MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior Savanna Plombon, junior Brianna Kerekes and sophomore Millie Paladino of the West Virginia University track and field team got things started for the Mountaineers at the 2016 NCAA East Prelims on Thursday, in Jacksonville, Florida.
In order to qualify for the finals at the NCAA Championships, student-athletes needed to record a top-12 finish. Plombon raced in the 10,000-meter run, placing 25th with a time of 35:30.67.
"A very unfortunate 1,500-meter run," said coach Sean Cleary." Millie was knocked out of her game on lap one. It was just an unfortunate thing that happens in competitive track. She lost contact with the pack after being jostled by the pack. She managed to stay on her feet but ended up in lane three, having lost seconds to the pack. It's a learning experience that she will grow from. She is very disappointed, but she will return to this meet and improve from it. Millie's best running is in front of her. Brianna was also able to beat her tank coming in. A nice rest is in order for her before building for her senior year. To qualify for the NCAA Championships means that you're mixing it up with the best of the best. Both will be back with a vengeance.
"Savanna ran a very good race tonight. She ran way above her head in terms of her rank, entering the meet. I am very proud of this race. Savanna came down very sick at this meet, yet went out and ran one of her best races in a WVU uniform."
Paladino placed 42nd in the event with a time of 4:33.36. Kerekes finished in 45th with a time of 4:38.27. The top-five finishers from each heat, along with the next four fastest times, will advanced to the quarterfinals on Saturday.
On Friday, Stone will compete in the first round of the high jump at 5 p.m. ET. She qualified with an outdoor career-best mark of 1.74 meters set at the Virginia Challenge.
Later in the day, juniors Amy Cashin and Megan Yuan will represent the Mountaineers in the quarterfinals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase set for 8:50 p.m. ET. Cashin qualified with a personal-best time of 10:21.36 at the Billy Hayes Invite, while Yuan qualified with a career-best time of 10:27.39 earned at the Virginia Challenge.
On Saturday, sophomore Jillian Forsey will compete in the 5,000-meter run and sophomore Shamoya McNeil will represent the Mountaineers in the triple jump.
The first round of the triple jump begins on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET. McNeil qualified in the triple jump with an outdoor career-best mark of 12.76 meters set at the Texas Relays. The top-12 best marks will advance to the finals of the National Championships.
Forsey will compete in the semifinal of the 5,000-meter run for WVU at 8:05 p.m. ET, as she qualified for the event with a time of 16:05.89 set at the Stanford Invitational. The top-five finishers in each heat, as well as the next two fastest times, will advance to the finals of the National Championships.
Live results and additional championship information can be found at
NCAA.com.
The qualifiers from the east and west regions will advance to compete at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships set for June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon.
