Marquette University Athletics
Keys Ready to Represent Marquette at Nationals
3/10/2020 10:15:00 PM | Track & Field
He'll compete in the heptathlon on Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.
MILWAUKEE – Marquette junior Joe Keys is the lone Golden Eagle to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14 in Albuquerque, N.M.
He'll compete in the heptathlon, with his first event being the 60-meter dash on Friday at Noon Central time. Keys qualified for nationals after breaking his own school record by over 300 points (5,677 points) at the Windy City Rumble on Feb. 7-8 in Chicago.
"When I first found out I qualified for nationals I was really excited," Keys said. "I'll be competing against guys that could compete in the Olympics one day, so it's going to be a great experience for me to get down there and compete."
Keys hit then-PR's in all four of the events he competed in on the first day of the Windy City Rumble. 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 the second day, he won the 60-meter hurdles (8.32), pole vault (4.60 m/15-1 ft) and 1000m (2:45.80) to finish with a total of 5,667 points, which ranks eleventh nationally.
An engineering major, Keys put in extra time this fall to prepare for the heptathlon after working at a Co-Op during the day. His extra time putting in the work paid off as he became the only Golden Eagle on this year's team to qualify for nationals.
Assistant coach Rick Bellford, who has played a big role in training Keys during the past few years, is looking forward to seeing how the junior fares in an elite meet like the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
"It really means a lot for Joe to qualify for nationals," Bellford said. "It's one of the most difficult meets in the world to qualify for and he punched his ticket. He's improved immensely over these last three years, especially in his speed training to be able to compete at this elite level. The most impressive part of the whole thing may be the way he's steadily improved in each of his events despite working in his Co-Op."
Associate head track & field coach Mike Koenning, who specializes in throws, has trained Keys to prepare for the shot put in this weekend's heptathlon.
"He [Keys] put in a ton of time in the fall, coming after his Co-Op, to get in work later in the day," Koenning said. "It's been a steady improvement with him just simplifying his throw and expressing his power into his throws. He's been great to work with."
Keys is one 16 student-athletes from across the country to qualify for nationals in the heptathlon. If he finishes in the top eight, he'll be a First Team All-American. Eight through fourteen will earn him Second Team All-America honors while 15th and 16th place garner honorable mention.
"My goal is to compete in every event to the best of my ability, leave it all out there and represent Marquette in the best way possible," Keys said.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Watch the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships live on ESPN3 at ESPN.com/Watch.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (All Times Central):
Friday, March 13:
Noon: 60-Meters
12:40 p.m.: Long Jump
1:50 p.m.: Shot Put
2:30 p.m.: High Jump
Saturday, March 14:
11 a.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles
Noon: Pole Vault
4 p.m.: 1,000 Meters
He'll compete in the heptathlon, with his first event being the 60-meter dash on Friday at Noon Central time. Keys qualified for nationals after breaking his own school record by over 300 points (5,677 points) at the Windy City Rumble on Feb. 7-8 in Chicago.
"When I first found out I qualified for nationals I was really excited," Keys said. "I'll be competing against guys that could compete in the Olympics one day, so it's going to be a great experience for me to get down there and compete."
Keys hit then-PR's in all four of the events he competed in on the first day of the Windy City Rumble. 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 the second day, he won the 60-meter hurdles (8.32), pole vault (4.60 m/15-1 ft) and 1000m (2:45.80) to finish with a total of 5,667 points, which ranks eleventh nationally.
An engineering major, Keys put in extra time this fall to prepare for the heptathlon after working at a Co-Op during the day. His extra time putting in the work paid off as he became the only Golden Eagle on this year's team to qualify for nationals.
Assistant coach Rick Bellford, who has played a big role in training Keys during the past few years, is looking forward to seeing how the junior fares in an elite meet like the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
"It really means a lot for Joe to qualify for nationals," Bellford said. "It's one of the most difficult meets in the world to qualify for and he punched his ticket. He's improved immensely over these last three years, especially in his speed training to be able to compete at this elite level. The most impressive part of the whole thing may be the way he's steadily improved in each of his events despite working in his Co-Op."
Associate head track & field coach Mike Koenning, who specializes in throws, has trained Keys to prepare for the shot put in this weekend's heptathlon.
"He [Keys] put in a ton of time in the fall, coming after his Co-Op, to get in work later in the day," Koenning said. "It's been a steady improvement with him just simplifying his throw and expressing his power into his throws. He's been great to work with."
Keys is one 16 student-athletes from across the country to qualify for nationals in the heptathlon. If he finishes in the top eight, he'll be a First Team All-American. Eight through fourteen will earn him Second Team All-America honors while 15th and 16th place garner honorable mention.
"My goal is to compete in every event to the best of my ability, leave it all out there and represent Marquette in the best way possible," Keys said.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Watch the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships live on ESPN3 at ESPN.com/Watch.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (All Times Central):
Friday, March 13:
Noon: 60-Meters
12:40 p.m.: Long Jump
1:50 p.m.: Shot Put
2:30 p.m.: High Jump
Saturday, March 14:
11 a.m.: 60-Meter Hurdles
Noon: Pole Vault
4 p.m.: 1,000 Meters
Players Mentioned
Multis
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