<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0hBhLW_0mKlp2oA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0hBhLW_0mKlp2oA00" width="300" height="400" ></figure><p>Missouri track and field is set to start competition in the Southeastern Conference Championships, which will begin Thursday and end Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.</p><p>MU athletes who finish in the top 48 in their respective events will qualify for the West Regional Championships starting May 24.</p><p>The Tigers begin competition at noon Thursday when freshman and Battle alum Sam Innes competes in the men's hammer throw.</p><h2>Men's track and field</h2><p>The Tigers are hoping to break out of the middle after finishing ninth in the conference meet last season.</p><p>Missouri has found the most success this season in the middle-distance events, specifically the men's 800-meter run. Senior Christopher Conrad has been a consistent bright spot for the Tigers, running the 800 in 1 minute, 47.89 seconds to win in a loaded field in the Raleigh Relays back in March. He'll race in the preliminary rounds of the 800 starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>Redshirt senior Mitch Weber will look to defend his SEC title in the men's discus throw. He won the event with a toss of 197 feet, 10 inches last season. However, he'll face some stiff competition in Arkansas' Rojé Stona, who had a personal-best throw of 219-10 on April 29.</p><p>Arkansas is among the favorites for the team title. The two-time reigning SEC champions are currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, overtaking Texas Tech in the latest poll. No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Tennessee are also teams to watch for the team title.</p><h2>Women's track and field</h2><p>The Tigers, who were ranked No. 9 back in April, have relied on their field specialists to carry their scoring efforts throughout the season, specifically in the javelin and triple jump.</p><p>In the women's javelin, the Tigers will send six athletes, led by grad student Sophia Rivera, to SECs. Rivera came out of the gate strong, breaking the school record in the event in the first meet of the season with a toss of 189-2. She's currently the top seed in the event. Right behind her is sophomore Valentina Bornacelli. The transfer from Washington State has trailed Rivera throughout the season but did beat her with a season-best throw of 183-9 at the Texas Relays back in April. They'll begin throwing at 4:45 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>For the women's triple jump, senior and two-time All-American Arianna Fisher has led the way for the Tigers. While not having many jumps throughout the outdoor season, the school record holder still put in a respectable jump of 44-0 at Texas Relays. She's currently seeded fourth in the event, with Florida's Jasmine Moore, who holds the collegiate national record in the triple jump, leading the way. They'll begin jumping at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>The team title favorites include No. 2 Florida and No. 3 Arkansas. The Gators are looking to repeat as conference champions after securing the title last season, while the Razorbacks will try to add to both their conference and national championships from the indoor track season.</p><p>But an upset isn't completely out of the question. Along with Florida and Arkansas, SEC schools take up seven of the top 10 spots in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, with LSU coming the closest at No. 6. The Tigers enter the meet ranked 10th in the SEC.</p></div></body>

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Mizzou track and field ready for SEC Championships

Missouri track and field is set to start competition in the Southeastern Conference Championships, which will begin Thursday and end Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. MU athletes who finish in the top 48 in their respective events will qualify for the West Regional Championships starting May 24. The Tigers begin...