Coach Bert Rogers will send seven members to two events this weekend in a "last chance" effort to reach an NCAA-qualifying mark that has so far eluded the Golden Eagles this indoor season.,”It's the eleventh hour for Marquette track and field to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships held next weekend. The pressure is on, and the stopwatch is running, but one last chance still remains.
Coach Bert Rogers will send seven members to two events this weekend in a "last chance" effort to reach an NCAA-qualifying mark that has so far eluded the Golden Eagles this indoor season.
"There's great competition at these types of meets, so you just can't help but run fast," said junior Katlin Millin, who will run the 800-meters this weekend. "It's an exciting atmosphere."
Heading to the Alex Wilson Invitational held at the Notre Dame campus Friday are five of Marquette's top performers — sophomore Tyler O'Brien in the 200-meters, junior Erynn James in the high jump, and sophomore Olivia Johnson, senior Sarah Verdoliva and Millin in the 800-meters. Attending an NCAA Qualifier held at Iowa State are senior Jessi Ehlen and junior Rachel Thiel, who both have performed well in the weight throw.
"The whole group has been competing well, so we're taking one more shot at it," Rogers said. "I think we can put up some big marks this weekend."
The team has enjoyed an extended break from action since a spirited performance at the Big East Championships a few weeks ago. Now they're back to the grind, training harder than ever.
"We're just keeping our training steady and keeping the team sharp and ready to go," Rogers said. "Training is progressive, and as you go forward, the intensity increases."
O'Brien, who currently holds the indoor (21.98 seconds) and outdoor (21.23) school records in the 200, needs to improve his fastest time this year (22.05) by a half-second in order to qualify.
"I'm hoping to run my best," said O'Brien. "I've been struggling to get back from injury all season, so now I'm finally back where I want to be."
A team which has been plagued with injuries all year, many of the athletes are relishing one more opportunity to excel.
Thiel has been rehabbing several months from a torn meniscus in hopes of getting back to action. Whether she is able to throw or not, she stressed the significance of getting in the competitive frame of mind.
"The mentality changes a little from the desire to beat competitors to focusing on what I can do," she said. "It is important to build up the competitor's attitude even if I don't throw this weekend."
Despite an overall shaky indoor season thus far, the team is using this last opportunity as a good way for transitioning into the outdoor season.
"It will give me good confidence going into outdoor," O'Brien said.
But above all, this weekend is about qualifying.
"I think for me to run the time I want I have to put everything together, the mental and the physical aspect," Verdoliva said. "I have to put a full race together, and if I do that, it should come."
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