BIG EAST Outdoor Track & Field Championships Begin Friday

April 30, 2008

2008 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships Links
BIG EAST Championship Central
Event Schedule (PDF)

MILWAUKEE - Beginning this Friday, a total of 30 Marquette University student-athletes will represent the Golden Eagles men's and women's outdoor track and field programs at the 2008 BIG EAST Conference Championships in Philadelphia. The event will be held May 2-4 on Jumbo Elliot Track at Villanova Stadium.

"We're just wrapping up our preparations for the BIG EAST meet this week," said MU head coach Bert Rogers following the team's practice Wednesday. "The hay's in the barn, so to speak, in terms of training. It's mostly just technical touch ups and working on speed and technique, so we're fresh and sharp for the meet. We're excited and ready to roll. I expect to see some big performances this weekend."

Last week the BIG EAST Conference announced it would stream the championships live online at www.bigeast.tv. Coverage will begin live on Friday, May 2 with the men's decathlon 100 meters at 10 a.m. CT and continue throughout the entire weekend.

"We had a strong outdoor season capped off by a competitive Marquette Twilight meet performance [last Saturday]," said Rogers. "The last two years the meet was at Connecticut, so Villanova will be a change of scenery. The BIG EAST meet is always something special."

Cassie Peller, Kaitlin Millin, Kaitlyn Chambers and Sarah Verdoliva will compete in the women's 4x800 meter relay. The Golden Eagles finished third in the event at the BIG EAST indoor championships and third in last year's outdoor championships.

A list of Marquette qualifiers is listed below.

Marquette University qualifiers
2008 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships
May 2-4, 2008
Philadelphia, Penn.
Jumbo Elliot Track at Villanova Stadium

Men - Event(s)
Rob Bleem - Javelin, Shot Put, Discus
Mike Boedeker - Hammer Throw, Discus
Peter Bolgert - 3000m Steeplechase
Ray Bratchett - High Jump, 200m
Nick Byom - High Jump
Mike Heim - Discus, Hammer Throw
Keith Jamerson - Hammer Throw
Jeff Kluge - Hammer Throw, Discus, Shot Put
Mark Kopecki - 3000m Steeplechase
Jon Kusowski - Hammer Throw
Eric Matuszewski - Shot Put
Eric Meissner - 800m
Scott Mueller - 10,000m
Michael O'Brien - 400m Hurdles
Tyler O'Brien - 100m, 200m
Nick VanDeraa - Pole Vault
Men's 4x100m - Antonio Jones, Tyler O'Brien, Nick Van Deraa, Raymond Bratchett
Men's 4x400m - Raymond Bratchett, Antonio Jones, Jay Emmer, Tom Cassady
Men's 4x800m - Jed Burey, Mark Kopecki, Peter Bolgert, Eric Meissner

Women - Event(s)
Catherine Benage - Javelin
Kelley Corcoran - Hammer Throw, Shot Put
Alyssa Davis - Triple Jump
Jessie Ehlen - Hammer Throw, Discus
Jayne Grebiniski - 5000m
Erynn James - High Jump
Kelly Magennis - Javelin
Jenna Mahaffey - Hammer Throw, Discus, Shot Put
Cassie Peller - 1500m, 800m
Lana Rabas - High Jump
Carrie Schmid - Pole Vault
Rachel Thiel - Shot Put, Hammer Throw, Discus
Sarah Verdoliva - 800m
Liz Wilke - Pole Vault
Women's 4x800m - Cassie Peller, Kaitlyn Millin, Kaitlyn Chambers, Sarah Verdoliva