Track & Field Women Fourth, Men Sixth at BIG EAST Championships

Track & Field Women Fourth, Men Sixth at BIG EAST Championships

2/24/2023 8:49:00 PM | Track & Field

The final day of the championships begins Saturday at 10 a.m. CT

By: Communications

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Marquette University men's and women's track & field teams concluded day one of the BIG EAST Indoor Championships Friday evening. The women currently sit in fourth place and the men sixth.

"It was an excellent day, hitting a lot of PRs and qualifying people for the finals tomorrow," said head coach Bert Rogers. "I'm walking away from day one feeling good."

In the heptathlon, freshman Gus Kasun achieved personal bests in all four of the day's events. He achieved personal bests in the 60m (7.28), long jump (6.60 meters / 21 feet, 8 inches), shot put (12.01 meters / 39 feet, 5 inches) and high jump (1.78 meters / 5 feet, 10 inches). Kasun finished the day with 2694 points and will have an opportunity to beat Joe Keys' freshman record of 4663 on day two.

Simon Werven finished the day in fourth in the heptathlon with 2745 points. Werven posted the best mark in the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.90 meters / 6 feet, 2.75 inches. Less than 10 points separate second, third and fourth place

Katie Dingle recorded a personal best of 3424 points in the pentathlon with PRs in the high jump (1.63 meters / 5 feet, 4.25 inches), shot put (10.21 meters / 33 feet, 6 inches) and 800m (2:23.75). She stays at No.6 all-time but improves her score. Freshman Julia Wiecek scored a personal best 1950 points and scored a point for the women. Wiecek recorded personal bests in the shot put (9.14 meters / 30 feet), long jump (4.42 meters / 14 feet, 6 inches) and 800m (2:39.96).

In the pole vault, Kaitlyn Huebner and Emma Kingsley cleared personal best marks and scored points for MU. Kingsley cleared a height of 3.35 meters / 10 feet, 11.75 inches on her first attempt to place sixth. Huebner finished fourth in the event, after clearing a height of 3.50 meters / 11 feet, 5.75 inches on her final attempt.

The Marquette men qualified three runners into the 400m final tomorrow. Julian Wright was the top finisher in the qualifier with a time of 48.34. Mitchell Van Vooren followed with a personal best time of 48.35, No. 5 in MU history. Zachariah Murray was the final Golden Eagle to qualify with a time of 48.43.

On the women's side, Daylee Braden qualified for Saturday's 400m final with a season-best time of 56.91.

Mikayla Wise and Veronica Walinski scored points for the women in the weight throw. Wise took fifth with a mark of 16.02 meters / 52 feet, 6.75 inches and Walinski sixth with a throw of 15.28 meters / 50 feet, 1.75 inches. On the men's side, Vinnie Voudrie placed fourth with a mark of 17.12 meters / 56 feet, 2 inches. Trey Baskin took sixth with a throw of 16.75 meters / 54 feet, 11.50 inches.

In the long jump, Alex Lesperance took fourth with a mark of 7.01 meters / 23 feet and score five points for the men. Freshman Brandon Ngosong jumped to a big personal record of 6.67 meters / 21 feet, 10.75 inches. Ngosong finished seventh and score two points for the Golden Eagles.

In the 5000m, David Zeller rolled to a 16-second personal best with a time of 14:31.8. His time is No. 6 all-time in MU history. Zeller finished sixth in his heat.

To end the day, the women's distance medley relay team of Anna Penzkover, Morgan Parzych, Emily Noone and Kate Jochims posted the No. 8 time in MU history coming in at 11:48.53. They finished sixth as a team to score three points for the women. The men's team of Thomas Leonard, Christian Peterson, Cade Ferron and Dan Weizeorick finished in seventh and scored two points with a time of 10:17.91.

The UConn men and women lead after day one of the conference championships.

Day two will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT with the heptathlon 60m hurdles. Live results for the day can be found here. Live coverage for day two will be provided by the BIG EAST Digital Network on Flosports. The broadcast will begin at 10:40 a.m. CT.

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).