Concord University

File photo courtesy of Concord University   Turlock, CA. -- Shawnee Carnett, a sophomore, from Concord University just won the 800m at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championship. It was fun watching her go from the back of the pack and make her move with about 200m to go and she finally took the lead and blew the field away in the last 100m to win in 2:14.53 . It was her type of race. The pace was slow, so she was able to out kick the competition like she normally does.   Shawnee is now a 3 time All-American and the first National champion in track and field for Concord University.   Congrats to Shawnee.  

         Running in the 3rd and final heat of the 800m prelims on Friday nignt at the NCAA DII Track and Field Championships, held at Cal State Stanislaus Warrior Stadium in Turlock, CA, Shawnee Carnett a sophomore from Concord University ran a stadium best time of 2:09.60 to earn the #1 seed for the finals that will be run today at 10:25 pm EDT.   Watch Live here by clicking on the link and scrolling down to the bottom : http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule  

   Shawnee Carnett, a sophomore from Concord University earned her 2nd All-American status and first Indoor All-American status tonight in Albuqueque, New Mexico. Carnett placed 3rd in the Women's 800 meter run of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.  Her time was a blazing 2:11.97!  Congratulations to Shawnee and her coach, Michael Cox.

Anderson and Carnett Set Records       R.J. Anderson                                Shawnee Carnett

Danielle Pye's first place finish helped lead Concord to the WVIAC women's cross country title.   (GLENVILLE, W.Va.)---Danielle Pye captured the individual title with a 6K time of 23:14 to help lead Concord to the school's first WVIAC women's cross country championship.  Chelsea Callaway (5th) and Tabatha Whited (8th) also added top ten finishes for the Lady Lions. CU's team total of 49 easily outdistanced runners-up Seton Hill and Wheeling Jesuit, which finished with 75 points each.  Alderson-Broaddus and eight-time defending champion West Virginia Wesleyan ended with 91 points each.

Wheeling Jesuit's Dustin Hall won the 2010 WVIAC men's cross country title with an 8K time of 25:56   (GLENVILLE, W.Va.)---Wheeling Jesuit placed all five scorers in the top twelve as the Cardinals cruised to the 2010 WVIAC men's cross country championship.  WJU's Dustin Hall claimed individual honors with an 8K time of 25:56 to hold off West Virginia Wesleyan's Nate Edwards by seven seconds. Wheeling Jesuit's team score of 36 outdistanced second place West Virginia Wesleyan's 59.  Concord (70), Seton Hill (82), and Alderson-Broaddus (116) completed the top five.

6 WVIAC track and field athletes have earned trips to the 2010 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships to be held May 27-29 at the Irwin Belk Track Complex in Charlotte, NC hosted by Johnson C. Smith University.   The 6 athletes are: Emily Taylor, seeded 7th in the discus, of Wheeling Jesuit University, Sarah Campanelli, seeded 10th in the 1500m, of  Wheeling Jesuit University, Shawnee Carnett, seeded 15th in the 800m, from Concord University, Josh Wilks, seeded 15th in the 800m, from Seton Hill University, Ricky Kump, seeded 12th in the decathlon, from West Virginia Wesleyan, and Kevoy Douglas of West Virginia Wesleyan seeded 17th in the 200m.   NCAA DII Women Track and Field Championship List NCAA DII Men Track and Field Championship List NCAA DII Outdoor T&F Performance List    

  5 WVIAC Track and Field athletes have earned NCAA Division II provisional marks or times. Provisional marks or times do not guarantee acceptance in the NCAA National Championships. An invitation to participate in the NCAA Nationals will depend on the number of athletes earning provisional marks or times in each event. At this point no one has achieved an automatic mark or time.   Athletes that have earned NCAA DII provisional marks or times are:   Emily Taylor - JR - Wheeling Jesuit University - Discus - 147'1" -Bill Van Horne Invitational   Meghan Zayas - JR - West Virginia Wesleyan College - 3000m Steeplechase - 11:09.57- Duke Invitational   Ricky Kump - SR - West Virginia Wesleyan College - Decathlon - 6,569 pts. - Charlotte 49er Classic   Shawnee Carnett - FR - Concord University - 800m - 2:12.34 - Duke Invitational   Nick Spino - SO - Seton Hill University - 400m hurdles - 53.63 - Coastal Carolina Invitational  

