March 22, 2008

ASU Baldy Castillo Invitational results (PDF)

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University successfully competed in its first outdoor track and field meet of the season this weekend at the Baldy Castillo Invitational hosted by Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.

"It was an awesome meet for us," said MU head coach Bert Rogers, whose program arrived in Arizona on Monday in order to begin training for its first outdoor meet of the season. "We had an excellent week of practice. Everything went well in nearly every event, and overall we did pretty well."

In addition to a combined 23 BIG EAST Championship qualifiers, four Golden Eagles posted marks good enough to qualify for the NCAA Regional. Marquette qualified only two student-athletes for the regional meet all of last season.

Regional qualifiers included Rachel Thiel, who won the shot put with a throw of 14.55m (47-09.00); Carrie Schmid set a new school record in the pole vault with her mark of 3.85m (12-07.50); Cassie Peller with a time of 4:25.85 in the 1,500 meters; and Erynn James, who met exactly the 1.75m (5-08.75) standard in the high jump.

Marquette's 4x100-meter relay team of Antonio Jones, Tyler O'Brien, Nick VanDeraa and Raymond Bratchett also set a school record, winning the event with a time of 41.62.

MU had two student-athletes qualify for junior nationals - freshmen Kristin Pelzel (10:08.83) in the 3,000 meters and Peter Bolgert (9:31.53) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.