Fri., March 6, 2009

   JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- University of Saint Francis sophomore Jean Marqueling made history on Friday becoming the first USF female to earn All-American status by placing third in the weight throw at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

  "There was supposed to be a girl ahead of me, but suddenly they were calling my name," Marqueling recalled about her best throw of the competition, a USF record in the event. "I had a lot of adrenilin because I didn't know how much time I had. You only get a certain amount. I got out of my warmups and threw, the fastest I ever made the turn."

   Marqueling, a Bishop Dwenger High School graduate, launched a USF record 17.15 meters -- 56 feet, 3 1/4 inches. It was the best of any underclassman in the event.

   "I had no idea that (USF) had never had a woman qualify for All-American," Marqueling said in a surprised voice. "Wow, I am honored and thrilled."

  Marqueling competed in the NAIA event last year and she felt the experience was an asset this time around.

  "Last year I was really nervous and timid," she recalled. "I was still nervous, but I knew how things ran and so I was more nervous about how well I could do. It was definitely worth the trip."

  Marqueling entered the competition as the No. 3 seed with a season best and USF record 16.95 meters. She finished 23^rd with a best of 13.21 meters in 2008 as the only freshman in the field.

  Aubrey Baxter (Black Hills State, Sr.) won with a best of 19.79 meters (64 feet, 11 1/4 inches) and Emily Browne (Clarke, Sr.) was second at 18.84 (61 feet, 9 3/4 inches).

  USF sophomore Nick Adams (Fort Wayne, IN / Northrop H.S.) finished 16th with a best of 16.30 meters (53 feet, 5 3/4 inches) and junior Matt Truttling (East Chicago, IN / East Chicago H.S.) finished 26th with a top throw of 14.74 meters (48 feet, 4 1/2 inches). There were 29 entries.

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