By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
February 19, 2011 04:19 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior
Chelsea Carrier
powered the West Virginia University track and field team in the first round of the BIG EAST Indoor Championships this afternoon, breaking two school records and earning a conference title.
“Carrier was at her very best today,” coach Sean Cleary says. “We already know that she is one of the very best in this conference and today she put on a show that few have witnessed at this meet. It was a huge day in the multi and a lifetime-best in the hurdles. We are very fortunate to have her in the gold and blue!”
The Buckhannon, W.Va., native started the day taking first place in the pentathlon with 4,170 points to break her own school record of 4,136 points which she set last season. The finish also marked the second -highest total ever at the BIG EAST Championships.
Carrier placed first in the 60-meter hurdles (8.26), the long jump (5.86 meters) and the 800-meter run (2:23.76), while also placing second in the high jump (1.75 meters) and third in the shot put (11.13 meters). The finish puts her third on the nation’s top performance list.
Carrier set her second school record of day in the preliminary round of the 60-meter hurdles, finishing first with a time of 8.15, breaking her previous record of 8.21 which she set at the GaREAT Collegiate Invitational on Feb 5. Freshman Chené Townsend also qualified for the finals with a time of 8.66. The duo will compete in the finals tomorrow afternoon.
Junior Sarah-Anne Brault and freshman Kaitlyn Gillespie scored points in the 5,000-meter run as Brault placed fourth (16:17.95) and Gillespie finished in fifth (16:15.12), while the distance medley relay team finished third with a time of 11:27.06.
Junior Meghan Mock aided the Mountaineers in the long jump with a fourth-place showing, after clearing 5.86 meters.
In the mile, sophomore Aubrey Moskal and freshman Sarah Martinelli qualified for the finals finishing in eighth (5:09.42) and 10th (5:04.10), respectively, while senior Keri Bland qualified for the finals in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.50.
After one day of competition, the Mountaineers are in second place 30 points behind Louisville.
The BIG EAST Indoor Championships will continue tomorrow with competition set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Live stats and video streaming can be found at www.BIGEAST.org.
