Men’s track & field takes aim at first BIG EAST Indoor crown

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men's and women's track and field squads begin the championship portion of their indoor seasons this weekend in Geneva, Ohio at the Spire Institute for the 2019 BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships presented by JEEP.

The men, who have finished as conference runner-up in each of the last four seasons, are in search of a break-through performance, while the women's squad looks to replace four of five event champions from last season in the field events. The MU women won the indoor conference meet in both 2016 and 2017 but came up just four points shy of a third team title in 2018.

LIVE COVERAGE
FRIDAY VIDEO | SATURDAY VIDEO | RESULTS | TWITTER | VIDEO PREVIEW

Leading the way for the men's squad are Daniel Armstrong and Terrance Howard, each of whom picked up event titles last season in the high jump and weight throw, respectively. Armstrong has captured the high jump crowns in each of his first two career conference indoor meets and is the reigning BIG EAST Indoor Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer. His personal-best mark of 2.20 meters (7 feet, 2 1/2 inches) set at last year's meet qualified him for the NCAA Championships where he took home NCAA Second Team All-American honors.

Howard leads a talented group of men's throwers that includes classmate Brendan McKinney, who owns the top weight throw among BIG EAST competitors this season, and freshman Vinnie Voudrie. Howard is second among league throwers this year in the shot put.

Additionally, sophomores Joe Keys and Samuel Johnson, along with freshman Ben Konopka each sit atop the men's league performance list in the heptathlon, long jump and 60-meter hurdles, respectively.

On the women's side, Marquette returns one event champion from last season in sophomore high jumper Marin McClowry, while senior Keely Knobbe sits on top of the BIG EAST leaderboard in the weight throw after setting a new Marquette record last week at Wisconsin.

In the USTFCCCA's conference rating index, the MU men enter the meet in first ahead of Villanova, while the women trail VU and sit in second place.

Coverage of both days will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FOX Sports Go. The broadcasts will start at 10:25 a.m. Central time on Friday and 10:15 a.m. CT on Saturday and run though the entirety of each day's events.

Events begin Friday with the men's pole vault in the field at 9:30 a.m. CT, while action on the track kicks off with the preliminary heats of the women's mile at 10:30 a.m. CT.

MEN'S FINISHES SINCE REALIGNMENT (2014)
2018: Second (173 points)
2017: Second (135)
2016: Second (195)
2015: Second (171.5)
2014: Fourth (121)

WOMEN'S FINISHES SINCE REALIGNMENT (2014)
2018: Second (148 points)
2017: First (173.5)
2016: First (168.5)
2015: Second (133.5)
2014: Third (114)

Keep up with the Marquette men's and women's track and field programs through social media by following on Twitter (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).

MEET ENTRIES:

WOMEN
Sydney Blomme – 60 Hurdles
Anna Buckstaff – Mile
Brielle Buechler – Pole Vault
Lizzy Cagle – Shot Put
Allison Chmelik – Long Jump, Triple jump
Grace Dargiewicz – 800m, 4x800m pool
Molly Evans – Triple Jump
Allie Flando – Shot Put, Weigh Throw
Emily Foley – 3000m, DMR 1200m
Kalina Gardiner – Mile, 4x800m pool
Amy Gasperlin – 800m, 4x800m pool
Evelyn Granados – DMR 400m, 4x400m pool
Mary Hanson – Mile, 4x800m pool
Amanda Hodgson – Weight Throw
Kelsey Hunn – 60 Hurdles
Kelly Jacoby – Pole Vault
Nora Keller – 5000m
Keely Knobbe – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Breanne Marchan – 60m, High Jump, Long Jump
Madison Marko – Pentathlon, 4x400m pool
Marin McClowry – High Jump
Caitlin McGauley – 3000m, DMR 1600m
Lindsey Mirkes – High Jump
Emma Moravec – 800m, 4x400m/4x800m pool
Lauren Neiheisel – Mile, 4x800m pool
Emily Noone – DMR 800m, 4x400m/4x800m pool
Kendall Pfrimmer – 3000m, 5000m
Madison Ricciardi – 60 Hurdles, 4x400m pool
Rachel Seraphine – Pole Vault
Catherine Sherwood – Long Jump, Triple Jump
Monica Voudrie – Weight Throw

MEN
Daniel Armstrong – High Jump
Harry Baker – High Jump
Daniel Bendel – 60m, 200m, 4x400m pool
August Beyer – 3000m
Connor Boos – 60m, 200m, 4x400m pool
Ross Bravo – 60 Hurdles
Ryan Burd – 3000m, 5000m
AJ Catarozoli – 200m, 4x400m pool
Brad Eagan – Mile, DMR pool, 4x800m pool
Eric Fellin – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Jeff Garbutt – DMR 400m, 4x400m pool
Alex Gill – Mile, DMR pool, 4x800m pool
Derek Gross – 800m, DMR pool, 4x800m pool
Brady Heller – 400m, 4x400m pool
Terrance Howard – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Cameron Jemison – Pole Vault
Samuel Johnson – Long Jump, Triple Jump
Joe Keys – Pole Vault, Long Jump, Heptathlon
Jon Klaiber – 3000m, 5000m
Ben Konopka – 60 Hurdles, 4x400m pool
Noah Kowal – Pole Vault
James Kubik – Pole Vault
Brendan McKinney – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Henry Mierzwa – Mile, DMR pool
Alec Miller – 800m, DMR pool, 4x800/4x400 pool
Jefferson Osunkwo – Triple Jump
Daniel Pederson – 3000m, 5000m
Mathew Peter – 60 Hurdles
Danny Peterson – DMR 1200m, 4x800m
Sam Sagan – 400m, 4x400 pool
Kevin Sherwood – Heptathlon
Greg Suarez – 800m, 4x800m pool
Paolo Tiongson – 5000m
Vinnie Voudrie – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Jay Whalen – 200m, 4x400m pool
Will Wolf – High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump