Track: Metcalfe Outstanding Performer
February 23, 2003 05:47 PM | General
February 23, 2003
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| Metcalfe |
SYRACUSE , N.Y. - The West Virginia University track and field team completed a competitive weekend at the BIG EAST Championships, held at Syracuse University, at the Carrier Dome. The women's team placed fifth with 56.50 points and the men's team was seventh with 52 points.
Leading the women was All-American Megan Metcalfe, who won the 3,000 meters for a second year in 9:15.25, setting the meet record for the event. She is only the second woman in the history of the BIG EAST to post consecutive 3,000 meters titles. For Metcalfe's efforts in the 3,000 meters and relays, she was named the Outstanding Female Track Performer of the meet.
All-American Christine Brown placed second in the long and triple jumps with leaps of 6.21 and 13.00 meters, respectively. She has now qualified for NCAAs in both events.
Tara Struyk placed 2nd in the 5,000 meters in 16:51.31.
Other individual place-winners for the women's team include: Jenifer Hall, fourth in the pole vault at 3.50 meters; Jennifer Kemp, sixth in the 800 meters in 2:13.48; and Ciara Chic, 8th in the 60 meters in 7.66 seconds.
In relay action, the women's 4x800 meter relay, composed of Ailene Smith, Jennifer Davis, Kemp and Metcalfe placed 2nd in 8:55.29. The distance medley relay, composed of Davis, Pam Richardson, Smith and Metcalfe, placed third in 11:26.35. Although missing first place, the relay bettered their time from last season, 11:28.51, which was the standing meet record.
For the men's team, Marc Kellman placed second in the triple jump at 15.30 meters and seventh in the long jump at 7.09 meters. William White finished fourth in the 200 meters in 21.93 seconds and fifth in the 60 meters in 6.84 seconds.
Other individual place-winners for the men's team include: Brandon Howard, third in the long jump at 7.21 meters; Justin Willyoung, third in the high jump at 2.06 meters; Dwayne Grant-Higgins, fourth in the 60 meter hurdles in 8.08 seconds; Abraham Jones, fourth in the long jump at 7.12 meters; Peter Knuchel, fifth in the 1,000 meters in 2:28.96; Nick Watt, sixth in the shot put at 15.99 meters; and Erik Bennett, eighth in the mile in 4:18.34.
The distance medley relay of Bennett, Blake Pearson, Knuchel and Nick Albanito took sixth in 10:08.69.
Miami won the women's competition with 157.50 points and Notre Dame won for the men with 114 points.
"We had some great performances and accomplished our goals of having our teams in the top-five and top-half of the conference," says coach Jeff Huntoon.
The Mountaineers return to action next weekend, Saturday, March 1, at the Last Chance Qualifier in Blacksburg, Va.
