MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team closed the 2019 outdoor regular season by earning 10 wins at the Mountaineer Open, at the Track and Field Complex at Mylan Park, on Saturday.
 
In all, WVU competed in 13 events at its third and final home meet at the new facility this season. The team also honored its eight academic seniors/graduate students – Danique Bryan, Jillian Forsey, Madelin Gardner, Candace Jones, Shamoya McNeil, Faith Penny, Andrea Pettit and Bria Welker – for their contributions and commitment to the program during their collegiate careers.
 
"Tonight was a nice little tune-up for the beginning of championship season," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "For some, this was their last competition of the year. For others, it was a springboard into the most meaningful meets of the season. In the past, we've had to get on the road and travel seven or eight hours with a few kids to get them some competition at the conclusion of exam week – it was a big undertaking. So, it was nice to be at home for this meet, and we can now start to prepare for next weekend."
 
Saturday's meet began with freshman Sada Wright's win in the discus throw. The Glenville, West Virginia, native earned a career-best mark of 45.17 meters, good for third-best in program history.
 
From there, freshman Peter-Gay McKenzie won the long jump with a mark of 5.68 meters, while redshirt junior Faith Penny placed first in the high jump with a mark of 1.65 meters. Redshirt senior Shamoya McNeil was victorious in the triple jump, tallying a mark of 12.33 meters.
 
In the pole vault, redshirt senior Madelin Gardner won with a mark of 4.22 meters, ahead of her younger sister, sophomore Ellie Gardner, who placed second with a mark of 3.82 meters. Freshman Molly DeBone (3.72 meters) finished fourth, while sophomore Mikayla Shute (3.37 meters) was fifth. Freshman Julia Brundin tied for sixth place with a mark of 3.37 meters.
 
On the track, freshman Margaret Rymer won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.50, before redshirt senior Bria Welker crossed the finish line first in the 400 meters in 57.35. The Ridgeley, West Virginia, native also took third in the 200 meters in 25.38.
 
Redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah began the meet's evening session with a win in the 3,000 meters in a season-best 10:07.80. Then, redshirt freshman Hayley Jackson clocked a 2:08.66 for a win in the 800 meters, good for the fifth-best time in program history. Freshman Linda Jebet placed sixth in the event in 2:25.96.
 
Redshirt freshman Katherine Dowie closed the meet with a victory in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Dowie finished with a time of 10:52.40 to claim WVU's 10th win of the day, the most in an outdoor meet this season.
 
Additionally, freshman Mikenna Vanderheyden took second in the 400 meters in a time of 1:00.19, while redshirt junior Andrea Pettit was eighth in the 1,500 meters in 5:15.88.
 
WVU was joined by Bethany, California (Pa.), Carnegie Mellon, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Seton Hill and Westminster at Saturday's event.
 
Next up, the Mountaineers travel to Norman, Oklahoma, for the 2019 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship, from May 10-12, at the John Jacobs Track and Field Complex. West Virginia finished ninth at the outdoor conference meet last season.
 
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