
Mountaineers Kick Off 2018 with WVU Open
January 12, 2018 04:23 PM | Track & Field
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team closes the home portion of its 2017-18 indoor season by hosting the WVU Open on Saturday, Jan. 13, at the WVU Shell Building.
The meet begins with field events at 10 a.m. ET, while running events commence at 11 a.m. Admission is free for all fans and parking will be available in lots surrounding the WVU Coliseum.
"The weather is going to place a little bit of havoc into the weekend, but we've gotten enough support from a number of schools that are going to make the trip over," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "It should be an exciting Shell Building; we should have a lot of people in there. Quite honestly, we just want to come back and hopefully be in the vicinity of where we were before Christmas before we get going on the road and figure out who we are as a team."
The Mountaineers will be joined by Davis & Elkins, Frostburg State, Hagerstown Community College, Pitt-Johnstown, Salem International, Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and the WVU Track Club at Saturday's meet, the first of the new year for WVU. The competition also marks the second and final home meet of West Virginia's indoor campaign.
WVU last competed on Dec. 2 at the Marty Pushkin Track Classic. The Mountaineers won eight events at the season-opening meet, including three by unattached runners. The highlight of the day came in women's pole vault where junior Madelin Gardner set a new indoor school record by posting a mark of 4.15 meters (13 feet, 7.25 inches).
Additionally, freshman Michaela Ashford won the women's long jump, while freshman McKenna Smith finished first in the women's 500 meters. Redshirt senior Meghan Jean-Baptiste earned a victory in the women's 60-meter hurdles before teaming up with Ashford, Smith and senior Shamoya McNeil to win the women's 4x400 relay.
At last year's WVU Open, the Mountaineers claimed three event victories and five second-place finishes. Junior Faith Penny took home the win in the women's high jump, while redshirt sophomore Candace Jones was victorious in the women's 500 meters. WVU also won the 4x400 relay at the event last season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The meet begins with field events at 10 a.m. ET, while running events commence at 11 a.m. Admission is free for all fans and parking will be available in lots surrounding the WVU Coliseum.
"The weather is going to place a little bit of havoc into the weekend, but we've gotten enough support from a number of schools that are going to make the trip over," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "It should be an exciting Shell Building; we should have a lot of people in there. Quite honestly, we just want to come back and hopefully be in the vicinity of where we were before Christmas before we get going on the road and figure out who we are as a team."
The Mountaineers will be joined by Davis & Elkins, Frostburg State, Hagerstown Community College, Pitt-Johnstown, Salem International, Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and the WVU Track Club at Saturday's meet, the first of the new year for WVU. The competition also marks the second and final home meet of West Virginia's indoor campaign.
WVU last competed on Dec. 2 at the Marty Pushkin Track Classic. The Mountaineers won eight events at the season-opening meet, including three by unattached runners. The highlight of the day came in women's pole vault where junior Madelin Gardner set a new indoor school record by posting a mark of 4.15 meters (13 feet, 7.25 inches).
Additionally, freshman Michaela Ashford won the women's long jump, while freshman McKenna Smith finished first in the women's 500 meters. Redshirt senior Meghan Jean-Baptiste earned a victory in the women's 60-meter hurdles before teaming up with Ashford, Smith and senior Shamoya McNeil to win the women's 4x400 relay.
At last year's WVU Open, the Mountaineers claimed three event victories and five second-place finishes. Junior Faith Penny took home the win in the women's high jump, while redshirt sophomore Candace Jones was victorious in the women's 500 meters. WVU also won the 4x400 relay at the event last season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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