Women’s track and field opts to start season at smaller meets, finds success at WVU

The Waynesburg University women’s track & field team competed in the West Virginia Open in Morgantown after having half the team not travel the week prior.

There were six total teams at the meet consisting of two Division I, two Division II and two Division III teams. The Yellow Jackets did not participate in team scoring.

Head coach Michelle Cross was planning on going to a meet at Carnegie Mellon but changed the destination because of the brand-new facility and the location of the meet.

“The facility is brand new, the track is very fast and it is closer to us than Carnegie Mellon,” said Cross. “Also, the close relationship we have with WVU and what they have done for us in the past, any chance we get to support them I always like to take it.”

Going into this meet, Cross had a certain strategy for the team.

“We specifically start out with lighter meets and then go to a heavier and more competitive meets throughout the year,” said Cross. “It is important for the first couple of meets to help people get more confident about what they are doing.”

Sophomore hurdler Katherine Fair said she agrees with Cross about starting off with smaller meets.

“Overall, I think this was a good shake out meet for the team,” said Fair. “It was a smaller meet but still had some good competition.”

For being a lighter meet for the Yellow Jackets, Cross was pleased on how the team performed against the higher-level competition.

“Early season meets can sometimes be a surprise and you never expect a top performance,” said Cross. “The earliest part of the year is more of putting blocks together for the end of the year and the team did that and they also did what they needed to accomplish for that meet.”

Fair was a top performer for the Yellow Jackets. Fair placed third in both 100-meter and 400-meter hurdle races crossing the finish line with times of 16.3 seconds and 1:10.2. Fair contributes her success to the weekend off and the competition at the meet.

“Not having the sprinters compete last weekend was good for everyone to compete again,” said Fair. “There was some good competition there and that also helped me push myself a little more.”

Cross also mentioned key performers in the throwing events including junior thrower Jordan Simpson and freshman Omyrah Davis.

Simpson won the javelin event with a throw of 33.5 meters and an eighth-place finish in the shotput with a toss of 10.9 meters. Cross is excited for Davis’ first year competing.

“Davis did really well in both shotput and discus events,” said Cross. “Having Davis is a nice addition to the team and I can’t wait to see what she can do.”

Other key performers for the Yellow Jackets were senior distance runner Teghan Simonton, who took first in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 19:05. Sophomore Nichole Shelton also had a top finish for the Yellow Jackets, placing first in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 11:18.2. The Yellow Jackets will be back in action March 30, to compete in the Bethany Invitational.