WVU Enjoys Big Day to Close PSU National Open

Saturday, January 26

University Park, PA

11:00 a.m.

West Virginia University

Penn State National Open

January 26, 2019 06:47 PM | Track & Field

Results

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three victories and a total of eight top-eight finishes highlighted the West Virginia University track and field team's final day of competition at the Penn State National Open in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Redshirt senior Madelin Gardner won the women's pole vault invitational with a meet-record mark of 4.25 meters (13 feet, 11.25 inches), while redshirt sophomore Antigone Archer won the women's 3,000 meters in a time of 9:57.07. Redshirt freshman Hayley Jackson took the women's 1,000 meters in 2:48.70.

The Mountaineers competed in nine events on the day, registering a top-eight finish in seven of them.

"I feel like we had a great deal of success over the course of the weekend," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Maddy continues to be near-flawless in the vault. I know she's searching to jump higher, but her consistency is the greatest we've seen since she has been here. I also was especially pleased with a lot of the freshmen. From Peter-Gay (McKenzie) in the long jump, to Hayley in the 1,000 meters, Samantha (Hatcher) running a lifetime-best in the 3,000 and Mikenna (Vanderheyden) nearly earning a program top-five time in the 600, I think we'll leave this competition with a better understanding of what they should expect from themselves in the future. Across the board, I thought a lot of the freshmen came out in their first big invitational and competed really well.

"We had a lot of performances that we can work off; I'm really proud of Antigone Archer for her win in the 3,000 open race. For those that are leaving the meet a little disappointed, that's why we get back on the bus next weekend to have another shot at competing and proving why they are a part of this program."

Gardner's win in the pole vault was her third in as many meets to begin the indoor season. Jackson also recorded a victory for the second straight weekend.

Saturday's action began with the women's 600 meters, where freshman Mikenna Vanderheyden finished second with a time of 1:35.98. Later, Jackson won the 1,000 meters, while redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie placed 11th in the event in 2:59.54.

Archer finished ahead of redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah, who took seventh in the 3,000 meters in 10:14.18. Freshman Samantha Hatcher competed in the women's 3,000 meters invitational, crossing the finish line in 9:52.34 for sixth place.

WVU also was represented in the 4x400-meter relay invitational, where redshirt senior Bria Welker and freshmen Peter-Gay McKenzie, Margaret Rymer and Tessa Constantine combined to place 14th in 3:55.69.

Saturday's field events featured Gardner's performance, along with McKenzie, who placed fourth in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.73 meters (18 feet, 9.75 inches). In the women's high jump, redshirt junior Faith Penny earned a seventh-place finish with a mark of 1.63 meters (5 feet, 4.25 inches), while freshman Sada Wright took 32nd place in the women's shot put, tallying a mark of 10.68 meters (35 feet, 0.5 inches).

The two-day meet began on Friday, where sophomore Mikayla Shute and freshman Molly DeBone tied for fourth place in the women's pole vault (unseeded) with a mark of 3.39 meters (11 feet, 1.5 inches). Jackson, Welker, Vanderheyden and Hatcher also participated in the women's distance medley relay, placing second with a time of 11:40.72.

The Mountaineers were joined by more than 30 schools in University Park this weekend. The meet marked the eighth time WVU has competed in an indoor competition at Penn State since the start of the 2014-15 season.

Next up, WVU travels to Akron, Ohio, for the Akron Invitational, from Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Action is set to begin on 5 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday.

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