WVU Completes Home Opener

Friday, March 18

Morgantown, W. Va.

West Virginia University

Stan Romanoski Open

Game Program

Photo by: Seth Seebaugh

March 19, 2022 07:40 PM | Track & Field

Results

By: Lindsay Auld

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team opened the 2022 outdoor regular season by hosting the annual Stan Romanoski Open on March 18-19 at the Track and Field Complex at Mylan Park.

The Mountaineers earned five first-place finishes on Saturday. In the discus throw competition, senior Sada Wright recorded a distance of 48.54 meters, which is good for a program second-best, behind Jodi Smith's 50.26 meters set in 1984. She was followed by redshirt senior Ellie Gardner, who placed first in the pole vault competition. Gardner finished with a height of 3.56 meters.

"Sada did a very nice job today," said coach Sean Cleary. "Sada's throw earns her a second all-time in the discus. We know that Sada will throw much further as the season progresses, but we are excited by today.

Ellie was strong in vault this afternoon in blustery conditions. Navigating the vault outdoors on a day like today is not easy. It's nice to see her off to a good start for the season."

On the track, senior Tessa Constantine earned a pair of first places finishes. Constantine completed the 400-meter in a time of 57.38, and she finished the 200-meter in a time of 26.32. Redshirt senior Hayley Jackson took first place in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 4:35.44.

"Tess looked strong with the 400-meter today," Cleary said. "We feel she will run upwards of two seconds quicker as the season progresses, which should prepare her very well for the hurdles.

Hayley shook off the cobwebs with a steady win in the 1500-meter. Today was a nice ice breaker for her as we prepare for the bigger meets next month."

Additionally, sophomore Emily Oiler placed second in the 400-meter, while redshirt junior Amber Dombrowski placed third. Sophomore Megan Weaver took fourth in the 800-meter run.

Up next on the track, redshirt junior Malina Mitchell placed fifth in the 1,500-meter, and freshman Ghamani Hogue placed fifth in the 100-meter.

To close out the competition, junior Katelyn Caccamo placed second in pole vault, and freshman Eden Williams placed third in the high jump competition.

The Stan Romanoski Open marked the first of five outdoor home meets for the Mountaineers this spring.

The annual meet is named in honor of the former men's cross country and track and field head coach from 1958-80. After piloting the programs for nearly 25 years, Romanoski put together a 109-81 cross country record, along with a 70-39-1 track and field record.

"It was a good start to the outdoor season," Cleary said. "Conditions were as good as you could expect for a mid-March Competition. Running in front of family and friends is always enjoyable."

West Virginia continues action at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina, on March 24-26, at the Paul Derr Track and Field Facility.

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