Carrier Named Most Outstanding Big East Athlete
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 08, 2011 04:44 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team completed the 2011 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships this afternoon with a school-best second-place finish.
The Mountaineers took the runner up spot with 107 team points behind Louisville who captured its fourth-consecutive title with 117 points.
Connecticut followed in third with 89 points, while Georgetown finished fourth with 84 points and Villanova rounded out the top five with
79.50 points.
West Virginia team members pose with their runner-up trophy at the 2011 Big East outdoor track and field championships.
Submitted photo
The finish marks the highest-ever by the Mountaineers during the outdoor season as senior Chelsea Carrier was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer of the meet and the coaching staff was recognized as the Women’s Staff of the Year.
“This BIG EAST runner-up performance is one of the true highlights in the history of the women’s program,” coach Sean Cleary says. “I could not be more proud of the total team effort that we had this weekend.
“As a team, we scored in 13 of 21 events, marking another school record. Coaching this team has been a great pleasure for me,” Cleary adds. “From the beginning of this year it was the team’s goal to win this championship. The student-athletes that committed themselves to this goal to the very end should not look back upon this performance as a disappointment. This weekend was fantastic.”
Carrier led the Mountaineers this weekend with three conference titles including wins in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles today.
The Buckhannon, W.Va., native won the 100-meter hurdles with a stadium record time of 13.07, and the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.48, which marks the best time in the BIG EAST this season.
Senior April Rotilio also had a great performance, winning a BIG EAST Championship in the 400-meter dash. The Bellaire, Ohio, native crossed the line with a school-record time of 52.71, marking the first time a Mountaineer has won the event since Tameca Williams in 2000.
Rotilio also finished sixth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.19.
“Chelsea Carrier continued to show the country that she is one of the best all around track and field athletes in the NCAA,” Cleary says. “Her training partner, April Rotilio, who smashed the school record in the 400-meter dash, has now also established herself as a contender to be in the national championships.”
After placing third in the heptathlon yesterday, senior Katelyn Williams returned to finish second in the high jump today after clearing 1.79 meters, while sophomore Sydney Cummings finished fifth (1.75 meters).
“Katelyn Williams chose her final BIG EAST meet to lay down her very best weekend of track and field ever,” Cleary admits. “After finishing third in the heptathlon yesterday, to come back and finish second in the high jump with Sydney in fifth place, is great.”
In the distance events, seniors Keri Bland and Kaylyn Christopher led the Mountaineers as Bland placed sixth in the 1,500-meter run (4:27.58) and Christopher finished eighth in the 5,000-meter run (16:43.65).
West Virginia finished the meet with strong showings from its relay teams as the 4x100-meter team finished fourth, the 4x800-meter team finished seventh and the 4x400-meter team finished in third.
“I am so proud of my staff and the leadership and mentoring they have provided,” Cleary ends.
The Mountaineers will now prepare for the NCAA Regionals with a trip to the Gator Invitational on May 14 and the Swarthmore Last Chance Meet on May 16.