Track: Metcalfe, DMR Travel to NCAAs
March 12, 2003 11:37 AM | General
March 12, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University track team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the NCAA track and field indoor championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center at the University of Arkansas. The meet preliminaries begin on Friday, March 14, at noon and the finals will start Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m.
Five Mountaineers have qualified for the meet. Junior All-American Megan Metcalfe is the lone WVU runner competing in an individual event, the 3,000 meter run. The Edmonton, Alberta, native automatically qualified with a time of 9:17.53, making her the No.13 seed going into the race. At last year's NCAA meet, Metcalfe placed third in the event in 9:09.95.
"I think Megan has as good of a shot as anyone in the 3,000," says coach Jeff Huntoon. "To equal or to improve on her third place finish last year would be outstanding."
The women's distance medley relay automatically qualified for the national meet with a time of 11:18.51. Members of the relay include: Metcalfe (mile), sophomore Jennifer Kemp (1200m), senior Ailene Smith (800m) and sophomore Pam Richardson (400m). Sophomore Jennifer Davis will travel with the team as an alternate. The relay is the No.14 seed going into the meet.
"It's a testament to our program, and to our coaching staff because sending kids to nationals is a great honor and accomplishment," says Huntoon. "We had a great indoor season, on the men's and women's side and this a great way to finish the season, taking five quality kids down to Fayetteville."
Results will be available at the official NCAA website, www.ncaasports.com.