    Barry Franklin photo courtesy of West Virginia Wesleyan   Barry Franklin of West Virginia Wesleyan College and Lance McDaniel of Concord University came into the Duke University Invitational ranked #1 and #2 in the WVIAC Conference 3000m Steeplechase. Franklin , ranked #1, had the previous West Virginia Wesleyan College Steeplechase record of 9:37.41. Franklin has also set personal bests marks in his last 5 races. McDaniel's previous best steeplechase time was 9:50 and the Concord University record was 9:46.60 set by Ryan Kent in 2008.  On Saturday, Franklin and McDaniel were in the same heat and both set school records as Franklin's school record time was 9:34.51 while McDaniel closed the gap on the two and set the Mountain Lions new record in 9:38.50. This looks to be one of the highly contested events at the WVIAC Conference championship.   Lance McDaniel after breaking the Concord 3000m Steeplechase record   Shawnee Carnett of Concord University continues to impress and break records when she steps on the track. Carnett won the 3rd heat of the 800m run by passing the entire field on the last lap as she went around the field in the 3rd lane in the first two turns and accelerated past everyone to stake her claim to another lady Mountain Lion record with a 2:12.34.   Megan Savioli of Concord University who is a powerful runner that gets up on her toes and goes did just that as she set the new Concord University 400m hurdle record in1:09.98.   Other West Virginia Wesleyan school records were set by Meghan Zayas in the steeplechase (11:09.57), Morgan Bennett in the 400 meter hurdles (64.02),  and Kevoy Douglas in the 200 meter dash (21.67).   Glenville State College also had a runner break a record on the day. Glenville State’s Ahkeem Figgs broke the Men’s 100 Meter dash with a time of 10.62 at the W& J  Invitational, the record was held by GSC Chup Robinson and Xavier Glenn with a time of 10.69.

Shawnee Carnett Sets New School Record in the 800m   Concord University men and ladies relays teams set four school records at the Coastal Carolina University Invitational on Friday during day one of the two day meet.   On Saturday Shawnee Carnett blazed to a first place finish in the 800m run in a new school record time of 2:14.18 eclipsing the old record by nearly 5 seconds.   The Lady Mountain Lions 4 x 800m relay team placed 2nd with a school record setting time of 9:39.64. The 4 x 800 team was comprised of Rachel Williams, Lindsey DeVaughn, Chelsea Calloway, and Dani Pye.   The men's 4 x 800m relay team set the school record with a time of 7:55.59 while finishing 3rd. The relay team was led by Szymon Rola (pictured) as he ran a 1:55 flat first leg. The other strong legs were run by Nathan Rees, Craig Pritt, and Robbie Peters. The ladies 4 x 200m relay team ran a record 1:46.59 while placing 10th. Brittany Pratt, Lydia Powell, Erin Barnett, and Shawnee Carnett were members of the shool record setting team.   The men's 4 x 200m relay team also placed 10th, but it was good enough to set a new school record with a time of 1:33.66. The team members are Dennis Cole, Orlando Bryant, Jason Brackett, and John Gadomski.   The Mountain Lions will be competing today in hopes for some more strong showings.  

Concord University Men took  team honors at the Marietta Open #1 as several WVIAC teams were in action. The Mountain Lions claimed first place with 126 points while holding off a challenge by Roanoke College of Virginia with 114 points. Wheeling Jesuit placed sixth with 52 points and Alderson-Broaddus finished 7th with 15 points.   Winning their respective races for Concord were RJ Anderson in the 55M dash in 6.49, Nathan Rees took the 800m in 2:05.52, Robbie Peters claimed the mile in 4:33.87, and Sterling Snyder completed the 5000M in a winning time of 15:53.76.   Ashton Boger of Wheeling Jesuit took 1st in the pole vault with a height of 13-05.75.   On the ladies side, the women of Concord University came in 3rd place with 117 points, Wheeling Jesuit University was 6th with 46 points, University of Charleston placed 7th with 29 points and Alderson-Broaddus took 8th with 15 points.   WVIAC individual lady winners were Rachel Williams of Concord in the mile with a time of 5:42.46, Sherry Borsos of Alderson-Broaddus won the 5000m in 19:45.28, Brittany Pratt of Concord leaped to 16-01.50 to take the long jump event, and Megan Pratt threw 51-07.25 to claim the weight throw.   Concord University ladies also claimed two relay races as they won the 4 x 200m relay in 1:51.39 and the 4 x 400m relay in 4:25.95.   Several WVIAC teams will be back at Marietta College this Saturady to compete in the Marietta Open #2.      

