WVU Splits for Texas Relays, Stanford Invite
March 29, 2016 01:07 PM | Track & Field
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After a week off from competition, the West Virginia University track and field team will spilt for the weekend to compete at the Texas Relays from March 30-April 2 in Austin, Texas, as well as the Stanford Invitational on Friday, April 1 in Stanford, California.
“We don't split the team up very often, but when we do, we do so with the intentions of hitting NCAA qualifying marks,” said coach Sean Cleary. “Our goals are simple this weekend, to qualify as many as we can for the NCAA Championships. The following week, we will bring the entire team together as we travel to George Mason.”
Texas plays host to the four-day, 89th annual Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Longhorn Network will provide live television coverage. Additional coverage will be available at espn.go.com.
The first day of the Texas Relays begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 30, and the events on Thursday, March 31 are scheduled to begin at noon ET. Friday and Saturday’s events start at 10 a.m. ET.
More than 7,500 high school, collegiate and professional athletes from around the country will compete at the event. A total of 32 states and 20 countries will be represented this weekend.
The last time the Mountaineers competed at the Texas Relays was in 2012. WVU posted two top-seven finishes and a victory from former Mountaineer Chelsea Carrier-Eades in the heptathlon to qualify for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships and the 2012 Olympic Trials.
Select Mountaineers will also compete at the Stanford Invitational on Friday, April 1. Stanford hosts the event at Cobb Track and Andell Field. Women’s track and field events are set to begin at 2 p.m. ET, starting with shot put and the 5,000 meter.
At last year’s Stanford Invitational, four Mountaineers posted career-best times in the 5,000-meter run: Sydney Scott, Savanna Plombon, Brynn Harshbarger and former graduate Kaitlyn Gillespie.
West Virginia opened its 2016 outdoor season at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from March 18-19. The first day of competition was highlighted by a victory in the 1,500 meter invitational thanks to sophomore Millie Paladino and two more top-10 finishes.
Paladino crossed the finish line in 4:21.93 to win the 1,500 meter.
The final day of the event was highlighted by four top-five finishes: one in the pole vault invitational, two in the pole vault B section and one in the 400 meter hurdles.
Up next, the Mountaineers will compete at the Mason Spring Invitational on April 9 in Fairfax, Virginia, hosted by George Mason.
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