WVU Track Posts Historic Day
March 13, 2010 12:38 AM | General
March 13, 2010
RESULTS
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| Marie Louise Asselin |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 15 West Virginia University track and field team posted a historic finish in day one of the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday evening with six student-athletes earning All-America honors.
“This has been an incredible day in West Virginia women’s track and field history,” coach Sean Cleary says. “Although we have one or two girls that left the track wishing for just a little bit more, this is without a doubt the happiest I have been leaving the track since I have been the head coach. We entered this meet with aspirations to bring home an All-America award for all seven that competed. As we go to bed, this appears to be very realistic.”
WVU started the day, qualifying a student-athlete in the mile for the first time since 1999 when Kate Vermeulen won the national title, as senior Keri Bland finished in third with a time of 4:41.87. Junior Kaylyn Christopher also competed in the event coming in 12th with a time of 4:46.76. Both received All-America honors.
In the 5,000-meter race, senior Marie-Louise Asselin broke her own school record to earn All-America honors with a second-place finish (15:50.53). Senior Clara Grandt also had an excellent race finishing 11th (16:14.09). Grandt was awarded All-America honors by virtue of being one of the top eight U.S. citizens in the race.
“Asselin was spectacular in the 5,000-meter race today,” Cleary adds. “In what was only her second time running the 5,000 meters indoors, Marie ran the race of her life to break her own school record. To have she and Clara Grandt both as All-Americans is very gratifying for the spectacular young ladies.”
The Mountaineers capped off the day with one of the most impressive finishes in the distance medley relay. The team of Bland, Christopher, April Rotilio and Jessica O’Connell raced to an eighth-place showing with a time of 11:16.39, to be named All-Americans.
Junior standout Chelsea Carrier, the Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year, also had an excellent day as she qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles. With eight moving on to the finals, Carrier tied for seventh in the event with a school-record time of 8.22. The top eight in the event are named All-Americans.
"We rolled the dice by running Keri and Kaylyn in the mile heats prior to the DMR,” Cleary admits. “Picking off the final All-America team was a very proud moment for this group. We are all smiles as we leave the building. Seven for seven is the motto for the weekend and only time will tell.”
Action is set to continue at the Randal Tyson Track Center tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT.
The Mountaineers, who head into day two ranked in the No. 9 spot, will compete in four events tomorrow starting with Carrier in the Pentathlon at 11:30 a.m. The finals for the mile are at 6:25 p.m., followed by the 60-meter hurdle finals at 6:45. O’Connell will complete the day with a showing in the 3,000-meter race at 8:10. All times are Central.
For live results or more information, visit www.NCAA.com.
