MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Achieving its first Top-10 ranking since the 2009 season, the West Virginia cross country team jumped four spots to No. 9 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) national poll released ...
Top-10 Ranking for Mountaineers By Daniel Whitehead for MSNsportsNET.com
November 15, 2011 03:31 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Achieving its first Top-10 ranking since the 2009 season, the West Virginia cross country team jumped four spots to No. 9 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) national poll released Tuesday.
By Daniel Whitehead for MSNsportsNET.com
August 11, 2011 01:14 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – As one of the top running programs in the nation, the West Virginia track and field team proved to be scholastic as well as it was named a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.
By Katie Kane for MSNsportsNET.com
June 10, 2011 09:00 PM
DES MOINES, Iowa – West Virginia University senior Chelsea Carrier took home first team all-American honors as she placed third in the heptathlon at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
By Katie Kane for MSNsportsNET.com
June 09, 2011 08:39 PM
DES MOINES, Iowa – Three West Virginia University competitors walk away from day two of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as third team all-Americans.
By Katie Kane for MSNsportsNET.com
June 08, 2011 10:46 PM
DES MOINES, Iowa – West Virginia University juniors Kate Harrison and Sarah-Anne Brault closed out the final event of day one at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a second-place and 10th place finish, respectively, in the 10,000-meter run
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.
West Virginia team members pose with their runner-up trophy at the 2011 Big East outdoor track and field championships.
Submitted photo
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 07, 2011 07:58 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team is currently in fourth place this evening, after completing the second day of action at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships with two conference titles.
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| Senior Chelsea Carrier |
Senior Chelsea Carrier became the first Mountaineer in school history to win a long jump title in the outdoor season with a personal-best distance of 6.42 meters. The mark also was the longest jump at the BIG EAST Championship since Rutgers’ Shameka Marshall jumped 6.47 meters in 2005 and places her second on WVU’s all-time list.
The Buckhannon, W.Va., native also qualified for the finals in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, while teammate Chené Townsend will join Carrier in the 100-meter hurdle finals.
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
February 20, 2011 04:28 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team completed the BIG EAST Indoor Championships with a fifth-place overall finish and three conference titles, while senior Chelsea Carrier was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Field Athlete
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.
Chelsea Carrier and Chene Townsend at the WVU State Farm Games
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
January 25, 2011 01:12 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team received a No. 7 ranking in the week one national polls announced today by the Untied States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The top three remained the same from preseason rankings with Oregon at No. 1, Texas A&M at No. 2 and LSU at No. 3. Clemson currently ranks fourth, while Tennessee and Arkansas follow in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
The Mountaineers are once again the highest ranked BIG EAST team in the poll. Other ranked conference opponents include, Villanova (No. 11), Louisville (No. 21) and Georgetown (23).
West Virginia will continue action this weekend with the Penn State National Invitational on Jan. 28-29. It will serve as one of the largest meets of the season with competition from Tennessee, Georgetown, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Central Florida and Ohio State.
Kaitlyn Gillespie
Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
January 16, 2011 11:51 AM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt freshman Kaitlyn Gillespie captured first-place in the 1,000-meter race on Saturday as the West Virginia University track and field team posted an excellent finish at the Doug Raymond Invitational, hosted by Kent State.
Gillespie took the top spot with a BIG EAST qualifying time of 2:54.16. The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, native also race well in the 800-meter event, finishing in fourth with a time of 2:16.43.
Chelsea Carrier
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
January 08, 2011 05:43 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After the holiday break, the West Virginia University track and field team returned to post an excellent showing today at the Penn State Relays in University Park, Pa., with several top finishes.
“Today was a great rust-buster for our team,” coach Sean Cleary says. “This was a great test for the girls at an away venue and we had some great performances. It is clear that we have a lot more work to do, but for now, we leave this meet pleased.”
Carrier Posts BIG EAST Standards
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
December 04, 2010 05:20 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior
led the West Virginia University track and field team this afternoon after posting three BIG EAST Championship qualifying standard finishes at the WVU Holiday Classic.
The Buckhannon, W.Va., native earned her first qualifying time with a first-place showing in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.52. She then returned later in the afternoon to post her second and third qualifying standards with a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash (25.45) and a first-place finish in the high jump (1.70-meters).
Karly Hamric placed sixth in today's 1,500-meter race to earn All-America honors and help West Virginia to a 16th-place finish.
