Notre Dame Blue & Gold Invitational

The 2009-2010 Track and Field teams started the season with a strong showing at the Blue & Gold Invitational hosted by Notre Dame on Friday. Highlights included victories in seven events, two MU freshman records and twelve BIG EAST indoor qualifiers. Other teams at the meet included DePaul, Detroit Mercy and the host Notre Dame.

Click here for meet results.
Click here for the GoMarquette.com meet recap.
Click here for the Marquette Tribune meet recap.

Freshman Records:
Spencer Agnew - 3000m - 8:31.42 breaks Brent Des Roches record of 8:32.68 set in 2003.

Kyle Winter - 500m - 1:04.50 breaks Terry Haley's record of 1:05.76 set in 1995.

Event winners:
Junior Tyler O'Brien - 200m - 22.10
Freshman Chanel Franklin - 200m - 25.67
Freshman Kyle Winter -500m - 1:04.50
Sophomore Jack Hackett - Mile - 4:12.54
Senior Erynn James - High Jump - 5-8
Senior Rachel Thiel - Shot Put - 46-4
5th-year senior Carrie Schmid - Pole Vault - 11-1.75

Here is a brief highlight video...

The following pictures were taken by senior Katlin Millin.

Freshman Spencer Agnew ran the 3000m in at time of 8:31.42 that broke Brent Des Roches freshman record of 8:32.68 set in 2003. His seventh place finish was solid in a very deep early season field.

Freshman Chanel Franklin sparkled in her MU debut winning the 200m in 25.67 which was good for #5 on the all-time list. Chanel pulled even with the leader on the turn and pulled away down the homestretch to clinch her first collegiate victory. Her 8.02 in the 60m made her #7 in MU history.

5th-year senior Shawn McLarney qualified for the BIG EAST indoor meet in the Long Jump.


Freshman Reilly Hall ran the 500m and anchored the 4x400m relay.

Senior Michael O'Brien qualified for the BIG EAST meet in the 500m with a time of 1:05.45 and also lead off the 4x400m relay.

Junior Marisa Handley just missed her PR in the high jump.

Junior Jon Kusowski opened the season in the weight throw after battling sickness during the week.

Sophomore Jenny Zahn opened the season running the 500m and the 4x400m relay.

Freshman eligible Jeff Pugh, a sophomore academically and a survivor of fall tryouts, made his MU debut in the 400m.

5th-year senior Jeff Kluge opened the season with a BIG EAST qualifying mark in the weight throw

Sophomore Jack Hackett won the mile in exciting, come from behind fashion in his MU debut.

Senior Erynn James won the high jump with a jump of 5-8. Erynn just brushed the bar on her 3rd attempt at what would have been school record and NCAA Provisional qualifying height of 5-10 (1.78m). Erynn cleared the bar and left it wobbling on the standards, got off the mat and came over to celebrate with us coaches when it finally fell off... approximately seven seconds after she was over. The video on the highlight reel is of that jump.

MU sophomore and T&F freshman eligible Christine Hansen, a native of Haines, Alaska and another survivor of the fall walk-on tryouts, made her MU debut in the 500m.

Freshman Cheldon Brown took second in the high jump in his MU debut.

Freshman Benjamin Schmitz competed in the 1000m and the 4x400m relay in his MU debut.