NCAA Regionals
May 29, 2003 11:25 AM | General
May 29, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – According to Coach Jeff Huntoon, the end of the season is becoming an emotional time for his West Virginia University men’s track team.
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| Senior Justin Willyoung is ranked 11th in the region in the high jump entering this weekend's competition. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
“There will be hugs all around,” said Huntoon. “All week I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to say to them before we get on the bus.”
Earlier this year it was announced that the men’s program will be discontinued in an effort to combat budgetary cuts that have affected the university system state-wide.
Two weeks ago the men’s team sent shock waves down the East coast by capturing its first-ever IC4A championship. Now, 10 men’s performers and eight women will have the opportunity to extend their seasons at the first-ever NCAA East Regional Track Meet being held at George Mason University this weekend.
“It’s a great opportunity for them,” said Huntoon. “We’ve got some athletes that can move on to nationals.”
This year NCAA track has adopted a performance-based regional system aimed at sending more competitors to nationals. In addition to qualifying standards, the top five finishers in each of the four regional meets will advance to nationals to take place in Sacramento, Calif., June 11-14.
What it amounts to is about a 40 percent increase in the number of NCAA national participants to about 1,100 men and women.
“I think it creates opportunities that others haven’t had in the past,” said Huntoon. “For a school like WVU it’s a benefit. For others it might be a nuisance. The reality is that someone going at 30th isn’t going to be an All-American. But by going and competing, it gives a freshman or a sophomore motivation to go back and do better.”
The Mountaineer men are well represented at the regional meet, particularly in the steeple chase where three competitors have qualified. Charleston native Zach Sabatino is ranked eighth heading into this weekend’s event, one spot ahead of teammate Tyler DeVault. Freshman Rob Watson is ranked 24th in the steeple chase and will also compete this weekend.
Junior Brandon Howard is ranked sixth in the long jump with a leap of 7.56 meters and has a good chance of cracking the top five to go to nationals.
Senior Justin Willyoung barely missed qualifying for nationals last year in the high jump and is ranked 11th in the region.
“Justin missed nationals by mere centimeters last year,” said Huntoon. “That amounts to about a couple sheets of paper.”
Two Mountaineer men’s competitors have qualified in the pole vault in Michael Yurcho (ranked 16th) and Jason Mandato (27th) while two will also compete in the triple jump in Marc Kellman (18th) and Damian Baines (30th).
Rounding out the men’s regional qualifiers is Dwayne Higgins, who will compete in both the 110 (ranked 27th) and the 400 hurdles (ranked 28th).
For the Mountaineer women, senior Christine Brown has qualified in both the triple jump and the long jump. Her best to chance to qualify for nationals may come in the triple jump, where she is ranked ninth in the region.
All-American Megan Metcalfe hasn’t had the type of outdoor season she expected because of a heavy academic work load, but she is still a strong candidate to qualify in the 1,500. She is currently ranked 11th going into this weekend’s meet.
“Megan has had a very difficult academic schedule this spring and the 1,500 isn’t her best event,” said Huntoon. “But all of the great ones have great range and I’m confident she will come through this weekend and get back to nationals.”
Jennifer Kemp is ranked 24th in the nation in the 800-meter run and also has a shot of qualifying
Tara Struyk has already qualified for nationals in the 10,000 and is looking to make it in the 5,000, too.
Pam Richardson has qualified in the 400 hurdles and will also team with Ciara Chic, Kenyetta Conway and Junique Morris in the 4x400-meter relay.
“If you would have told me we would have had 10 guys qualified for regionals before this year I would have said they were crazy,” said Huntoon. “I’m so happy with the way they have performed. It’s a true testament to the type of individuals they are.”
The coach has entertained several phone calls from other schools inquiring about the possibility of transfers.
“In the past week I’ve talked to Clemson, Tennessee, USC and others about some of our guys,” he said. “Once the season is over hopefully we can get most of them placed in good schools.”
According to Huntoon, Kellman has already found a home at George Mason and the coach believes several others are close to making their decisions.