Kirby Lee photo
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
June 12, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Seniors Karly Hamric and Keri Bland raced to All-America honors this afternoon in the finals of the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Hamric, a Bruceton Mills, W.Va., native, earned her first honor of the season with a sixth-place finish, crossing the line with a time of 4:17.78.
“Karly Hamric has now become the highest placed 1,500-meter finisher in WVU’s history,” coach Sean Cleary says. “What a year: BIG EAST Champion and now she leaves Eugene as the third-best American Collegiate mile runner. It’s simply outstanding.”
Bland, earned her fourth honor of the season by virtue of finishing as one of the top U.S. citizens. The Fairview, W.Va., native, placed ninth with a time of 4:19.98 (open article for more)
(L-R) Keri Bland, Karly Hamric and Marie-Louise Asselin
Photos courtesy of MSNsportsNet.com
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 29, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team qualified three student-athletes for the NCAA Championships today after a strong showing in the final day of the East Regionals in Greensboro, N.C.
Seniors Keri Bland, Karly Hamric and Marie-Louise Asselin all qualified for the finals in their respective events, giving the Mountaineers a total of five that will compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Open article for more.
Kaylyn Christopher Photo Courtesy of MSNsportsNet.Com
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 10, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Several members of the West Virginia University track and field team qualified for the NCAA Regionals this evening after competing at the Swarthmore Last Chance Meet in Swarthmore, Pa.
Senior Keri Bland qualified for regionals after finishing second in the 800-meter race. The Fairview, W.Va., native earned the spot after crossing the line with a time of 2:07.04.
“Keri Bland continues to run very strong over 800 meters,” coach Sean Cleary says. “I was impressed with the way she handled herself after training hard all week after the BIG EAST Championships. She will be rewarded for these fast races once she moves back up to the 1,500 meters for the championships.”
Also running well was senior Karly Hamric and junior Jessica O’Connell, who competed in the 1,500-meter race. Hamric posted a personal-best time of 4:15.3 for a second-place finish putting her second on WVU’s all-time performance list in the event. O’Connell also posted a personal-best performance with a time of 4:19.00.
“With Karly and Jessica, we were here to run fast,” Cleary admits. “We came into the meet looking for lifetime best performances and we got just that. Karly smashed her personal-best time and now ranks No.2 all-time at WVU and No. 5 in the county. Jessica continued her strong outdoor campaign. Both of these girls are rounding into great shape with the NCAA meet just around the corner.”
Junior Kaylyn Christopher continued the pattern posting a personal-best time of 4:25.7 in the 1,500-meter race to qualify for regionals.
“Kaylyn Christopher also ran a lifetime best and appears to have punched her ticket into post season play,” Cleary adds. “I am very much satisfied with our preparations and look forward to even better performances over the next month.”
Next, the Mountaineers will compete at the ECAC Championships in Princeton, N.J., on May 15-17, before heading to the NCAA Regionals on May 27.
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By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
May 2, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team finished fourth this afternoon at the BIG EAST Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio, as they swept competition in the 5,000-meter run.
Open article for the complete story.
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
March 13, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team completed the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., this evening with a 10th-place finish, as all seven student-athletes earned All-America honors.
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| West Virginia finished a school-best 10th at this year's indoor nationals in Fayetteville, Ark. Ilora Cipolat photo |
“Track and field, like all sports is about rolling at the right time,” coach Sean Cleary says. “2010 brought with it a 10th-place national finish and 10 All-America awards. This is the greatest moment collectively in WVU track and field history. To have our cross country team finish sixth in the nationals this fall and now to see this group emulate a top 10 finish themselves is historic. The efforts of this very special group of student-athletes, our coaching staff, combined with the fan support that we have developed over the years, surely makes this a very special moment.”
WVU earned the highest ranking of any BIG EAST team as it scored 18 points for 10th place. Oregon finished in the top spot with 61 points, while Tennessee finished second (36), LSU in third (35), Florida in fourth (33) and Texas A&M in fifth (31).
Continued
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 22 West Virginia University track and field team remains at No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic Regional poll for the second-consecutive week, announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Penn State leads the pack, while the 2010 BIG EAST indoor champion Villanova is No. 3, Georgetown is No. 4 and Princeton is No. 5.
The Mountaineers returned to the top 25 in the national polls this week at No. 22, after their fourth-place showing at the last weekend’s conference championships.
