CHICAGO - The Margaret Bradley Invitational "Last Chance" track meet in Chicago proved to be a justified last chance for the Saint Xavier University men's indoor track team this past Saturday and the Cougars took full advantage qualifying two individuals for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Newark, Ohio, from March 3-5. Juniors Matt Rychel (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) and Brandon Hummer (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) qualified in the indoor mile and 1000-meter runs, respectively. Hummer ran initially and produced a stellar time of 2:32.06 easily besting the 2:33.80 qualifying standard in the event. Rychel competed in the mile 90 minutes later and notched a time of 4:21.80, which easily outdistanced the qualifying standard of 4:23.20. SXU men's track coach Ed McAllister was thrilled with the performances.

"Indoor track season is very short and our guys only have a few meets to make their marks," said McAllister. "Both of these young men ran strong, intelligent races and I firmly believe that each of them has a great chance to improve and finish high at the national meet in March."

Additional highlights for the Cougars included: freshman Nick Pesek (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community) finishing fifth in the 55-meter dash (6.74 sec.) and seventh in the 200-meter dash (24.15 sec.); freshman Shane Kenney (Porter, Ind./Chesterton) finishing sixth in the 800-meter run in 2:02.43 and freshman Izak Velasquez (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) capping an eighth-place finish in the 3000-meter run in a time of 9:08. Saturday's meet marked the end of the 2011 indoor track regular season and Rychel and Hummer will represent Saint Xavier at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Ohio early next month.