Hilltoppers Start Strong at MEC Championships
GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Hannah Kemp scored a runaway win in the 10,000 meters here Sunday as the Mountain East Conference Track Championships began its three-day run at Morris Stadium on the campus of Glenville State College.
Kemp, the reigning MEC Cross Country Runner of the Year, continued her spectacular sophomore season by finishing nearly half a lap ahead of her closest pursuer in the 10,000-meter final. Kemp hit the finish line in 38:22.33 with Charleston's Mercy Jepleting a distant second at 38:46.51.
That was the only win of the day for Coach Justin Simpson's Hilltopper track squads but strong showings from several other student-athletes have the Black and Gold in the hunt for some team hardware heading into Day Two.
The West Liberty women are second in the team standings with 36 points with Wheeling (64) holding down the top spot. West Virginia Wesleyan (28), Charleston (22) and Glenville State (18) round out the top five.
The Hilltoppers' depth in the field events paid off as Kennedy Martin and Kelsi Hulit placed second and third, respectively, with Lura Simons (7th) also contributing points. It was a similar story in the hammer with three West Liberty throwers – Hulit (5th), Jefferys (6th) and Kaylee Savage (8th) – adding to the team total.
The Hilltopper men are in fourth place with 32.5 points. Glenville leads with 56, followed by Charleston (45), Wheeling (38) and West Liberty.
The WLU men also racked up some serious points in the javelin event, taking four of the eight scoring places. Gary Braithwaite was runner-up with a throw of 45.24 meters with Adam O'Donnell fourth, Grant Sproull fifth and John Taylor seventh.
Although it's not reflected on the opening day scoreboard, O'Donnell has built up a significant lead at the midway point of the decathlon competition. The West Liberty standout won three of the five events held on Sunday and placed second in the other two. The final five events are scheduled to be completed on Monday.
Day Two events get under way bright and early Monday with those men's decathlon events scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. The final three events of the women's heptathlon begin at 10 a.m. with field events starting at 12:30 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
2021 Mountain East Conference Championships
(at Glenville, W.Va.)
Sunday Results
Men
Team Scoring
1. Glenville State 56; 2. Charleston 45; 3. Wheeling 38; 4. WEST LIBERTY 32.5; 5. Frostburg State 23; 6. Concord 15; 7. W.Va. Wesleyan 14.5; 8. Davis & Elkins 10
West Liberty Placers
10000: 6. Philip White 31:56.50
High Jump: 5. Corey Wyttenbach 1.90m; 8. Dillon Meintel 1.85m
Long Jump: 5. Adam O'Donnell 6.71m
Hammer: 7. Grant Sproull 42.86m
Javelin: 2. Gary Braithwaite 45.24m; 4. Adam O'Donnell 43.00m; 5. Grant Sproull 42.29m; 7. John Taylor 39.72m
Women
Team Scoring
1. Wheeling 64; 2. WEST LIBERTY 36; 3. W.Va. Wesleyan 28; 4. Charleston 22; 5. Glenville State 18; 6. (tie) Davis & Elkins, Frostburg State 9; 8. Concord 8; 9. Alderson Broaddus 1
West Liberty Placers
10000: 1. Hannah Kemp 38:22.33
Pole Vault: 7. Mackenzie Rine 2.85m
Hammer: 5. Kelsi Hulit 39.18m; 6. Sydney Jefferys 39.10m; 8. Kaylee Savage 34.84m
Javelin: 2. Kennedy Martin 33.62m; 3. Kelsi Hulit 32.74m; 7. Lura Simons 29.71m