Keys Breaks BIG EAST Heptathlon Record

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - The Marquette men's and women's track & field teams concluded the final day of the 2022 BIG EAST Indoor Championships Saturday afternoon. The Marquette men's team took sixth place and the women seventh.

Three more Golden Eagles made the podium on day two to join yesterday's third-place finishers, Allie Flando (weight throw) and Brielle Buechler (Pole Vault). Marquette had multiple personal bests and new names added to the top ten lists.

Senior Joe Keys broke the Marquette and BIG EAST record for the men's heptathlon scoring 5853 points. Keys took his day one lead and pulled away en route to winning the gold medal. The downers grove native was a unanimous selection for the BIG EAST's Most Outstanding Performer in Field Events. Keys' score currently ranks fifth nationally and should set him up to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.

Simon Werven (5th) and Brady Heller (7th) set PRs in the heptathlon with scores of 5071 and 4447, respectively. On day two, Werven set PRs in both the 60-meter hurdles (8.63) and the 1000 meters (2:44.11). Heller also achieved PRs in the pole vault (3.30 meters) and the 1000 meters (2:48.42).

In the men's 60 meters, Samuel Johnson made the podium running a time of 6.95 to earn the bronze medal. Senior Lindsey Mirkes followed suit in the women's high jump posting a mark of 1.71m to earn third place and the bronze.

In the women's triple jump, Molly Evans posted a PR and the No. 7 mark in school history with a jump of 11.73m. Freshman Kaylee Hopp joined her on the top ten list claiming the No. 9 spot with a PR of 11.58m.

The MU distance runners set multiple personal bests in the women's 3000 meters. Junior Kendall Pfrimmer rolled to a PR 9:37.49 to post the No. 6 time in Marquette history. Sophomore Kate Jochims finished with a PR 9:48.0. Mallory Lafever crossed the line in a personal best time of 10:20.79. On the men's side, junior Jordan Janusiak ran a PR 8:44.62 in the 3000 meters.

Connecticut took home the Indoor BIG EAST title on both the men's and women's sides.

UP NEXT:
Saturday's meet brought the conclusion of the 2021-22 indoor season for Marquette as a team. The outdoor season will begin on Apr. 1 at Washington University in St. Louis.

Keep up with the Marquette cross country program through social media by following on Twitter (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and `liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).

Final Results / Awards
Final Women's Team Results
1. Connecticut – 179 points
2. Villanova – 116.5
3. DePaul – 84
4. St. John's – 75
5. Georgetown – 66
6. Butler – 61
7. Marquette – 58.5
8. Providence – 54
9. Xavier – 6

Final Men's Team Results
1. Connecticut – 227 points
2. DePaul – 99
3. Villanova – 96
4. Butler – 95
5. Georgetown – 91
6. Marquette – 46.5
7. Providence – 29.5
7. Xavier – 6

Men's Coaching Staff of the Year: Connecticut*
Men's Most Outstanding Performer in Field Events: Joe Keys, Marquette *
Men's Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events: Parker Stokes, Georgetown
Men's High Point Performer of the Meet: Kasey Savage, UConn (18.0 points)

Women's Coaching Staff of the Year: Connecticut*
Women's Most Outstanding Performer in Field Events: Leah Anderson, St. John's *
Women's Most Outstanding Performer in Track Events: Sade Meeks, Villanova *
Women's High Point Performer of the Meet: Leah Anderson, St. John's (22.0 points)

* denotes unanimous selection