Directions  Men's Course Map Women's Course Map  (PRINCETON, W.Va.)---Tight battles are expected in both races during Saturday's WVIAC Cross Country Championship hosted by Glenville State College. West Virginia Wesleyan, which has won 14 of the past 15 titles, is the slight favorite in the women's race.  The Bobcats edged Seton Hill in the final regular season women's team power ratings of the season.  Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit, and Concord each provide threats to carry away the women's championship hardware. Alderson-Broaddus' Ashley Teets and Wheeling Jesuit's Sarah Campanelli are the top-ranked women's individuals and the only two-time WVIAC Runners of the Week in 2009.  Other top contenders include West Liberty's Kallen Weaver, West Virginia Wesleyan's Jenna Brock, Concord's Chelsea Callaway, and Seton Hill teammates Andra Sanders and Hannah Lash. Defending champion West Virginia Wesleyan is only one part of what could be a wild and wooly battle for the men's crown.  Seton Hill was a mere point ahead of Concord for the number one position in the final WVIAC men's team ratings of the season.  Wheeling Jesuit also figures to be in the mix, while Alderson-Broaddus can't be counted out. Wheeling Jesuit's Ryan Beabout holds down the top individual male runner's spot going into Saturday's conference meet.  West Virginia Wesleyan's Nate Edwards and Concord's Craig Pritt should be in contention, along with the Seton Hill pair of Dominic Camasso and Mike Ortiz.  Alderson-Broaddus veteran runner Ryan Skotnicki and Concord's Szymon Rola, a standout during track season in the 800m, are two more threats. The starting gun fires at 10:00 a.m. for the women's race, while the men are slated for an 11:00 a.m. start.  Junior varsity races take place on Friday afternoon.  

 WVIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week: ---Hannah Lash, Seton Hill, Fr., Scottdale, PA:  Lash won the 7th annual 2009 SHU Griffin Classic this past weekend with a course record time of 20:13.69, more than 30 seconds ahead of her closest competitor...The victory came in her first collegiate action as she led Seton Hill to a team triumph in their home event. WVIAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week: ---Szymon Rola, Concord, rFr., Chodel, Poland and Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, VA:        Rola took home the individual championship at the 2009 SHU Griffin Classic this past Saturday, completing the tough 5-mile course in 28.30.79, 18 seconds faster than the second place finisher...His individual effort also helped lead the Concord men to the 2009 team title at the Griffin Classic. Click on the article for complete individual and team rankings

Provided by Chris Kreger, WVIAC Meet Director May 2, 2009   WHEELING, WV – WV Wesleyan’s women claimed their seventh straight WVIAC Track and Field championship and 17th of the last 19 today at Wheeling Jesuit University with a team total of 234 points. The Griffins of Seton Hill University placed second with 146 team points followed by Concord University with 94 pt. Seton Hill sophomore Erin Beattie lead all individual scorers with 50 points being named the MVP of the this year’s meet.  Four WVIAC meet records fell over the two day competition highlighted by Seton Hill’s Amanda Ponsonby in the Pole Vault jumping a height of 3.72m (12’3”). On the men’s side WV Wesleyan held off Seton Hill (144 points) and two-time defending champion Wheeling Jesuit (129 points) with a team total of 172 points. Concord’s Cornell Core was named MVP with 33.5 points. One WVIAC meet record fell for the men in the 4x400m relay by WV Wesleyan with time of 3:15.25 just .25 seconds from an NCAA Provisional mark. Complete event winners, which include several NCAA qualifying efforts and conference records, are listed below along with team standings.  Individual award winners also follow: Women's Award Winners: Field: Erin Beattie – Seton Hill Track: Sarah Campanelli – Wheeling Jesuit Rookie: Brittany Robbins – Concord MVP: Erin Beattie – Seton Hill Coach: Jesse Skiles – WV Wesleyan Men's Award Winners: Field: Nate Janusey – Seton Hill Track: Stewart Jones – Wheeling Jesuit Rookie: Stewart Jones – Wheeling Jesuit MVP: Cornell Core - Concord Coach: Tim Creamer – Seton Hill  

