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Williams And Miller Head To Fayetteville For NCAA West Regionals
5/28/2014 9:57:00 AM | Track and Field
(Kansas City, Mo.) – Shanelle Williams (100mH) and Bryce Miller (3,000m SC) will head to Fayetteville, Ark., for the 2014 NCAA West Regional Outdoor Championships at John McDonnell Field. Williams will compete at 5:30 p.m. on May 30, while Miller will run on at 8:50 p.m.
Venue
Home to the most successful program in NCAA history, John McDonnell Field has been transformed into one of the top outdoor track and field facilities in the nation. Named for legendary head coach John McDonnell, the winner of 42 NCAA national championships, the facility is one of only two IAAF Class 1 certified track and field complexes in the U.S. and the first such facility on a collegiate campus. The state-of-the-art competition areas include a nine-lane Mondo track, a grass infield as well as a full hammer cage and multiple throw areas. The pole vault and jumping pits are reversible and contain two sets of runways to accommodate multiple events. Capacity is currently set at 7,000 but has the potential to hold 10,000 with additional construction.
2013 NCAA West Regionals
Courtney Frerichs advanced to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., after posting a personal best in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in Austin, Texas. The Nixa, Mo., native improved upon her own school record crossing the finish line first in her heat and fourth overall with a time of 9:59.43, becoming the first female 'Roo to run the event in under 10 minutes.
Kimoya Harriott closed out her career in the Blue & Gold, finishing 25th in the javelin with a throw of 44.31 meters, while fellow seniors D.C. Okonta and Stephany Johnson, meanwhile, also closed out their Kansas City careers in the triple jump, placing 26th and 23rd, respectively. Okonta jumped 15.18 meters, while Johnson's jump of 12.56 meters is a new personal best and ranks second in school history.
Last Time Out
In the 2014 WAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the UMKC men finished fourth with 109 points and the women placed sixth with 77 points. Individually, Kelsey Benoit (hammer throw), Bryce Miller (5,000 meter run) and Shanelle Williams (100 meter hurdles) all claimed titles.
Miller Named WAC POW
Kansas City's Bryce Miller has been named the Western Athletic Conference men's track and field Athlete of the Week for April 21-27.
Miller, a freshman from Ashland, Wis. (Ashland HS), broke his own school record in the 3,000-meter steeple chase while placing fifth at the Drake Relays. His time of 9:01.37 stands as the fastest time in the WAC this season, 38th in the west region and 73rd in the NCAA.
Hocking Take Shot Put Record
At the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational hosted by Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo., sophomore Blake Hocking broke a 12-year old student record in the shot put with a toss of 17.12 meters (56-2) breaking Josh Whisman's mark of 55-5.
Leverette Claims Hammer Record
Senior Kris Leverette claimed the third throwing record for the 'Roos this season, grabbing the mark in the hammer throw with a toss of 183-5.
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, before breaking it again at the Drake 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 WAC Championships senior Shanelle Williams is first in the WAC in the 100 meter hurdles with a school record time of 13.88.
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.
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 who qualify will head to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 11-14.
Players Mentioned
