HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — WVU Tech Track & Field continued its strong start to the indoor season Saturday at the Marshall Opener, producing six new school records, a school-record tie, a podium finish and multiple college PRs across both programs.
The meet also included another collegiate indoor debut for the Golden Bears, as freshman Hailey Ervin raced her first college meet in the 60 meters (8.64), 60-meter hurdles (10.31) and 200 meters (29.28). Several freshmen who debuted at the ASICS Get Your Marks Meet continued their early-season progression in Huntington, including Isaac Agee, Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba, Owen Cameron, Iain Furman, Crutcher Hutchison, Nikolas Rodriguez, Brady Smith, Jonathan Cantley, Tommy Wikel and Rebecca H. Lorincz.
Agee delivered another standout day for WVU Tech with a third-place finish in the men's 60-meter hurdles, running a college PR of 8.30 to set a new WVU Tech school record. He added another record in the 200 meters, posting a PR of 23.59, and tied the school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.87m (22-06.50).
Etaba Ateba added to Tech's record tally with a 37.38 performance in the men's 300 meters, setting a new program record. He also recorded PRs of 8.79 in the 60m hurdles prelims and 8.76 in the final.
On the women's side, Lorincz broke two school records and added a PR to her young resume. She placed 12th in the 400 meters in 1:02.23, a college PR and new WVU Tech indoor record, and later finished fourth in the 500 meters in 1:27.61, also a school record. Freshman Jadyn Farmer added a women's 300-meter school record with a time of 47.96 and also ran 29.87 in the 200 meters. Senior Nevaeh Wooding contributed marks of 9.03 in the 60 meters and 30.53 in the 200 meters.
In the men's sprints, Cameron posted a college PR in the 60 meters with a 7.97 and added a season-best 25.66 in the 200 meters, while Furman ran a PR of 27.13 in the 200. Junior John Ashton clocked 7.76 in the 60 meters and 25.20 in the 200. Hutchison ran 7.61 in the 60 meters.
The men's middle-distance and distance group continued to progress as well. Sophomore Chucky Jordan placed fourth in the 500 meters with a time of 1:14.38, then came back to record a 5:05.03 college PR in the mile. Wikel added a 2:12.69 performance in the 800 meters, and sophomore Lexie Wikel covered the women's 5000 meters in 20:33.53 for 14th and a PR.
In the throws, Smith led the Golden Bears with an 11.57m (37-11.50) effort in the shot put and 11.42m (37-05.75) in the weight throw. Rhodes recorded marks of 10.08m (33-01.00) in the shot put and 10.52m (34-06.25) in the weight throw. Cantley threw 10.97m (36-00.00) in the shot put and earned a college PR of 9.11m (29-10.75) in the weight throw.
It was another promising step for a young WVU Tech squad as the Golden Bears continued to build momentum across sprints, hurdles, distance and field events.
WHAT'S NEXT
WVU Tech returns to competition on Saturday, January 17, traveling to Lexington, Virginia, for the VMI Team Challenge.
