Track & Field Concludes Marquette Invite With Top-10 Marks

The Marquette University track and field team wrapped up the home portion of the outdoor campaign with action Saturday at the Marquette Invitational, which the team hosted at Raabe Stadium on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Saturday's competitors battled difficult tough wind conditions on an otherwise beautiful afternoon. The day's highlights included a record-setting performance by the 4x100 relay team (Daniel Bendel, Samuel Johnson, Alex Lesperance, Julian Wright), which crossed the line in 41.23 seconds, the second-fastest time in school history.

Juru Okwaramoi continued her record-setting ways with a time of 1:01.14 in the 400m hurdles, a mark that has only been surpassed by one other competitor (Jeannette Batie) in program history.

Julian Wright narrowly finished first in the 200m and in the process posted a time of 21.14, the second-best at Marquette. Former standout Tyler O'Brien's record of 21.05, set in 2011, is safe for now.

The Golden Eagles recognized the members of their senior class during a ceremony at the meet and also announced three winners of this year's Ralph H. Metcalfe Awards, recognizing the university's top senior student-athletes for their efforts in competition, academics, service and leadership.

"It was great to be able to have a proper sendoff for our senior class," head coach Bert Rogers said. "It's been a difficult year, but their leadership has been impressive throughout the season and key to our success. They aren't done yet though!"

Emma Moravec and Michael Oeschner were honored with the Ralph H. Metcalfe Leadership through Academic Excellence Award.

Moravec is a three-time Academic All-BIG EAST selection and owns a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average for her undergraduate career and will graduate in May with a degree in bioelectronic engineering.

A three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team member, Oeschner is a MAGIS mentor and will graduate Summa Cum Laude in May with a degree in civil engineering.

The Leadership through Athletic Excellence Award was presented to Joe Keys. While he will be returning for a bonus year of eligibility, he has already collected a recognition-worthy career in competition. His personal highlights include All-America accolades in the heptathlon, a BIG EAST Championship in the decathlon and multiple all-conference honors in both indoor and outdoor action. Earlier this spring, Keys set the program's school record in the decathlon, a total that ranks among the best efforts in the nation in 2021.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles will send a group to the Pacesetter Sports Invitational on May 7, hosted by Indiana State, for one last opportunity to compete before the BIG EAST Championships May 14-15 in Geneva, Ohio.

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