MORGANTOWN, W. Va. –  The West Virginia University track and field team hosted the Mountaineer Twilight on Saturday, April 30, at the Track and Field Complex at Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 
The Mountaineers recorded nine first-place finishes on the night, including five in field events and four on the track. WVU also added five second-place finishes and a trio of third-place finishes.
 
"It was very low key, but it was a productive day at the track," coach Sean Cleary said. "The weather was perfect, and the team arrived ready to take advantage of it. This meet was a good opportunity to sleep in our own beds, compete hard and get home quickly to prepare for finals. As we left the afternoon section of today's meet, we were pretty pleased that the team competed so well, but more so that they have more in them."

The night began with senior Sada Wright's first-place finish in the discus throw, as she threw for a distance of 44.81 meters for the win. Following Wright's performance, the Mountaineers completed a 1-2-3 sweep in the pole vault, led by sophomore Lynsie Curtis with a 3.65-meter distance. Junior Katelyn Caccamo and redshirt sophomore Sarah Stair followed in second (3.50m) and third (J-3.50m), respectively.
 
In the high jump, sophomore Abigale Mullings tallied a first-place finish with a jump of 1.71 meters, while freshman Eden Williams followed in third (1.50m). Senior Peter-Gay McKenzie earned a first-place finish of her own in the long jump, posting a distance of 5.48 meters. Concluding the field events was senior Myesha Nott, with a 12.55-meter jump for first place.
 
"The jumpers collectively had a very good meet," said Cleary. "Peter-Gay took a few chances with her speed on the runway, only to fall slightly short on the board. Today's commitment will pay off over the next few weeks. Abbey was jumping at a bar that we believe will have her slip into the NCAA meet. We feel optimistic that she will nail this goal with a few more opportunities.
 
"Myesha had her best competition in a few years as she made huge improvements in just a few weeks. If she continues these advancements, she has a very good opportunity to finish her career at the NCAA meet. Lynsie put things together in pole vault, jumping her collegiate personal best." 
 
Opening action on the track, redshirt senior Charlotte Wood led the way in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:26.67, while senior Katherine Dowie was just behind her in second (4:31.87). Sophomore Emily Oiler then took third in the 400-meter dash (1:01.13).
 
"Charlotte continued her first outdoor season with the team by duplicating her personal best over 1500 meters. I am excited to see her next month unfold," said Cleary.
 
In the 800-meter run, redshirt junior Hayley Jackson took first (2:05.92), followed by freshman Cassandra Williamson in second (2:06.16) and sophomore Jo-Lauren Keane in third (2:08.46). Jackson now moves into third all-time in WVU program history, while Williamson moves into fifth.
 
"The night sections had some incredible races under the lights," said Cleary. "The 800-meter had Hayley and Cassandra running each other to the line. They were rewarded with huge lifetime bests. Both look well-positioned to join Jo in the NCAA meet with tonight's ambitious running."
 
Senior Tessa Constantine earned a win in the 400-meter hurdles (59.31). Constantine now moves up to fourth all-time in program history. She was followed by freshman Maria Kaylor's second-place finish in the 5,000 meters (17:01.56).
 
"Tessa was outstanding in the 400-meter hurdles today, as she took 1.2 seconds off of her best time ever," Cleary said. "It has been a long, turbulent road for Tess. We could not be more proud of her. While nothing is guaranteed, we feel confident that she punched her ticket into the NCAA meet."
 
The night concluded with redshirt freshman Ceili McCabe's victory in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as she posted a 9:32.14. Fifth-year senior Sylvia Russell followed in second place (10:21.92).
 
"The steeple was the final race of the night and did not disappoint," Cleary said. "Ceili looked rusty but very strong in her outdoor debut for the team. We have tried to be patient with Ceili's season to date after her disrupted winter. To come out here and run 9:32 in her debut race should point towards much quicker times as the season unfolds. To start 2022, where she left the 2021 season is more than we could ask. 
 
"Sylvia ran a very strong race for second place in the steeple. While we wanted a little more from her tonight, I am confident that this was enough to land her in the NCAA meet. We have one month to get her a little sharper, and we hope to be a lot faster."
 
Up next, West Virginia is set to host the WVU Last Chance Meet on Saturday, May 7, at the Track and Field Complex at Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 
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