May 17, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - With day one of the 2003 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the books, the men are in sixth place with eight points, while the women are in seventh place with four points.

Jason Young used a 192-feet, 9-inch throw on the final throw of his flight to advance to the finals of the hammer throw Saturday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium. The mark ranked him second heading into the final round where it would hold true and earn the men's team eight points. Missouri's Russ Bell won the event with a toss of 195'-4", while Colorado's Chase Mullen finished third with a mark of 191'-2".

One the women's side, Bridgett Tidwell and Tracie Akerhielm both scored in their first running of the 10,000-meter run of the season. Tidwell's time of 36:49.65 was good enough to place sixth, improving one spot from last year's seventh-place finish. Akerhielm posted a 36:51.21 clocking, giving her the first outdoor All-Conference of her career.

The championships will continue tomorrow afternoon in Austin, Texas. Events will resume at 11 a.m.

2003 All-Conference Honors
Men	                Women
Jason Young (Hammer)	Tracie Akerhielm (10,000m)
	                Bridgett Tidwell (10,000m)

Standings (Two Events Scored)
Men	                Women
Missouri, 23 points	Missouri, 17 points
Kansas St., 12	        Nebraska, 16
Texas, 11	        Kansas St., 12
Colorado, 10	        Baylor, 10
Kansas, 10	        Texas, 6
Texas Tech, 8	        Kansas, 5
Iowa State, 2	        Texas Tech, 4
Oklahoma St., 2	        Oklahoma St., 4
	                Iowa State, 2
	                Colorado, 2