Big East Bound
April 28, 2004 05:00 PM | General
April 28, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Twenty West Virginia University athletes will take part in the 2004 Big East women’s outdoor track and field championships to be held at Rutgers University this weekend.
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| 800-meter specialist Jennifer Kemp has the third fastest time in the Big East this spring. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Mountaineer coach Jeff Huntoon is happy with the number of qualifiers considering the poor weather his team has encountered this spring.
“We’ve got a few more than what we usually have. Even though the weather hasn’t cooperated for us it’s been a good year to get that many qualified,” he said. “Because we haven’t had ideal conditions this weekend could be the start of some really good times.”
Because All-American Megan Metcalfe is redshirting the outdoor track season West Virginia’s best chance at a Big East individual title this weekend probably rests with junior Jennifer Kemp in the 800 meter run. Kemp’s top time of 2:08.65 performed at the Mt. Sac Relays last Sunday places her third among conference runners behind Georgetown’s Treniere Clement and Villanova’s Collen Taylor.
“Jen has already got an NCAA regional qualifying time. If I’m not mistaken, she’s currently ranked 17th in the country,” said Huntoon.
Junior Tara Stryuk, already qualified for nationals in the 10,000, will only run the 5,000 this weekend at Rutgers. “She’s going to run the 5,000 because we think she’s got a better opportunity of scoring the points that we need,” said Huntoon.
Struyk has the conference’s sixth-fastest time in the 5,000 at 16:29.83. Running the 10,000 in Struyk’s place is junior Devon Plesuk, who posted a top-five finish at the Big East outdoor meet last year as a sophomore.
Promising freshman Jessica Czaikowski will be busy this weekend competing in the 100 hurdles, 100-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay. Huntoon is hoping for a high finish from Czaikowski in the hurdles.
In addition to Czaikowski, the 4x100-meter relay team is comprised of senior Ciara Chic, freshman Shani Boone and sophomore Junique Morris. The 4x100 team enters this weekend ranked fourth in the conference.
“That relay is the strongest one we’re taking to Rutgers this weekend,” Huntoon admitted.
The Mountaineers could also get some points from Davis twins Susan and Jen in the steeplechase. Susan has topped her sister’s school record in that event and both have produced faster times this season.
Sophomore Nancy Regalbuto has cleared 5-foot-8 in the high jump and has a chance of scoring some points for West Virginia, too.
While Miami and Notre Dame are the two clear-cut favorites, Huntoon believes his team can have a strong showing this weekend.
“If we do well as a team it’s going to be a lot of workmanship type of effort … lots of seconds and thirds and things like that,” he said. “We could finish anywhere from third to sixth.”
Competition begins Friday afternoon at the Bauer Track & Field Complex and continues through the weekend. Last year West Virginia finished seventh; the Mountaineers’ best Big East outdoor finish was third in 2000.
Following the Big East championships, West Virginia has 14 runners already qualified for ECACs set to take place in Fairfax, Va., May 14-16.
The Mountaineers wrap up May with NCAA regionals in Gainesville, Fla. Eight runners have already qualified for regionals.
NCAA nationals take place in Austin, Texas, June 8-12.
