s been everybody,” Morris said.
He says he tries not to dwell on the success he’s had.
“I view every other person I throw against as having at least four or five years of experience, whereas I’m working on my second year,” he said. “So I kind of look at that and think maybe I am as good as people say I am.”
Miller said he has recovered from illness that hampered him the past few weeks and is ready to compete.
“I’m just ready, man,” he said. “Real ready.”
After placing third at the Big 12 Conference meet in the 800-meter run, Miller tripped at the NCAA Mideast Regional which prevented him from making the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He doesn’t think he’s going to have any problems overcoming the mishap, however.
“That just got me more fired up,” he said. “No added pressure, just, like, more motivation not to get knocked down and be in a bad position to win.”
Other postcollegians headed to the USA championships include Fiona Asigbee, a 2003 graduate who competes in the women’s heptathlon and finished second at this year’s Walton Combined Events meet, and distance runner Derrick Peterson, a 2004 Olympian who graduated in 2000 and placed ssecond in this year’s Jamaican International Invitational.
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