Track & Field Men Place Fourth, Women Sixth at BIG EAST Indoors

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Marquette University men's and women's track & field teams conclude the final day of the 2023 BIG EAST Indoor Championships Saturday afternoon. The men placed fourth and the women sixth.

The final day of the conference championships brought multiple personal bests, all-time marks, school records, medalists and BIG EAST Champions.

"I was happy with how the weekend went," said head coach Bert Rogers. "BIG EAST is a lot about momentum with the team building off one another. A feeling of, I need to get my job done in my event to help my team."

In the men's high jump, Harry Baker took home the BIG EAST title for the Golden Eagles. Baker was one of two jumpers to clear a height of 2.05 meters / 6 feet, 8.75 inches. Baker went into a jump-off with UConn jumper Kasey Savage. Neither was able to successfully clear the bar and would share the BIG EAST title.

Marquis Ward joined Baker on the podium taking third place. Ward was able to make it over the bar at 2.00 meters / 6 feet, 6.75 inches to earn the bronze.

On the women's side, sophomore Annika Bynum took home the silver medal clearing a personal best height of 1.76 meters / 5-9.25 inches. Bynum's mark ties her for No. 2 all-time in Marquette history. Natalia Jackowski scored points for the women, placing seventh with a mark of 1.61 meters / 5 feet, 3.25 inches.

Senior Simon Werven earned runner-up honors in the men's heptathlon with a score of 4952 points. Werven had a strong day two, finishing in the top two in all three of the day's events. Werven was the top placer in the high jump with a clearance of 4.10 meters / 13 feet, 5.25 inches.

Freshman Gus Kasun came into the day on pace to break Joe Keys' freshman heptathlon record of 4663. Kasun recorded a personal best in the pole vault with a mark of 3.60 meters / 11 feet, 9.75 inches giving him an opportunity in the 1000 meters to break the record. Kasun sprinted the final stretch of the 1000 meters to achieve a PR of 2:47.81 and break the freshman record with 4692 points.

In the men's 400 meters, the Golden Eagles sent three runners into the finals. Julian Wright was the top finisher taking fourth with a personal best of 48.08. Wright improved upon his previous best time that was No. 2 in school history. Mitchell Van Vooren followed in fifth place with a PR and No. 3 time in MU history with a time of 48.13. Zachariah Murray was the final scorer for MU taking sixth with a time of 48.24.

Daylee Braden rolled to a personal best time in the 400-meter finals with a time of 56.21. Braden finished seventh overall and climbed to No. 5 in MU history.

In the 4x400, the women's team comprised of Daylee Braden, Katie Dingle, Juru Okwaramoi and Morgan Parzych won their heat with a time of 3:50.08. They placed fifth overall. On the men's side, Zachariah Murray, Christian Peterson, Mitchell Van Vooren and Julian Wright also won their heat. Their time of 3:15.76 is No. 3 all-time. The men also placed fifth overall.

The UConn men and women brought home the BIG EAST titles.

DAY TWO NOTABLES:

In the shot put, Veronica Walinski (12.90m) and Mikayla Wise (12.65m) scored points for the women, placing fifth and seventh, respectively.
Kaylee Hopp placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.61 meters / 38 feet, 1.25 inches.
Marquis Ward and John Pitta scored points for the men in the triple jump. Ward placed fifth with a mark of 14.01m. Pitta took sixth with a jump of 13.65m.

UP NEXT:
The Golden Eagles will begin the outdoor season on Friday, March 31 at Washington University St. Louis and Illinois State.

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).

Final Team Results:
Final Women's Standings (18 Events Scored)