West Liberty Track Teams Sharp in Last Chance Meet
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Several members of the West Liberty University men's and women's track teams turned in strong performances here Friday at the Bobcat/Tiger Last Chance Meet, co-hosted by Salem University and West Virginia Wesleyan at Ross Field on the Wesleyan campus.
Coach Justin Simpson's Lady Hilltoppers dominated the field events to earn a second-place finish in the final team standings while a skeleton men's crew still managed a fourth-place finish behind solid efforts from several competitors.
Junior standout Kelsi Hulit once more led the way for the WLU women, winning the hammer throw and discus events while placing second in the shot put.
The Hilltoppers' depth in the field events was on full display as West Liberty had six of the top eight placers in the discus, three of the top four in the hammer, two of the top three in the javelin and five of the top six in the shot put.
Many of the top placers for West Liberty ranked among the top 10 marks in the Mountain East Conference this spring. Kennedy Martin's winning shot put of 11.42 meters (37 feet, 5.75 inches) is third-best in the conference.
Hulit and Martin were the only winners for WLU on the afternoon but Martin also picked up a second-place finish in the javelin while Mackenzie Rine was second in the pole vault, clearing 2.90 meters to move into the top 10 on the MEC performance list.
Ben Hart picked up the lone victory for the West Liberty men with a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and several other Hilltoppers climbed a few rungs on the MEC performance ladder.
Corey Wyttenbach and Jeremiah Blackmore placed second and third, respectively, in the high jump with both notching Top 10 MEC showings. Wyttenbach also posted a Top 10 MEC time while placing third in the triple jump.
Trevor Hoosier was second in the discus at 41.58 meters (136 feet, 5 inches) while Grant Sproull (42.13 meters) and John Brown (38.20 meters) placed second and third in the hammer throw.
Friday's meet was the final tune-up for both West Liberty teams prior to the MEC Championships, which will be held May 2-4 at Morris Stadium on the campus of Glenville State College.
TRACK AND FIELD
Bobcat/Tiger Last Chance Meet
(at Buckhannon, W.Va.)
Men
Team Scoring
1. W.Va. Wesleyan 139; 2. Davis & Elkins 121; 3. Frostburg State 120.5; 4. WEST LIBERTY 106; 5. Concord 52.5; 6. Alderson Broaddus 20; 7. Charleston 18; 8. Glenville State 16; 9. Salem 14
West Liberty Top 3 Placers
3000 Steeple: 1. Ben Hart 10:12.35
4x100 Relay: 2. West Liberty 49.43
High Jump: 2. Corey Wyttenbach 1.90m (6-2.75); 3. Jeremiah Blackmore 1.85m (6-0.75)
Triple Jump: 3. Corey Wyttenbach 11.81m (38-9)
Discus: 2. Trevor Hoosier 41.58m (136-5)
Hammer: 2. Grant Sproull 42.13m (138-3); 3. John Brown 38.20m (125-4)
Women
Team Scoring
1. W.Va. Wesleyan 160.5; 2. WEST LIBERTY 137.5; 3. Davis & Elkins 93; 4. Frostburg State 84; 5. Concord 56; 6. Alderson Broaddus 45.5; 7. Charleston 32; 8. Glenville State 10.5
West Liberty Top 3 Placers
100: 3. Makayla Rolince 13.12
Triple Jump: 3. Aubree Story 10.03m (32-11)
Long Jump: 3. Makayla Rolince 4.78m (15-8.25)
Pole Vault: 2. Mackenzie Rine 2.90m (9-6.25)
Shot: 1. Kennedy Martin 11.42m (37-5.75); 2. Kelsi Hulit 10.61m (34-9.75); 3. Meghan Hawthorne 10.29m (33-9.25)
Discus: 1. Kelsi Hulit 41.74m (136-11); 3. Lura Simons 37.21m (122-1)
Hammer: 1. Kelsi Hulit 38.52m (126-4); 3. Sydney Jefferys 37.70m (123-8)
Javelin: 2. Kennedy Martin 30.65m (100-7); 3. Lura Simons 29.62m (97-2)