Busy Weekend of Meets - Czaikowski Nabs NCAA Qualifying Time

Check out all of the results and performances of the weekend, and the enclosed article by Shannon McNamara for MSNsportsNET.com regarding the performance by West Virgiia University in the State Farm Games. Thanks to Coach Mike Ryan of Morgantown for sending in results.

Track: Czaikowski Nabs NCAA Qualifying Time
by Shannon McNamara for MSNsportsNET.com
February 3, 2007
MEET RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University’s track and field team won 11 of the 16 events and qualified 13 for the BIG EAST Championship at the State Farm Shell Games on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the WVU Shell Building.


West Virginia's Jessica Czaikowski runs the hurdles at the State Farm Shell Games in Morgantown on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the past two weeks of momentum that we’ve had,” says sixth year coach Jeff Huntoon. “The girls are training hard and learning every day. We are on the right path heading into the BIG EAST Championship.”

Fifth year senior Jessica Czaikowski led the Mountaineers, running the 60 meter hurdles in 8.36, good enough to qualify for both BIG EAST and the ECAC Regional Championship. The finish is also an NCAA provisional time and the 13th best time in the nation. The Tottenham, Ontario, native also qualified for BIG EAST and ECAC in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.63.

Junior Abbie Stechschulte followed Czaikowski across the finish line in the 60 meter hurdles, clocking in with a BIG EAST and ECAC qualifying time of 8.81. The Columbus Grove, Ohio, native also qualified for both championships in the long jump, leaping 5.78 meters.

Alexis Noel was also successful in the long jump, finishing second with a BIG EAST qualifying jump of 5.61. The senior from Detroit, Mich., also qualified in the high jump (1.63).

Three Mountaineers qualified for both championships in the mile race. Junior Maria Stover finished first (4:59.28), sophomore Clara Grandt finished second (5:00.30) and junior Alison Spiker took fourth (5:01.00).

Freshmen Kristin Loughry and April Rotilio were the last two Mountaineers to achieve qualifying times at the games. Loughry qualified for BIG EAST and ECAC in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.84, while Rotilio qualified for BIG EAST in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.79.

Rounding out the event winners, sophomore Brittany Hohn won the 60 meter dash (7.98) and the 200 meter dash (26.35), Rotilio took the 400 meter dash (1:00.55), senior Halima Bashir was first in the 500 meter run (1:18.43), sophomore Kerry Davis won the 3000 meter run (10:32.68), and the 4x400 ‘A’ relay team took first (4:00.56).

WVU will next travel to University Park, Pa., for the Syklles-Babcock Cup on Feb. 9-10. The meet will be the last invitational for the team before they head to Akron, Ohio, to compete at the BIG EAST Championship.