The Waynesburg University women’s track & field team began their outdoor season in Morgantown, West Virginia on Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22. Coming off an indoor season that saw several of the teams athletes show promise and optimism going into the outdoor season, this meet continued that excitement for some of the more recognizable names from the indoor season. 

Maggie Clair, who just in her freshman season placed third in shot put for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in February started the outdoor season with another placement, this time taking fifth at the West Virginia University’s Marty Pushkin Invitational with a throw of 11.35 meters. 

Although that would have been enough, two more recognizable names among the throwers placed in javelin, with sophomore Natalie Double and senior Megan Barry notching fifth and eight place finishes respectively with Double throwing 34.66 meters, while Barry threw 33.68. 

As for hammer, sophomore Rylie Baker is being attributed the second farthest hammer throw in the teams history with a distance of 29.39 meters, while Barry also took a top ten placement in Waynesburg history with a throw of 22.57 meters, giving her ninth place for the university.

Clair, who seemingly had her name become more and more well-known as the indoor season continued on, is looking to the outdoor season as being where all of the growth she had made during the indoor season can be felt.

“A lot of us throwers see indoor as preparation for outdoor so I do see the progress that we made in indoor to definitely be carried out into these next two and a half months,” Clair said. 

Head coach Chris Hardie seems to be sharing the same sentiments as Clair, and envisions her growth possibly coming at the right time. 

“I think we will continue to see Maggie progress as we move to the outdoor season.  Her reps start to increase this time of the year and our weight room sessions start to shorten up and are more focused,” Hardie said. “So she will be throwing more and having a bit more energy and explosiveness as we head into late March and early April.”

As for the track portion of the meet, junior Reagan Pettis placed tenth in the 1500-meter steeplechase with a time of 6:26.71. As for sophomore Ella Rishell, she is continuing to rack in team points through multiple events, as this weekend saw her finish 10th in the long jump with a jump of 4.57 meters and 11th in the 200 with a time of 28.39.

A theme Hardie has stayed consistent with regarding Rishell is not to overwork her during the week, as well as during the competition days, so finding that “balance” will be vital. 

“For her it’s all about balance. This time of the year, the second variable we need to monitor is how much time she is getting on the runway and in the sand.  Coach [Bill] Lubich already has her in a good position with her speed, so we need to start increasing her runway work and technical side of the jumps,” Hardie said, while noting the other facet she is working on. “Coach Payson will be working with her on her approach and her entry into the sand.  We should see more progression in the jumps and a little bit more of a consistency in the sprints this time of the year.”

Waynesburg University women’s track & field team will be back in West Virginia on Saturday, March 29, specifically at West Liberty for the Tim Weaver Invitational.