WVU Produces Big Day at PSU National Finale

Saturday, January 27

University Park, Pa.

10:30 a.m.

West Virginia University

Penn State National Open

January 27, 2018 05:38 PM | Track & Field

Complete Results

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team combined for three victories on the final day of the Penn State National Open at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

WVU saw victories from senior Shamoya McNeil in the women's triple jump, redshirt sophomore Candace Jones in the women's 1,000-meter invitational and redshirt senior Amy Cashin in the women's mile invite.

The Mountaineers also recorded a pair of second-place finishes and one third-place finish on the day.

"Today was a much better indication of our program," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "With Amy and Candace winning the invitational sections and Maggie (Drazba) finishing second as the first collegian, the distance group put themselves in position for a very strong winter. Maggie's run, while a personal best, will continue to drop. I am very happy with these three performances, along with Sarah Wills in the open 3,000 meters. We have a nice place in which to progress from."

McNeil recorded a mark of 12.76 meters (41 feet, 10.5 inches) in the triple jump, winning in her 2017-18 indoor debut in the event. Junior Danique Bryan finished second, registering a mark of 12.36 meters (40 feet, 6.75 inches).

"Watching Shamoya and Danique go 1-2 in the triple jump was quite encouraging," Cleary said. "Being their first triple of the season, we have high hopes as they progress."

On the track, Jones won the women's 1,000-meter invitational in a time of 2.50.88. Moments later, Cashin added to the Mountaineers' win total with a victory in the women's mile invitational. Cashin, who was named the Big 12 Track and Field Female Athlete of the Week on Jan. 24, clocked in at 4:41.17 for first place.

Redshirt senior Maggie Drazba earned a runner-up finish for WVU in the women's 3,000-meter invite. She tallied a personal-best time of 9:27.37, finishing first among collegiate participants.

Later on, redshirt junior Madelin Gardner took third place in the women's pole vault invitational. The school's indoor record holder in the event, Gardner registered a mark of 4.08 meters (13 feet, 4.5 inches).

"Maddie got herself back on track today with her vault," Cleary said. "She attempted a school-record mark of 4.18 (meters) before bowing out. We have great belief that she has one or two more bars in her before outdoors begin."

Additionally, redshirt freshman Sarah Wills earned a fifth-place finish in the women's 3,000 meters, recording a time of 9:54.63 in the event. Freshman McKenna Smith placed sixth in the women's 400 meters (58.05), while redshirt senior Rebecca Wendt placed eighth in the women's 1,000 meters (3:03.13).

In Friday's opening night at the PSU National Open, WVU saw a victory in the women's pole vault by senior Sara Finfrock. Finfrock earned a mark of 3.65 meters for the win. Freshman Ellie Gardner added a second-place finish in pole vault, while redshirt senior Meghan Jean-Baptiste competed in the women's pentathlon.

The Mountaineers were one of 25 teams competing in the two-day event, which featured No. 25 Penn State, Akron, Army West Point, Ashland, Binghamton, Bucknell, Buffalo, Coppin State, Duquesne, La Salle, Lebanon Valley, Maryland, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Muhlenberg, Norfolk State, Pitt-Johnstown, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Temple, Towson, UMBC, Vermont and Washington & Jefferson.

WVU will return to action at the Akron Invitational, in Akron, Ohio, from Feb. 2-3.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.