Quirke Sets Irish Junior Record

Feb. 7, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. — OU freshman Colin Quirke became the latest Sooner in 2009 to break a record during the indoor season. While four Oklahoma program records have been snapped this year, Quirke took it a step further by breaking the Irish junior national record in the men's indoor shot put at the Sooner Open I. Quirke, who owns dual Irish-American citizenship, threw a distance of 60-7.75 (18.48) to break the previous Irish junior record of 54-8.00 (16.66) set by Eoin Leen in 2003.

Quirke who is currently redshirting the 2009 indoor season and competing unattached, already held the Irish junior record in the outdoor shot put, breaking his father Paul's mark in the 2007 Ireland Youth Championships and extending it at the 2007 World Youth Championships.

Quirke was not the only Oklahoma competitor making noise in the thrower's circle as Amy Backel unleashed a PR in the women's shot put and more importantly, an NCAA provisional qualifying mark with a top toss of 50-6.25 (15.40). The throw is the third-longest in Oklahoma program history as Backel finished second behind OU freshman Karen Shump who is currently redshirting. Shump's throw of 57-1.50 (17.41) is farther than the nation's top collegiate mark of 56-2.00 (17.12) and over the NCAA automatic qualifying mark.

Keeping the throwing theme alive, Mikaela Johansson extended her program record in the women's weight throw for the third consecutive week to take first in the event. Johansson's distance of 57-11.00 (17.65) broke the Swedish native's personal best of 57-7.00 (17.55) by four inches and topped all competitors by more than three feet.

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