While the men's basketball team eludes a crosstown showdown with the UWM Panthers, the track team has already met and succumbed to their metropolitan foes.

The men's team totalled 138 points to finish second of seven behind the Panthers at the Carthage Invite Saturday. On the women's side, the Golden Eagles are sitting pretty with a win over the Panthers and five other teams. The women's team scored 149 points, beating out Valparaiso at 109.

Coach Dave Uhrich said the win is especially impressive given that neither side had been in a team practice prior to the event.

Uhrich's list of stars from the event is self evident. He singled out women's senior sprinter Crystal Andalcio-O'Neil. Andalcio-O'Neil broke her own meet record to win the 55 meter dash with a time of 7.1 seconds. The senior also won the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.61 seconds, a meet record. She finished only .15 seconds off of a school record in the event.

The meet was also productive for freshman shot putter Jessica Ehlen who tossed a shot put 44 feet and 1.5 inches to win the event. In the weight throw, Ehlen took second and established a school record with a throw of 46 feet and 4.25 inches.

"The throwers crew in general was very good this meet," Uhrich said.

On the men's side Uhrich singled out thrower Jonathon Rosploch for his 52 foot, 1 inch toss in the shot putt and personal best weight throw with a 52 foot, 8 inch toss to place him sixth on Marquette's all-time list.

Junior Charles Mashozera won the triple jump for the men with a 47 foot, 8 inch leap. While the first and second place finishes for the team are impressive, Uhrich admits there are bigger challenges ahead for the team.

"Our main priority is the conference meet," he said. "In the mean time we're going to try progressing each week and to get more technically sound in each event."

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Jan. 18 2005.,”Brian O'Connor”

“