Peller, Mueller Dazzle with 3,000m Titles

1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field

Jan. 27, 2007

NOTRE DAME, IND. - Junior Cassie Peller and sophomore Scott Mueller claimed titles in the 3,000m, and six others earned spots in the BIG EAST Indoor Championships at the Notre Dame Invitational, Friday afternoon, at the Loftus Sports Center in Notre Dame, Ind. With a time of 9:55.37, Peller became the ninth-fastest female student-athlete ever to compete in the 3K event. Mueller sprinted to his victory in a time of 8:22.04, over four seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. He is now tied as the third-fastest male student-athlete to race in the 3,000m.

"Today was a pretty solid meet," said head coach David Uhrich. "It is still early in the season and some of our athletes just getting into shape. Some people are not there yet, but will get there soon. I was very pleased in the way we performed today."

The women's 3,000m also catapulted two other Golden Eagles into the BIG EAST Indoor Championships. Freshman Jayne Grebinski placed second, less than a second behind Peller with a time of 9:56.32, and became the 10th-fastest ever to run the event. In her first meet of the season, senior Michaela Courtney also qualified for the conference championships, crossing the line in a time of 9:59.92, good for a fourth-place finish.

The MU women dominated the 500m as well. Senior Kristina Malin captured the event in a BIG EAST qualifying time of 1:15.24, just 0.74 seconds ahead of freshman Katlin Millin, who finished second. With a split of 1:15.9,8 she set a new freshman record and became the second-fastest female student-athlete ever to run the event.

Junior Heidi Lindeman, with a sixth-place finish in the mile, qualified for the BIG EAST Indoor Championships with a time of 5:04.78. Junior Kaitlyn Chambers also qualified with a finished ninth, running a season-best time of 5:06.84.

In the 800m, freshman Sarah Verdoliva placed fifth in a time of 2:19.58, as did sophomore Jaclyn Muller in the 60m hurdles in a time of 9.50.

The foursome of Lauren Chimielewski, Malin, Millin and Verdoliva captured the 4x400m relay title in a time of 3:56.92.

Senior Christina Flowers recorded a fifth-place finish in the long jump with a distance of 16-7.25, and sophomore Sharon Fritz placed fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 33-3.75.

Junior Jenna Mahaffey tallied a fourth place finish in the weight throw (51-7.25) and fifth-place finish in the shot put (42-5.5). Junior Jessica Ehlen was fifth in the weight throw (50-0.5).

The women's team has now qualified 21 individuals for the BIG EAST Indoor Championships.

On the men's side, junior Ray Bratchett placed fifth in the 200m with a time of 22.22, becoming the third-fastest student-athlete ever to compete in the event.

The Golden Eagles boasted three of the top five finishers in the 500m. Becoming the fifth fastest ever to run in the event, sophomore Tom Cassady placed second with a time of 1:05.69. In fourth place was sophomore Bryan Bescher (1:06.54) and in fifth was senior Loren Wagner (1:06.80).

In his first meet of the indoor season, senior Brent Des Roches placed fifth in the 3,000m with a time of 8:33.04, missing the BIG EAST qualifying mark by one hundredth of a second.

In the shot put, sophomore Eric Matuszewski placed fifth with a toss of 46-5.0. Senior Damian Anisko (54-7.5) and sophomore Jeff Kluge (52-1.25) finished fourth and fifth in the weight throw.

The Marquette men's team now has 16 BIG EAST Championship qualifying marks.

The Golden Eagles revisit the Loftus Sports Center when they travel back to Notre Dame, Ind., Feb. 2-3, for the Meyo Invitational.