Saturday, February 9
Geneva, Ohio
10:00 a.m.
West Virginia University
at
SPIRE Division I Classic
Jackson’s Win Helps Close SPIRE Classic
February 09, 2019 06:44 PM | Track & Field
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team concluded competition at the SPIRE Division I Classic, in Geneva, Ohio, on Saturday.
Redshirt freshman Hayley Jackson picked up a victory in the women's 3,000 meters (elite), earning a lifetime-best time of 9:28.27. The performance was one of four top-eight finishes for the Mountaineers on the final day of the two-day meet at the SPIRE Institute Indoor Track & Field Facility.
"The 3,000 meters proved to be a very strong finish for us," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Hayley put together one of her better tactical races, and she was rewarded with a lifetime-best time."
Along with Jackson, redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie finished sixth with a personal-best time of 9:54.05, while redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah placed 17th in 10:50.51. Additionally, freshman Charlotte Wood, who ran unattached, placed third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:35.74.
Wood is set to appear in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Saturday, Feb. 16.
"Today's race was used as a tune-up for next week's NACAC Championships, and Charlotte used it by mashing her personal best by more than 20 seconds," Cleary said of Wood. "She looks to be in a good spot and should be very confident as she boards the plane."
In the women's 400 meters, redshirt senior Bria Welker took fifth place in 56.58, also a lifetime best. She was followed by freshman Margaret Rymer, who placed ninth in 59.46, and freshman Mikenna Vanderheyden, who took 12th place in 59.76.
Welker's time topped her previous best in the event, which was set at the Marshall Invitational in 2017.
"We're extremely happy for Bria," Cleary said. "To be fully back for only three or four weeks, we're amazed with her progression in such a short amount of time."
Freshman Samantha Hatcher also claimed a fifth-place finish in the women's mile (elite). She crossed the finish line in 5:01.66, the top time for a Mountaineer this indoor season. Fellow freshman Linda Jebet, who made her WVU debut on Saturday, finished 16th in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:18.56.
In Saturday's field events, freshman Peter-Gay McKenzie finished ninth in the women's long jump, earning a mark of 5.25 meters (17 feet, 2.75 inches), while redshirt junior Faith Penny tied for 10th in the women's high jump (1.58 meters – 5 feet, 2.25 inches).
Freshman Sada Wright also recorded a 10th-place finish in the women's shot put, earning a mark of 10.19 meters (33 feet, 5.25 inches). The performance came a day after she earned career-best mark of 15.01 meters (49 feet, 3 inches) in the women's weight throw.
"Sada is starting to get a hang of the weight throw," Cleary said. "It's a new event for her, and she's getting a little better every week."
In addition to Wright's performance on Friday, redshirt senior Madelin Gardner won the women's pole vault with a mark of 4.30 meters (14 feet, 1.25 inches). Gardner bested a field of 22 vaulters to earn her fourth victory of the indoor season.
"Maddy continues to have a standout senior year," Cleary added. "She's jumping at a personal best week after week, and with the consistency she's showing, we still feel like she has one or two bars left in her before the indoor season ends."
The Mountaineers also recorded a win in the women's distance medley relay, as Jackson, Welker, Vanderheyden and redshirt sophomore Sarah Wills posted a first-place time of 11:52.96.
This weekend marked the first time WVU competed at The SPIRE Institute since the 2014-15 campaign. West Virginia was joined by more than 25 teams at the meet, including Bowling Green, Dayton, DePaul, FIU, George Mason and others.
Up next, the Mountaineers cap the indoor regular season at the Penn State Tune-Up on Saturday, Feb. 16, in University Park, Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Redshirt freshman Hayley Jackson picked up a victory in the women's 3,000 meters (elite), earning a lifetime-best time of 9:28.27. The performance was one of four top-eight finishes for the Mountaineers on the final day of the two-day meet at the SPIRE Institute Indoor Track & Field Facility.
"The 3,000 meters proved to be a very strong finish for us," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Hayley put together one of her better tactical races, and she was rewarded with a lifetime-best time."
Along with Jackson, redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie finished sixth with a personal-best time of 9:54.05, while redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah placed 17th in 10:50.51. Additionally, freshman Charlotte Wood, who ran unattached, placed third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:35.74.
Wood is set to appear in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Saturday, Feb. 16.
"Today's race was used as a tune-up for next week's NACAC Championships, and Charlotte used it by mashing her personal best by more than 20 seconds," Cleary said of Wood. "She looks to be in a good spot and should be very confident as she boards the plane."
In the women's 400 meters, redshirt senior Bria Welker took fifth place in 56.58, also a lifetime best. She was followed by freshman Margaret Rymer, who placed ninth in 59.46, and freshman Mikenna Vanderheyden, who took 12th place in 59.76.
Welker's time topped her previous best in the event, which was set at the Marshall Invitational in 2017.
"We're extremely happy for Bria," Cleary said. "To be fully back for only three or four weeks, we're amazed with her progression in such a short amount of time."
Freshman Samantha Hatcher also claimed a fifth-place finish in the women's mile (elite). She crossed the finish line in 5:01.66, the top time for a Mountaineer this indoor season. Fellow freshman Linda Jebet, who made her WVU debut on Saturday, finished 16th in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:18.56.
In Saturday's field events, freshman Peter-Gay McKenzie finished ninth in the women's long jump, earning a mark of 5.25 meters (17 feet, 2.75 inches), while redshirt junior Faith Penny tied for 10th in the women's high jump (1.58 meters – 5 feet, 2.25 inches).
Freshman Sada Wright also recorded a 10th-place finish in the women's shot put, earning a mark of 10.19 meters (33 feet, 5.25 inches). The performance came a day after she earned career-best mark of 15.01 meters (49 feet, 3 inches) in the women's weight throw.
"Sada is starting to get a hang of the weight throw," Cleary said. "It's a new event for her, and she's getting a little better every week."
In addition to Wright's performance on Friday, redshirt senior Madelin Gardner won the women's pole vault with a mark of 4.30 meters (14 feet, 1.25 inches). Gardner bested a field of 22 vaulters to earn her fourth victory of the indoor season.
"Maddy continues to have a standout senior year," Cleary added. "She's jumping at a personal best week after week, and with the consistency she's showing, we still feel like she has one or two bars left in her before the indoor season ends."
The Mountaineers also recorded a win in the women's distance medley relay, as Jackson, Welker, Vanderheyden and redshirt sophomore Sarah Wills posted a first-place time of 11:52.96.
This weekend marked the first time WVU competed at The SPIRE Institute since the 2014-15 campaign. West Virginia was joined by more than 25 teams at the meet, including Bowling Green, Dayton, DePaul, FIU, George Mason and others.
Up next, the Mountaineers cap the indoor regular season at the Penn State Tune-Up on Saturday, Feb. 16, in University Park, Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Multi
/ Track & Field
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
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