Joe Keys Wins BIG EAST Field Athlete of the Week for Second Time in 2020

NEW YORK – Marquette University junior Joe Keys is the BIG EAST Conference Men's Field Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Thursday afternoon. It's the second time in the past three weeks he's taken home the award.

Keys hit PR's in all four of the events he competed in on Friday. He won the 60-meter dash (7.10), long jump (7.32 m/24-0.25 ft), shot put (12.71 m/41-8.50 ft) and took second in the high jump (1.85 m/6-0.75 ft).

On Saturday, he competed his record-breaking event by finishing strong in the 60-meter hurdles (8.32), pole vault (4.60 m/15-1 ft) and 1000m, taking first place in all three events.

Keys eviscerated his former heptathlon school record (5,338 points) with a total of 5,667 points. His performance puts him at No. 7 nationally this season and drastically increases his chances of competing in the heptathlon at nationals in March.

It's the third time in his career that Keys has been named BIG EAST Field Athlete of the Week. He also earned the award on Jan. 24, 2020 and Feb. 5, 2019. The honor from last year came when he originally broke the MU program record in the heptathlon at the University of Chicago's Windy City Rumble. Keys broke or tied four personal bests on his way to the event victory.

Senior captain Madison Marko earned a notable performance nod from the BIG EAST after her stellar performance in the pentathlon at the Windy City Rumble this past weekend.

The Kenosha, Wis., native set a personal record in the pentathlon with 3,506 points (#4 all-time), beating her previous best of 3,309 points. She took second place among all competitors in Chicago, setting PR's in three of the five events she competed in. Her long jump distance of 5.78 m/18-11.50 ft (BIG EAST leader) highlighted her performance and helped her emerge victoriously in the event.

The Golden Eagles resume action on Friday, Feb. 14 at the GVSU Big Meet.

2019-20 BIG EAST Weekly Winners (Marquette Indoor)
Men's Field: Daniel Armstrong (Dec. 11); Joe Keys (Jan. 24), Joe Keys (Feb. 13)

Notable Performers:
Dec. 11: Julian Wright (200m); Arianna Mansavage (400m)
Jan. 24: Samuel Johnson (60m)
Feb. 5: Arianna Mansavage (400m)
Feb. 13: Madison Marko (Pentathlon)

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