The Marquette track teams overcame injuries and sickness to post strong showings at the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic this weekend in Charleston, Ill.
The women's team set two school records and finished second in the meet to Indiana State, while the men's team finished seventh out of 14 teams. The men's team was especially decimated — senior Ryan Seebruck was out with the flu and sophomore Andy Lelinski, senior Jason Crichton and senior Charles Mashozera were out nursing injuries. On the women's side Crystal Andalcio-O'Neil also missed the meet with the flu.
Emily Leklem and Kristin Stoniecki both established school marks in the women's shot put and pole vault, respectively. Leklem won the shot put at the meet with her throw of 47-2 1/4 feet, breaking her own record of 46-8 3/4 feet set in the spring of 2002. Leklem, a senior, has been beset by nagging ankle and shoulder injuries throughout her Marquette career, and this season is the first in which she has been at 100 percent in several years.
"Emily has been hurt off and on over the years and has had surgeries on both her ankle and her shoulder, so it was really nice for her to come out and perform like she did," Marquette head coach Dave Uhrich said.
Leklem's throw also qualified her for the NCAA Regionals, to be held Memorial Day weekend at Indiana University in Bloomington. Leklem is Marquette's first regional qualifier this year.
Stoniecki, a freshman, broke the outdoor pole vault record for the second time this season with a leap of 11-5 3/4 feet, which earned her fourth place at the meet.
"Kristin's done really well and she's picked up where she left off during the indoor season," said assistant coach Bert Rogers, who coaches Marquette's sprinters and jumpers. "She's working really hard and she's dedicated to perfecting her technique, which is the most important thing with pole vaulters."
Stoniecki's work with pole vault specialist Scott Synold has paid immediate dividends.
"Scott's done a great job with all four of our main vaulters. Kristin really deserves everything she's been getting," Rogers said.
Freshman Cassie Peller continued her torrid freshman season at Marquette with a victory in the 1500 meters, posting a time of 4:31.61, which is a new Marquette freshman record.
Junior Theresa Emond captured the 3000-meter steeplechase in 11:08.45, while her sister, Susanna, won the 10,000-meter run in a time of 36:46.59.
For the men, junior Matt Piekarski was the lone event winner, taking home the decathlon crown with a total of 6,056 points.
Freshman Ray Bratchett finished second in the high jump with a leap of 6-4 3/4 feet, and set a personal best time in the 400-meter dash, leading off the 4×400-meter relay in place of the ill Seebruck.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 12 2005.