Next, WVU is set to compete in the Alex Wilson Invitational on March 5-6, in South Bend, Ind., before competing at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 12-13. So far, the Mountaineers have seen three student-athletes meet automatic qualifying standards in seniors Marie-Louise Asselin (5,000 meter), Clara Grandt (5,000 meter) and junior Chelsea Carrier (pentathlon).
WVU’s distance medley relay team of Kaylyn Christopher, Keri Bland, April Rotilio and Jessica O’Connell are also vying for a spot at NCAA’s after posting a provisional time of 11:14.95 at BIG EAST. The team is currently at No. 9 on the national top performers list for the event.
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
February 21, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University track and field team concluded the 2010 BIG EAST Indoor Championships at the Armory in New York City today with a fourth-place showing.
Chelsea Carrier (pictured) led the Lady Mountaineers.
Open Article for more.
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
February 20, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team is currently in first place after day one of the BIG EAST Championships at the Armory in New York City.
“I think today was evidence that the girls came to compete,” coach Sean Cleary says. “We made some interesting moves from where some of the girls were ranked nationally this week and I am proud of the girls and very excited with the outcome of day one.”
Seniors Marie-Louise Asselin and Clara Grandt led the team, as they took the top spots in the 5,000-meter race.
In her first time running the 5,000-meter race indoors, Asselin finished in first with a time of 15:58.15, while Grandt followed in second (16:04.24). Both times were school records as well as NCAA automatic qualifying times.
(Please open the article for complete story.)
Big East Championship concludes Sunday, February 21, 2010.
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
January 30, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior All-American Clara Grandt led the No. 23 West Virginia University track and field team in an excellent performance today, in the final day of the Penn State National as she took first in the invitational mile.
“This weekend was a very balanced team performance,” coach Sean Cleary says.” It is clear that we have to keep working and believing in ourselves to maximize our potential, but I was encouraged by the effort that we exhibited this weekend. In time, the final pieces will be in place.”
Grandt, a West Union, W.Va., native, captured first in the event with a time of 4:48.40, marking the second-straight meet she has finished in the top spot.
Junior Kaylyn Christopher then posted a good showing in the invitational 800-meter run, as she placed sixth with a conference qualifying time of 2:10.07.
(Open link for more)
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
January 16, 2010
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| Jessica O'Connell |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior led the No. 22 WVU Track and Field team today, as she met a BIG EAST qualifying time and broke a Penn State record in the 1,000-meter race at the Penn State Northeast Challenge in University Park, Pa. Jessica O'Connell
The Calgary, Alberta, native finished the race in second with a time of 2:47.59, respectively, which puts her fourth on WVU’s all-time list for the event. Senior also met conference qualifying standards in the 1,000 meter with an eighth-place showing (2:57.75). Clara Grandt
“The first meet back after the holidays brings with it some good, some average and some things we need to work on,” coach Sean Cleary says. “We will use this next phase of our training to better ourselves for the upcoming meets.”
(Open link for more)
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
October 31, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 4 West Virginia University cross country team finished second this afternoon at the BIG EAST Championship held at the Wayne E. Dannehl National XC Course in Milwaukee, Wis.
The Mountaineers finished at the No. 2 spot for the second-straight year. Villanova took first with 30 points, while WVU followed with 74, Syracuse with 84, Georgetown with 92 and Providence with 108.
(click on the title for the complete article)
Clara Grandt - photo courtsy of MSNsportsNet.com
By Allison Hoehn for MSNsportsNet.com
June 11, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University track and field junior Clara Grandt finished fourth in the 10,000-meter finals at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors Thursday night at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark.
Grandt ran the race in 33:45.16 to earn her first All-America honor. Providence’s Donette Doetzel won the race in 33:25.71 followed by Cecily Lemmon of Brigham Young (33:39.97), and Anita Campbell of Washington (33:43.33).
“I’m very happy about it,” Grandt says. “I’ve come so far these past few years and this has been such a positive experience.”
Click on the title for the rest of the press release.
Grandt and Carrier Win Titles
By Allison Hoehn for MSNsportsNet.com
May 3, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University track and field athlete Clara Grandt took the 5,000-meter title, while Chelsea Carrier shared the 100-meter hurdle title today, at the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Mountaineers finished seventh with 50 total points, while Louisville won the team title with 138 points. Connecticut was runner-up with 102 points. Georgetown placed third with 91 points, while Notre Dame finished with 85.5 points for fourth place. Host Villanova came in fifth with 80 points.
