DePaul Set to Compete in the EIU Early Bird Classic
12/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | TRACK AND FIELD
Katelyn and Virginia MacFabe take the stage first for DePaul, entering in the women's weight throw. Last weekend the sisters finished right next to each other in the standings, as Katelyn hit a distance of 14.33m, while Virginia cleared 14.19m. The men's throwing trio of Brad Millar, Matt Babicz and Tim Vala compete in the weight throw following the women. Millar tallied his first BIG EAST Conference qualification mark of the season last weekend, taking home first place behind a throw of 18.42m.
Ebonie Cobb, Jim Theologes and James Waller join Babicz and Vala in the shot put competition that immediately follows.
Also beginning at 4 p.m., Ivy Moffett will take her passes down the runway in the women's long jump. Moffett was the top-finishing DePaul jumper last Friday, taking fourth with a leap of 5.02m. Cynthia Edwards represents the Royal Blue and Scarlett in the triple jump competition that follows.
The first starting pistol for the Blue Demons sounds at 4:35 p.m. when a young and promising group of underclassmen, led by senior Moffett, race in the prelims of the 60m. Idia Omogiate, who narrowly missed the conference qualification standard of 7.85 last time out, enters the race as the top Blue Demon 60m performer. She placed second at the Blue and Gold Meet with a time of 7.89.
Chris Kyles, who broke the DePaul 60m record in his first-ever collegiate race last weekend, looks to tally another BIG EAST mark in the event, and will be joined by Cameron Bretl and Tristan Stagger.
The next scheduled event is the one mile, which pits Mary Cate Quiett and Terah Cheatham against a talented group of runners from across the region. Quiett enters the race as the reigning BIG EAST Track Athlete of the Week, after winning the 1,000m in Notre Dame, Ind. last weekend with a Blue Demon record-breaking time of 2:52.83. Max Rodrigues is the only student-athlete slated to represent DePaul in the men's mile.
The Blue Demons earned a double-dose of accolades from the BIG EAST earlier this week, as Joe Strawder was dubbed the league's Field Athlete of the Week. The senior claimed his spot in both the long and triple jumps at the conference championship, after meeting both standards last weekend with distances of 6.87m and 14.30m, respectively.
Following the 60m finals, Castro and Holden return to the track for the women's 400m. Holden dominated the race last time out, crossing the finished line in first place with a BIG EAST qualifying time of 57.23. Ryan Bosman and Gilbert Lifton continue the meet in the men's 400m.
Outdoor pole vault record-holder Chris Johnston takes to the runway for the first time this season, as he aims to add the indoor record to his resume. Johnston inked his named in the books in 2008 when he cleared the cross bar at a height of 3.96m.
Middle distance runners Kelly Pickering, Toni Salvatore, Max Clink compete in the 600m before Edin Pasalic, Courtney Avvampato, Chris Gallardo, Tyler Schmitt, and Greg Udzielak wrap up the night for DePaul in the 1,000m.
The EIU Early Bird Classic features squads from Indiana State, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Butler, Vincennes and host, Eastern Illinois. For full results and recaps, visit www.depaulbluedemons.com.