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Trio of Marquette freshman to compete in 2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships
June 19, 2008
MILWAUKEE - Marquette freshman track athletes Peter Bolgert, Tyler O'Brien and Kristin Pelzel will participate in the 2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The championships begin at 1:45 p.m. ET on Friday, June 20 and will conclude at 5:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 22. "This is the biggest group that I can remember sending to the Junior Championships in my time here at Marquette." said head coach Bert Rogers. "It just shows how strong the freshman class we had this year was. Robert Bleem just missed qualifying in the javelin by a few centimeters so we just as easily could have had four athletes competing." All three reached qualifying times during the outdoor track and field season to make them eligible for the national event. O'Brien, will compete in the 100m and 200m races over the course of the weekend. The 100m begins Friday at 3:40 p.m. ET and the finals coming later that night at 7:10 p.m. ET. Saturday, O'Brien will participate in the 200m first round at 7:35 p.m. ET, while the finals for the event are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. O'Brien qualified for the 100m by setting the Marquette freshman record at 10:55 seconds, a time which only has been bested in school history by four-time Olympic medalist Ralph Metcalfe. He also set the school outdoor record in the 200m, at 21.23 seconds, a record previously held by M Club Hall of Fame members Metcalfe and John Rydeski. Bolgert will participate in the 3000m steeplechase while Pelzel will take on competitors in the 3000m run. Bolgert's qualifying time of 9:15.45 earned him a spot in the 3000m steeplechase, which is set to be run Sunday afternoon at 4:55 p.m. ET. Following Bolgert's steeplechase, Pelzel will compete in the 3000m, the last event of the championships, after qualifying with a time of 10:08.83.
"The training for all of them has been going very well and with the way they have been working out I expect them to be very competitive." Rogers said. "This is a great way to cap off the season with a chance to qualify for the World Junior Championships." Accompanying with the three athletes this weekend are head cross country coach Mike Nelson, graduate assistants Cameron Harvey and Ellen Koranda, along with volunteer assistant coach Mike Erb. The USA Junior Outdoor Championships are open to all competitors who record a qualifying distance/time and do not turn 20 until the following calendar year. The events will be held this year at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. The stadium was named for former Olympian Jesse Owens, who regarded MU sprinter Ralph Metcalfe as his primary competition during the 1930s.
Marquette Participants with event qualifying time and time of event. Tyler O'Brien 200m
Peter Bolgert
Kristin Pelzel |
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