Last Chance Meets Highlight Weekend For Track and Field
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 12, 2010
Dr. Keeler Invitational | Louisville Twilight | MU Performance List | NCAA West Region Marks
MILWAUKEE - One final weekend remains for the Marquette University men's and women's track and field athletes looking to qualify for the 2010 NCAA West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas. Selected athletes will compete Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14 at the North Central College Dr. Keeler Invitational and Louisville's Cardinal Twilight meet.
The North Central meet will begin Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in Naperville, Ill. and continue Friday at 3 p.m., through its conclusion at approximately 10 p.m. The Marquette throws group will be in Louisville for competition beginning Friday at 10 a.m.
"We head into this weekend with it being a last chance and final weekend for our athletes to reach or improve upon NCAA regional-qualifying marks," head coach Bert Rogers said. "Jayne (Grebinski), Erynn (James), Rachel (Thiel) and Peter (Bolgert) will not compete as they are solidly in the top 48 of their respective events, but a few others are right on the cusp."
Seniors Grebinski, Thiel and James, along with Bolgert have seemingly wrapped up their spots in the West Regional field, but a few others will look to solidify their standings.
Senior Carrie Schmid will kick things off at the North Central Invitational Thursday afternoon in the pole vault. Schmid is attempting to continue her career at the NCAA regional, a feat which Rogers believes will require a vault of at least 3.90 meters.
Sophomore Blake Johnson will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase along with teammate Spencer Agnew and attempt to move up from his No. 46 regional ranking. Only the top 48 competitors are guaranteed a spot at the regional meet.
In the women's 1,500-meter run, junior Olivia Johnson will look to top her personal-best time of 4:28.01, set on May 1 at the BIG EAST Championships. Johnson would need to cut about three seconds off her time to make the field.
In the throws, senior Jeff Kluge will make one final attempt to qualify in the hammer and the discus. He currently sits 47th in the hammer throw with a toss of 56.49 meters at the BIG EAST Championships on May 2, and also is 53rd in the discus at 51.52 meters.
Others with the potential to make the regional field are Nick Szczech in the 10,000-meter run, and Kyle Winter and Sarah Verdoliva in the 800 meters.
Freshman Chanel Franklin will also look to qualify for the U.S. Junior National Championships with a time of 24.44 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Franklin's current personal best is 24.69 seconds.
Following this weekend, the Golden Eagles who qualify for the NCAA West Regional will head to Austin, Texas on May 27-29.
| Time | North Central College Thursday Event | Marquette Athlete(s) |
| 4:30 p.m. | Pole Vault (Women) | Lauren Darnall Carrie Schmid |
| 7:30 p.m. | 5,000-meter run (Women) | Courtney Kelly Kate Horan Anna Weber |
| 5,000-meter run (Men) | Peter Bolgert Garrett McKnight | |
| 9 p.m. | 10,000-meter run (Women) | Laurie Dalrymple |
| 10,000-meter run (Men) | Brice Cleland Nick Szczech |
| Time | North Central College Friday Event | Marquette Athlete(s) |
| 3 p.m. | Long Jump (Men) | Shawn McLarney |
| Triple Jump (Women following long jump) | Alyssa Davis | |
| 5:35 p.m. | 1,500-meter run (Women) | Olivia Johnson |
| 6:20 p.m. | 100-meter dash (Men) | |
6:55 p.m. | 400-meter hurdles (Women) | Alyssa Stevens |
| 7:15 p.m. | 400-meter dash (Men) | |
| 7:40 p.m. | 800-meter run (Men) | Kyle Winter |
| 800-meter run (Women) | Sarah Verdoliva | |
| 8:05 p.m. | 200-meter dash (Men) | Hiriam Bradley |
| 200-meter run (Women) | Chanel Franklin | |
| 8:50 p.m. | 3,000-meter steeplechase (Men) | Spencer Agnew Blake Johnson |
| 3,000-meter steeplechase (Women) | Kristen Pelzel |
| Time | Louisville Twilight Friday Event | Marquette Athlete(s) |
| 10 a.m. | Javelin Throw (Women) | Catherine Benage |
| Rolling Schedule | Hammer Throw (Men) | Jeff Kluge Eric Matuszewski |
| Discus Throw (Men) | Jeff Kluge Robert Bleem | |
| Shot Put (Women) | ||
| Shot Put (Men) | Joseph Kohut Eric Matuszewski | |
| Discus Throw (Women) | ||
| Hammer Throw (Women) | Kelley Corcoran Jamie Roth Rachel Thiel |
Players Mentioned
