Konopka and Seraphine set freshman records at Illini Twilight

Saturday, April 13

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Illini Twilight

Photo by: Maggie Bean

Konopka and Seraphine set freshman records at Illini Twilight

4/13/2019 9:53:00 PM | Track & Field

Results (PDF)Marquette Results (PDF)

Marquette boasted five event winners on Saturday evening

By: Communications

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Marquette University men's and women's track and field teams had five individual events winners and two new program freshman records set at the Illini Twilight on Saturday evening at the University of Illinois Track complex.

"It was another nice step forward and I'm pleased with how the team competed," Marquette head coach Bert Rogers said. "We're looking forward to heading some warmer temperatures next weekend in Southern California and the throws group out to Florida."

Rachel Seraphine claimed an event title in the women's pole vault and set a new program standard at a height of 3.80 meters (12 feet, 5.5 inches). She and Illinois freshman Kristin Slaughter each succeeded on their first clearance attempt at 3.80 meters, but she had one fewer miss at 3.70 to earn top honors.

MU's other freshman record on Saturday was set by Ben Konopka in the men's 110-meter hurdles. The Inverness, Illinois native placed third in the event with a time of 14.58 seconds, a mark that registers as the fourth-fastest in program history and tops Nic Wucherer's previous freshman record of 14.59 seconds.

Samuel Johnson joined Seraphine as an event winner with a personal-best distance of 7.07 meters (23 feet, 2.5 inches) in the men's long jump.

Seniors Brendan McKinney and Terrance Howard placed 1-2 in the men's hammer throw, while Vinnie Voudrie placed sixth.

Sophomore Cameron Jemison, the 2019 BIG EAST indoor champion in the men's pole vault, took sixth in the event by reaching a personal best of 4.55 meters (15 feet, 5 inches). That mark puts him seventh all-time in MU program history.

Reigning BIG EAST Women's Field Athlete of the Week Keely Knobbe placed third in the hammer throw, fourth in the shot put and 11th in the discus. Classmate Amanda Hodgson won the women's javelin at a distance of 35.90 meters (117 feet, 9 inches).

BIG EAST Men's Field Athlete of the Week Daniel Armstrong had the highest starting height at 2.05 meters in the men's high jump but was unable to clear the bar on three attempts. Noah Adams of Illinois was he lone competitor to clear the height but failed to clear 2.13 meters on all three attempts at the next progression.

On the track, junior Caitlin McGauley won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:00.54).

Marquette is back in action next weekend at four different meets in Florida and California. Associate head coach Mike Koenning will take the MU throwers to the USF Collegiate in Tampa, while Marquette's jumpers and runners will head to California for the CSULA Twilight, Mt. SAC Relays and Bryan Clay Invitational.

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).