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WLU Track Grabs 8 NCAA D2 All-Region Spots
NEW ORLEANS – The West Liberty University men's and women's track programs nabbed a school-record eight spots on the NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region Team announced this weekend by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
“What a great way to wrap up an incredible year for track and field on the hilltop,” head coach Justin Simpson said. “Congratulations to all of our All-Region men and women. It’s tremendous to see them rewarded for all of their hard work.”
In order to achieve All-Region recognition, student-athletes had to post one of the region's top five marks in their respective events or run a leg on one of the top three relay teams in the region.
Four members of the WLU men's squad and three Lady Hilltopper student-athletes met that criteria this spring with women's sophomore distance ace Hannah Kemp being honored in two events.
What's more, two West Liberty student-athletes posted the top marks in the entire region for their respective events. Junior thrower Kelsi Hulit spun out the best discus throw on the women's side with a school-record heave of 47.10 meters (154 feet, 6 inches) while senior Adam O'Donnell had the best decathlon score of the spring with a school-record 6,343 points at the MEC Championships.
O'Donnell was joined on the men's All-Region Team by sophomore Tavian Richardson and junior Michael Harriman, who each posted one of the top five times in the 800 meters. Richardson's 1:52.50 clocking was not only second in the region, it broke a school record that had been on the books for nearly a half-century. Junior Danah Phillips also earned All-Region honors in the 1500-meter run.
Kemp, who had been honored as the MEC Cross Country Runner of the Year in the fall, proved to be just as impressive on the oval. The sophomore from Bethesda, Ohio set school records at 5000 and 10000 meters to earn All-Region honors in both events. Joining Kemp and Hulit on the women's All-Region team was junior Aubree Story, who cracked the Top 5 in the high jump with a school-record leap of 1.65 meters