MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team opens the 2019-20 indoor season on Saturday, Dec. 7, as it hosts the annual Marty Pushkin Open at the WVU Shell Building.
 
Saturday's action opens with field events at 9 a.m. ET, followed by track events beginning at 10 a.m. The season-opening meet is named in honor of Dr. Martin Pushkin, who served as the WVU cross country and track and field coach for more than two decades. Admission to the meet is free, and parking will be available in the surrounding WVU Coliseum lots.
 
"Track season is finally here," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "We're opening the indoor season a little earlier this year, but I think that will greatly benefit our athletes. With two home meets to start the year, it will give the kids a chance to get back into the swing of things before we embark on the travel portion of our schedule after the new year."
 
In all, six teams are set to join WVU at the annual indoor event, including Alderson Broaddus, the Fairmont State Track Club, Frostburg State, Waynesburg, West Liberty and the WVU Track Club.
 
Saturday's field events include the weight throw, shot put, long jump, triple jump and high jump. On the track, runners will compete in the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 500-meter dash, mile run, 800-meter run, 3,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run and 4x400-meter relay.
 
The Mountaineers earned nine first-place finishes at last season's Marty Pushkin Track Classic. Madelin Gardner led the way with a victory in the women's pole vault. The Williamstown, West Virginia, native claimed school records in the indoor and outdoor pole vault in 2018-19. She went on to earn All-America Second Team honors in women's pole vault, with ninth-place finishes at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
 
WVU's 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Margaret Rymer, Peter-Gay McKenzie, Michaela Ashford and McKenna Smith, also collected a victory at the Pushkin Classic last season with a time of 4:06.56. Rymer and McKenzie added individual wins of their own in the 60-meter hurdles (10.00) and 60-meter dash (7.78), respectively.
 
In field events, Faith Penny earned a winning mark of 1.62 meters in the high jump, while Sada Wright was victorious in the weight throw (13.59).
 
At the 2018-19 Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Championships, the Mountaineers finished ninth as a team, as they registered seven All-Big 12 indoor performances in four events and five All-Big 12 outdoor performances in four events.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.