Szymon Rola a freshman from Concord University is sitting in 11th place in the NCAA Division II rankings in the 800m. Competing in the fast heat at the Lou Onesty/Milton G. Abramson Invitation held at Lannigan Field on the campus of the University of Virginia Rola placed 6th with a time of 1:52.45. With this time, Rola has an excellent chance to make it to Nationals. Rola has Concord University records in the 800m and 1500m (3:58.50). He will be attempting to qualify for Nationals this coming weekend at the Wendy's West Virginia Wesleyan Invitational. Rola came to Concord University via Fork Union Military Academy located in Fork Union, VA. He is a natural born Polish citizen and has competed on the world scale with the Poland Junior National team. Next year will be Rola's first year of eligibility in cross-country . He will be joining a team that has 5 returning WVIAC All Conference members. Three of those returning are seniors who red-shirted last season. The addition of the amazing Rola solidfies the Concord University team as the early favorite for the WVIAC crown. Don't be surprised to see them highly ranked in the East Regionals. Coach Mike Cox has several outstanding recruits coming in to strengthen the already deep team and position Concord for the future.    

Marietta, OH -- WVIAC athletes and teams competed well and came away with several first place finishes at the Marietta Open #3 which had over 21 colleges and other unattached individuals racing. Seton Hill placed 4th overall for the women with 76.5 pts with Amanda Ponsonby leading the way by taking first place in the pole vault with a vault of 11-00.25. The Unversity of Charleston ladies with 37 points finished in 9th with Christina Phillips winning the high jump with a jump of 5-03.75. Concord University lady Mountain Lions followed closely in 10th place with 35 points. The Concord ladies had two first place finishers as Erin Barnett won the highly contested 200m dash in 27.36, and Senior Amanda Blankenship won the crowded mile race by .18 seconds in 5:28.52. Blankenship missed a school record which she previously set by .05 seconds at the Marietta Alumni Open on February 6th of this year. On the men side, Concord University Mountain Lions placed 5th overall with 49 points. Red shirt junior Lance McDaniel took the victory in the 3000m in 9:10.82 while setting a personal best. Wheeling Jesuit placed 7th overall with 29 points.  Tied for 10th place was West Liberty State and the University of Charleston men in their last season of indoor. Terrence Spencer of the University of Charleston made it a sweep for the WVIAC in the 200m as he won in a fast 23.42.

                      Photos by Meredith McDaniel Carter WHEELING, W.Va)---Concord's men and West Virginia Wesleyan's women used solid team efforts to earn titles at the WVIAC Cross Country championship.  The Mountain Lion men placed five runners in the top ten to hold off West Virginia Wesleyan 37-59.  Wesleyan's women's had three finishers in the top six as they finished ahead of Wheeling Jesuit 37-61. Eric Cooper runs away with the individual title.Photo by Fred Jordan

 A local athlete’s long-running dream of making the Olympics took a giant stride forward on Sunday when Mike Cox took eighth place overall — and finished with the best time of any American runner — in a sweltering-hot Chicago Marathon. (Read on)By Tom Bone of the Register-Herald Editor's comment:Here are the splits for Coach Cox:5K: 16:33, 10K: 32:57, 15K 49:32, 20K: 1:06.09, Half: 1:09.48,25K: 1:22.42, 30K 1:39.20, 35K 1:56.35, 40K: 2:14.08, Finish: 2:21.42Coach, You made all of us proud. - Daddy Doug 

PRINCETON, W.Va.)---Defending West Virginia Conference champion West Virginia Wesleyan is a slight favorite to repeat as the league's top men's cross country squad in a vote of conference coaches.  The Bobcats edged Concord in the preseason balloting by a mere two votes.

 WHEELING, W.VA)---West Virginia Wesleyan's women and Wheeling Jesuit's men claimed the team championships at the WVIAC Track & Field Championships. The Bobcats edged host Wheeling Jesuit 200-179 to earn the women's title, while WJU used a strong second day to control of the men's meet to outscore West Virginia Wesleyan and Concord.  (Click on the article for more and full results.)

  Wheeling—WV.  Day One Results have been posted for the WVIAC Track and Field Championship which are underway in Wheeling. The WVIAC is the largest NCAA Division II conference with 16 members. See the article for more.