May 31, 2003

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Junior Gaute Myklebust became the first Tiger track and field athlete to qualify for the NCAA Championships this year after finishing third in the discus at the NCAA Mideast Regional. Myklebust's best throw of 56.96 meters (186-10) was his first throw in the final round.

Auburn's Gabor Mate won the discus title with a best mark of 65.05 meters (186-10), while host Ohio State's Dan Taylor finished second with a best effort of 59.00 meters (213-5). Mississippi's Stacy Andrews finished fourth in the event with 56.15 meters (184-3) while Russ Bell from Missouri was the final qualifier for the national meet from the Mid-East regional in the event with a best effort of 54.95 meters (180-3).

Myklebust also advanced to the finals in the shot put, but finished seventh, two spots out of the top five national qualifying spots. Missouri's Christian Cantwell won the shot title with a put of 17.94 meters (58-10.25). OSU's Taylor finished second with an effort of 20.43 meters (67-0.50). Purdue's Nedzad Mulabegovic was the third qualifier with a 19.51 meter effort (64-00.25), while Kentucky State's Brian Hallett and Missouri's Russ Bell was the final qualifier in the shot with a 18.29 meter effort (60-00.25).

On the women's side, senior Keenan Gibson finished seventh in the 100-meter dash finals. LSU's Muna Lee won the event with a time of 11.17 seconds, while Indiana's Rachelle Boone finished second in 11.24 seconds. Auburn senior Elva Goulbourne was third in 11.34 seconds, while Alabama's Judyth Kitson was fourth in 11.39. Indiana's Ara Towns was the final sprinter to advance to the NCAA national meet with a time of 11.51. Gibson's time of 11.66 seconds capped her Lady Tiger career with a seventh-place finish. Gibson's finish gave the Memphis women its first two points of the meet.