Grandt finished with a time of 16:07.55. Freshmen Ahna Lewis and Sarah-Anne Brault posted NCAA regional qualifying times in the event; Lewis placed fifth with the time of 16:37. 26, followed by Brault who placed eighth (16:44.73). Sophomore Brooke Boening finished 15th with a time of 17:27.41.
Grandt’s time is the second-best in school history, only behind All-American Megan Metcalfe, who set the bar at 15:47.64 in 2005.
“The 5,000-meter race was the highlight of our day,” comments Coach Sean Cleary. “Today was Brault’s debut race and I’m very happy with her performance.”
Carrier shared the title in the 100-meter hurdle race, posting a time of 13.59. She shared the first-place finish with Mycaiah Clemons of Pitt. This is Carrier’s second-consecutive title in the event. (Cont.)
West Virginia University track and field athlete, Clara Grandt, has been named WVU Athlete of the Week after her performance at the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championship this past weekend in Philadelphia, Pa.
Grandt took the 5,000-meter title with a time of 16:07.55. Grandt’s time is the second-best in school history, behind only All-American Megan Metcalfe (15:47.64 in 2005).
Her performance helped WVU to a 7th-place finish with 50 total points. Louisville won the team title with 138 points. Connecticut was runner-up with 102 points. Georgetown placed third with 91 points, while Notre Dame finished with 85.5 points for fourth place. Host Villanova came in fifth with 80 points.
With WVU’s BIG EAST Championship finishes this year, the team averages the fourth-best program in the 16-team field. The Mountaineers cross country team placed second in the event’s championship race earlier this year, while the indoor track team tied for fifth place at the conference meet in February.
WVU Ties for Fifth, Bland Earns Honor
By Allison Hoehn for MSNsportsNet.com
February 22, 2009
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, N.Y. - Two West Virginia University track and field records were shattered today by juniors Keri Bland and April Rotilio in the mile and 400-meter event, respectively, to lead the Mountaineers to a fifth-place finish at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York City.
For her efforts throughout the meet, Bland was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Track Performer, voted on by all 16 women’s head coaches. She shared the award with Providence’s Danette Doetzel.
WVU earned 74 points to tie with Notre Dame for the fifth-place finish, while UConn took home their second-consecutive championship title with 107 points. Georgetown took second with 98 points followed by Louisville (88) and Villanova (74.50).
“I think it was almost a near-perfect meet,” commented Coach Sean Cleary. “To finish as close to humanly possible to fourth in this meet was fantastic. Ninety percent of our program ran personal-bests this weekend, and to come in and do that in a pressure situation that is the BIG EAST Championship, is beyond great.”
Bland set a school and BIG EAST Championship meet record in the mile event when she took the title with a time of 4:34.78. Bland’s performance was also a NCAA automatic qualifier. The previous WVU record was set at 4:35.89 by Megan Metcalfe in 2004, and the BIG EAST Indoor Championship meet record was originally set by Kate Vermeulen of West Virginia in 1999.
“That was huge,” said Cleary. “Her performance was the highlight of the meet for what she did.”
Rotilio set a new school record and took third in the 400-meter event with a time of 54.38. The mark was also a personal best for the Bellaire, Ohio, native and a NCAA provisional time.
Chelsea Carrier finished second in the 60-meter hurdle event with an NCAA provisional time of 8.39. The mark is also a personal record and the fourth-best performance in WVU history.
Freshman Kaylyn Christopher placed third in the 1,000-meter with a personal-best, and WVU fourth-fastest time of 2:47.51.
Marie-Louise Asselin finished third in the 3,000-meter event with a time of 9:22.05, while Karly Hamric took sixth place in the 800-meter run (2:13.13). Asselin’s mark is the fourth-best in WVU history and is a NCAA qualifier.
The 4x800-meter team of Hamric, Christopher, Alison Spiker and Bland placed third in the event (5:51.55). The mark is the second-best in school history, topping an 8:52.44 mark set in 2002.
Next up, the Mountaineers will take part in the NYU Fastrack meet on Feb. 27, in New York, N.Y.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University track and field team was led by sophomore pole vaulter Alexandra Acker who hit a mark of 3.82-meters today, at the State Farm Games held at the WVU Shell Building. An ECAC qualifying mark, Acker’s performance is the second-best in school history, behind Erin Nett (4.07-meters) who set the bar in 2001.
“I could never say that a program is exceeding expectations but we’re progressing every week,” comments Coach Sean Cleary. “For who we are and what we have, we are progressing every week and that is very exciting.”