Track: WVU Opens Outdoor Season
March 16, 2006 10:27 PM | General
March 16, 2006
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| Jen Hall |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track team will open up the 2006 outdoor season on March 17-18, at the UNC-Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C.
“We are excited about the schedule and this first meet in Charlotte will give a majority of our team a great opportunity to compete in two or three events,” head coach Jeff Huntoon said.
The Mountaineers finished up the indoor season with a ninth place finish at the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships in Akron, Ohio, before placing 11th at the ECAC Championships in Boston, Mass.
WVU enjoyed one of its most successful outdoor seasons in school history in 2005 when the Mountaineers took third at the BIG EAST championships and 20th at nationals, their highest finish ever.
“This is going to be a season in which a lot of young talent will get the chance to experience what major Division I track is all about,” Huntoon said.
A handful of Mountaineer seniors are looking to make their last season memorable. Senior standout Susan Davis, a regional qualifier in the steeplechase, hopes to reserve her place at nationals in the steeplechase. Junique Morris is looking to make her first NCAA regional appearance in the 200-meters while Lindsey Clark, who was BIG EAST runner-up in the javelin last year, is also looking to make her first NCAA regional appearance.
WVU also welcomes three-time All-American senior Pamela Richardson back to the squad after sitting out the indoor season along with Jen Hall, who was a pleasant surprise in the pole vault for WVU in the indoor season.
Junior hurdle star Jessica Czaikowski is anxious to get back on the track after missing the NCAA Indoor Championships by just one-tenth of a second in the 60-meter hurdles. Czaikowski’s top time of 8.26 was the 19th best in the country indoors this season.
Huntoon noted that distance runners Karly Hamric and Alison Spiker will likely redshirt the outdoor season as will veteran high jumper Nancy Regalbuto and multi-event star Abbie Stechschulte, who just made her first trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the pentathlon.
“I may redshirt those girls for development for their future,” Huntoon said. “It will make us a better team nationally down the road.”
