MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team concluded the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Saturday evening with the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase and 800-meter race at the Track and Field Facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Redshirt senior
Mikenna Vanderheyden received an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship after finishing second in the second heat of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Vanderheyden pushed for a personal best time of 10:00.84, finishing ninth overall. With the time, the redshirt senior remains third all-time in program history in the event.
Additionally, classmate
Sarah Tait collected a season best time of 10:08.86 in the steeplechase. Tait nearly missed a trip to national championship after finishing 13
th overall.
"Mikenna took control and willed her way to Eugene, living out a five-year dream," said WVU coach
Sean Cleary. "Sarah stepped up big time today to finish in the dreaded place of missing the final race by one spot. To see how far she has come in three weeks is a testimony to her mental strength and willingness to put it all out on the line with a less than ideal build up. We are so very proud of them both."
In the women's 800 meters, redshirt junior
Cassandra Williamson shattered WVU's record in the event for the third time this season with a time of 2:03.49. Williamson placed 15
th in the 800 meters, concluding her outdoor season.
"Cassandra continues to bring her A game to races that matter the most," Cleary added. "This marks the third school record for her at a major championship this year. We will leave Kentucky both proud and excited about the future of these three young ladies."
Next up, Vanderheyden will travel to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on June 5-8 to compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. This year's championship meet will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
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