'Roos To Compete At Missouri Southern, Miller At Drake Relays

4/24/2014 2:47:00 PM | Track and Field

By: UMKC Athletics

(Kansas City, Mo.) – The Kansas City track & field team continues its outdoor season when it heads to the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational at Missouri Southern in St. Joseph's, Mo., on Friday Apr. 25 and send Bryce Miller to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Saturday Apr. 26 at 10:53 a.m.

Venues
Fred G. Hughes Stadium at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is now in its 36th year as the Home of the Lions. The $1.7 million stadium was built in 1975 and is home to Southern's cross country and track & field squads. The stadium is named in honor of Fred G. Hughes, who was the president of the College's Board of Regents at the time the facility was built.
In 2005, Drake Stadium underwent significant improvements to make it one of the premier track and field facilities in the country. The Stadium, which has a capacity of 14,557, is home to the annual Drake Relays. In 2005, the track was reconfigured and the new Mondo-surfaced track had lanes widened from 42 inches to 48 inches. The $15 million renovation project features permanent lights, a video scoreboard, state of the art artificial grass infield by FieldTurf for football and soccer and improvements to the seating, restrooms and concessions as well as the press box.

Last Time Out
Freshman Bryce Miller broke a 14 year old school record on Thursday in Walnut, Calif., when he crossed the line in 9:04.51 in the 3,000 meter steeple chase at the Mt. SAC Relays, surpassing Jeremy Comb's time of 9:08.18 set in 2000. Up the road in Azusa, Calif., meanwhile, sophomore Kelsey Benoit climbed to second spot in the UMKC record books in the hammer throw with a personal best toss of 176-4 to place seventh overall.
    Senior Shanelle Williams broke a second school record this week for the Kansas City track and field team when the senior broke her own mark in the 100 meter hurdles, crossing the line in 13.88 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. Two 'Roos, meanwhile, notched the second best marks in school history at the Bryan Clay Invitational with freshman Brook Guiot placing eighth in the 800 meter run in a time of 2:12.70, just .76 off the record.
    At the Kansas Relays, junior Briana Carter placed sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 40-2, the third best jump in school history, while Kelly Carpenter finished 11th in the 5,000 meter run at the Bryan Clay Invitational in a time of 17:29.06, the fourth best finish in UMKC history.
    In the Long Beach Invitational junior Dahlia Dyson finished 11th in the discus throw with a toss of 152-1, the third best mark in school history, while in the 3,000 meter steeple chase freshman Sarah Fogarty finished 12th in a time of 11:25.31 and Gabrielle Penaflor placed 14th in a time of 11:37.85, the second and fourth best times in UMKC history.

Records Fall In California
When the 'Roos visited Southern California on Apr. 17-18 they took down a pair of records. The first fell when freshman Bryce Miller broke the 14 year old mark in the steeple chase at the Mt. SAC Relays, while the second fell when senior Shanelle Williams broke her own record in the 100 meter hurdles also at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Sisters, Sister
This season, the 'Roos roster features the Carter sisters, junior Briana and freshman Jasmine. The Warrensburg, Mo., natives both compete in jumps and sprints for the 'Roos.

On The 5K List
At the Bill Cornell Spring Classic, the 'Roos Dirk Hudson and James Barnett excelled at in the 5,000 meter run, recording the third and fourth fastest times in school history, respectively. Nathan Keown, meanwhile, slid into the second spot at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Tops In The Conference
Entering the week, sophomore Blake Hocking holds the top mark in the WAC in the discus with a toss of 157-2 at the Missouri Relays. Shanelle Williams, meanwhile, is first in the 100 meter hurdles and Briana Carter is tied for the top spot in the triple jump.

Benoit Breaks Shot Put Record
In the first outdoor meet of the season, sophomore Kelsey Benoit claimed her first school record with a shot put mark of 44-10.6 at the Tulsa Duels, while Dahlia Dyson moved into second with a toss of 44-10.25 at the Missouri Relays.

Top Marks Return
The 'Roos return a trio of individuals who hold UMKC records, including Max Carroll (Javelin), Courtney Frerichs (3K SC) and Shanelle Williams (100m Hurdles). Brady Adams (200m), Blake Hocking (SP), Taylor Wardell (1,500m), Michelle Momo (200m), Kelsey Benoit (SP) and Angel Gannon (800m), meanwhile, all sit second.

Frerichs Looks To Repeat
Last season, junior Courtney Frerichs advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 3,000 meter Steeple Chase where she finished sixth and earned all-american honors. The Nixa, Mo., native, claimed the Summit League titles in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the 5,000 meter run, returns for her second go round in the outdoor season this year.

Indoor Honors
In the indoor season, a trio of 'Roos received honors at the WAC Championships with Courtney Frerichs winning Outstanding Track Performer, Dahlia Dyson winning Outstanding Field Performer and Briana Carter winning High Point Award.

Last Season
In 2013, UMKC posted four champions at the Summit League Champions with D.C. Okonta (TJ), Courtney Frerichs (5K, 3K SC) and Rich McCoy (LJ), while Kimoya Harriott, McCoy, Michelle Momo, Frerichs, Okonta and Stephany Johnson all advanced to the NCAA West Regionals
Frerichs, meanwhile, was named Summit League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, after finishing 6th in the NCAA with a school record in the 3,000 meter steeple chase.

Joining The Hall
A pair of former 'Roos track & field athletes were inducted into the UMKC Hall of Fame in Doug Fredrick and DeDe Steele. Fredrick was a five-time Mid-Continent Conference champion in three different events, including three times as 400-meter hurdles. Fredrick still ranks second in the pentathlon with 3,549 points.
Steele was an NCAA National Qualifier in the weight throw indoors in both 1998 and 1999, as well as a national qualifier in the hammer throw outdoors in 1998… In the weight throw, she won the Mid-Con Conference title in both 1998 and 1999, while winning the crown in the hammer in 1999… Her long hammer throw of 175-11 still ranks second in school history, while her weight throw of 58-4.50 is third and shot put of 40-11.50 is fifth at UMKC.

Head Coach McField
Shameika McField was named the head coach for the UMKC track and field/cross country programs on March 4, 2008 and is now in her sixth season at the helm.

Up Next...
The 'Roos will close out the regular season when they head to Lawrence, Kan., for the Rock Chalk Classic on May 3.