Cross Country/Track & Field Announces 2006 Class of Newcomers

Aug. 3, 2006

The Marquette men's and women's cross country and track & field team has finalized its incoming class of newcomers, head coach Dave Uhrich announced.

"We are very excited about the incoming class for 2006 and feel that we have improved the team tremendously with the addition of these 15 student-athletes." said head coach Dave Uhrich. "On the women's side, this is by far by the deepest and most talented recruiting class that we have ever had. We feel that all of these athletes can have an immediate impact during their freshmen years and will be competitive in the BIG EAST Conference."

"With the majority of our conference scorers back from last year, the addition of these incoming athletes will help us to move up in the BIG EAST championships next year." added Uhrich.

On the women's side, four respective state champions join the Golden Eagles for the 2006-07 season.

Erynn James (Brookfield, Wis./East) is a two-time Wisconsin state champion in the high jump. The nine-time conference champion holds both her H.S. and conference records, and has cleared a personal-best height of 5'7".

Kelly Magennis (Wethersfield, Conn./Wethersfield) was the 2006 Connecticut state open champion in the javelin and has a personal-best throw of 136'1" as a prep.

Dani Owen (Stratford, Wis./Stratford) won the Wisconsin Division III state title in the 800m run in both 2005 and 2006, while also taking home the gold in the 1,600m in 2006. She finished second overall in the Div. III state cross country championship and has posted personal-best times of 2:15 for 800m and 5:09 for 1,600m on the track.

Rachel Thiel (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) won the 2006 Indiana outdoor track state title in the shot put, while also placing fourth in the discus. She has personal best marks of 45'6" in the shot, while throwing 143'1" in the discus.

Amanda Beggs (Frankfort, IL/Lincoln-Way East) finished in 10th place at the 2005 AA Illinois state AA cross country meet, covering the three-mile course in a time of 17:31. She was also eighth at the 2006 Illinois state track championship in the 3200 (11:03).

Nicole Burr (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska) was third overall at the Wisconsin state division I championship, covering the four-kilometer course in 14:40.9. She placed five different times in the 800 and 1600 at the Wisconsin State meet in her last three years of high school, placing in both events in her junior and senior years. She has run 2:13 for 800m, 4:58 for 1,600m and 10:56 for the 3,200m.

Kelley Corcoran (Richland Center, Wis./Richland Center) placed seventh in the shot put and 10th in the discus at the 2006 Wisconsin state meet. She has personal-best marks of 40'10.5" in the shot put and 121'1" in the discus.

Laura Goeser (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) is a standout long jumper, who finished as high as second at the Wisconsin state meet in 2005 (18'4.5"). The nine-time all-conference selection qualified for at least two events at the state meet in each of her four years in high school. Was also a standout basketball player for Fond du Lac.

Jayne Grebinski (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada/Sheldon Williams) placed 16th at the 2005 Canadian junior national cross country championship, covering the five-kilometer course in 18:20. She was also sixth in the 3,000m at the Canadian junior national meet, clocking 9:53. She has also run 4:38 for 1,500m and 2:18 for 800m. Jill Kraak (Janesville, Wis./Parker) will add to the MU sprinters as a 200m/400m runner. She qualified for the Wisconsin state meet her first three prep seasons, clocking a personal-best time of 58.82 in the 400m and 26.2 in the 200m. She was also a captain and team MVP for Parker's state qualifying basketball team.

Katlin Millin (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) was undefeated as a senior in the 400m until the 2006 Illinois state meet, where she finished fourth overall in a time of 56.54. She also ran a 2:13.4 split on Palatine's 4x800m relay squad at that meet. A five-time all-conference selection in both track and cross country, she was also an all-conference and all-area member of Palatine's basketball team.

Anna Weber (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) placed 12th overall at the 2005 Indiana state cross country championship, with a time of 14:23 for the four-kilometer course. On the track, she placed fifth at the state meet in the 3,200m in a time of 10:55.

On the men's side, Marquette adds three standout prep performers. Brice Cleland (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) was 16th overall at the 2004 Indiana state cross country championship, while finishing 10th overall at the 2006 Indiana state track meet in the 3,200m run (9:23.73).

Joseph Kohut (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) was a qualifier for the 2006 Indiana state meet, having posted personal-bests of 54'5.5" for the shot put and 156'0" for the discus.

Michael O'Brien (Mount Prospect, IL / Prospect) was an Illinois state meet qualifier in both the hurdles events, finishing third in the 300m intermediate hurdles. Was also conference and IHSA Sectional Champion in the 300m hurdles. Has recorded personal records of 14.4 in the 110m hurdles, 37.9 in the 300m hurdles, and 22.8 in the 200m.

"In addition to these outstanding athletes, we have also improved the quality and depth of our team with several walk-on athletes that we feel are capable of developing into BIG EAST-level performers in the coming years." stated Uhrich.

The Marquette men's and women's cross country team kicks off its 2006 season on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Illini Open in Champaign, Ill.