Track and Field Sends 11 Athletes To Weekend Meets

3/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field

March 5, 2009

MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette University track and field squad will send athletes to three meets around the Midwest this weekend hoping to set a few school records and reach NCAA qualifying marks in the process.

Most of the student-athletes competing will travel to Notre Dame, Ind. to take part in the Alex Wilson Invitational on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, senior Erynn James will continue her pursuit of the school record in the high jump as she sits only half-an-inch away from the current MU mark. Competing at Notre Dame on Saturday will be Olivia Johnson, Katlin Millin and Sarah Verdoliva in the 800-meter run and Tyler O'Brien in the 200-meter dash.

"Most of them are starting to come on strong at the end of the season after being out the first part of the year with some injuries," said head coach Bert Rogers. "It is an opportunity for them to get out there and put in some fast times."

Also in action this weekend will be pole vaulters Nick Van Deraa, Liz Wilkie, Lauren Darnall and Dolan Schmidt, all of whom will take part in the Karl Schlender Invitational at UW-Whitewater on Friday. For Van Deraa it will be his last shot at breaking assistant coach Zach Pawlowski's indoor school record in the pole vault.

Jessica Ehlen and Rachel Thiel will both compete Saturday in the NCAA Qualifier at the Lied Recreation Center at Iowa State University.

Should an MU athlete qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, they will be held March 13-14 in College Station, Texas.