Thurs., May 21, 2009

  EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - University of Saint Francis sophomore Jean Marqueling stuck to her game plan and saved her best for last. The result paid off in an All-American effort on Thursday in the the hammer throw in NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

   Marqueling, a Bishop Dwenger High School graduate from Fort Wayne, earned NAIA All-American status with her second-place finish in the hammer setting the USF record in the event for the third time this season with a best of 179 feet, 10 inches (54.82 meters) -- her last throw of six attempts on the day. It took an NAIA-record 201-8 (61.48 m) from defending champion Aubrey Baxter, a senior at Black Hills State, to top Marqueling's best effort. Competition started at 11 a.m. FW time today.

   Marqueling said on Monday before piling into a van with USF's other two qualifiers -- Nick Adams and Matt Truttling -- that her goal was to meet or exceed 54 meters.

   "That was my goal, to PR," Marqueling said by phone. "I'd thrown a 53.85 on my second throw in the prelims, which moved me up to second. Going into my last chance, I still had second locked up, so the only pressure was to PR. I felt loose and relaxed and just let it fly. It felt like a real good throw and when I heard the distance, I said to myself 'yes, I got the PR. It is a very satisfying feeling to have the work you put in all season pay off."

   Especially since she put in a great deal of extra time last week with clinicals, classes and a summer job. And through it all, Marqueling finished as an All-American in an event she didn't even know what wind or transition meant before coming to USF.  

   "It's hard to explain since I've been competing in the shot put and discus so much longer," the busy nursing major said. "I really enjoy it and throwing the hammer just feels pretty natural to me, from the wind to a good fit."

  In a field of 25 entries, Marqueling was the No. 4 seed with a regular-season best throw of 174-10 (53.28m) at the Anderson Invitational at Anderson University on April 4.

  The top six places earn NAIA All-American.

  In 2008 Marqueling finished 15^th as a freshman with a throw of 143-4, the best among freshman entries in the event.

  Marqueling earned NAIA Indoor Track and Field All-American in March earlier this season when she placed third in the weight throw. She is the first two-time NAIA All-American for USF in track and field.

  Nick Adams competed in the hammer, but fouled on all three prelim attempts. Adams and Matt Truttling will compete in the discus on Saturday afternoon, the final day of the event.

 C.F.P.I. Timing & Data - Contractor License

        NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships - 5/21/2009 to 5/23/2009        

                          Results at www.cfpitiming.com                          

                    Ralph Korte Stadium - Edwardsville, Ill.                     

Event 46  Women Hammer Throw

 Finals                                                                          

  1 Aubrey Baxter       SR Black Hills St.                61.48m*    201-08  10   

  2 Jean Marqueling     SO U. of St. Francis (IN)       54.82m       179-10     8   

  3 Emily Brown         SR Clarke                            53.50m    175-06   6   

  4 Denise Mattoon      SO Oklahoma Christian      52.53m     172-04   5   

  5 Christa Hofland     SR Dickinson St.                 52.33m     171-08   4   

  6 Lara Ter Laak       JR British Columbia             50.80m     166-08   3   

  7 Angela Krausz       SR Lindenwood                   50.01m     164-01   2   

  8 Jamie Williams      SR Hastings                       49.52m     162-06   1 

MORE

In 2009 - Jean Marqueling

Hammer

Mar  28 2nd     Polar Bear Invitational            51.06   169-3        USF Record

Apr  4  1st     Anderson Invitational               53.28   174-10       USF Record

Apr 11  2nd     Little State @ IWU                  52.80   173-3

Apr 18  1st     Spartan Classic @ Manchester   52.05   170-9 1/4

Apr 24  1st     MCC Championships @ Taylor   49.90   163-8 3/4 

May 21  2nd     NAIA Championships               54.82   179-10      USF Record, All-American

-- GO USF --