Maybe it’s the end of a dynasty, or maybe it’s just a start to what could be another great run for the Waynesburg University women’s track & field team.

Although the Yellow Jackets reign as PAC Champions ended Feb. 21 at Youngstown State University, the team got several standout performances by young athletes, which bodes well for the future, according to head coach Michelle Cross.

Coming into the meet, the Jackets found themselves in a peculiar position. They were not favored to win, said Cross, but they had a target on their backs after taking home the gold in the previous two years.

“I told the team we were an underdog dynasty,” said Cross. “We weren’t expected to win, but we were still the team to beat.”

The women’s team still finished strong, capturing third place at the indoor championships.

Cross added that the team’s lack of depth hurt the team this season. The Jackets had 21 members on the team, which made it difficult to keep athletes fresh in a one-day championship meet.

“It’s an adjustment having such a small team,” said Cross. “We had to put just about everybody in multiple events.”

Being well-rested wasn’t an option for the Black and Orange, especially for their distance runners.

But, as she has all season, freshman Aubrey Wingeart put on a strong performance; picking up a win in the mile run, taking second in the 3,000-meter race and finishing third in the 5K.

“I was nervous to have to run all three events, but I knew I could do it. I tried to just run consistent splits in order to conserve energy,” Wingeart said. “This past season should motivate us for the future. I hope to win multiple championships over the next few years.”

The women were strong in the 3,000-meters, where freshman Gloria Reed, sophomore Nicole Shelton and senior Teghan Simonton all placed in the top six, and each ran for a personal record.

Sophomore Katherine Fair also set a PR in the 60-meter hurdles, where she placed second and finished with a time of 9.5 seconds.

Junior Mary Beth Cunningham ran the 400-meter race in a time of 1:05.3, grabbing a seventh-place finish and contributing to the team score.

“Even though we lost, you can’t be mad about it,” said Cross. “I can’t be mad at the girls for running their best and not winning.”

The PAC tournament was a disappointing ending to an otherwise strong indoor season according to Cross, but the women’s team is now turning its attention to the outdoor track season, which begins March 9-10 at the Seahawk Invitational at UNC Wilmington.

The team still has championship aspirations, and Cross believes the outdoor PAC Championships, slated for April 25-26 at Westminster College, will yield better results for the team.

“The meet is split into two days, which will really help us out, especially with us having such a small roster,” Cross said.