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The 2017 Mountain East Conference Track & Field Championships will take place this weekend in Buckhannon, W.Va., on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan.
The Bobcats are the three-time defending champions on both the men's and women's side. Last year, WVWC won the women's title ahead of Wheeling Jesuit, Charleston and Concord, while the men bested Concord, Notre Dame and Glenville State.
| 2017 NCAA Provisional Qualifiers (Men) |
| Name |
Event |
Mark |
| Zack Marcum (UC) |
400 |
47.93 |
| Brandon Gambrell (NDC) |
HJ |
6-8.75 |
| Darius Berry (WJU) |
HJ |
6-8.25 |
| Ryan Gregory (GSC) |
PV |
16-0.75 |
| Tavaris Anderson (WVWC) |
TJ |
48-1.75 |
| Tyler Zahnow (WJU) |
Dec |
6,322 pts |
| Darius Berry (WJU) |
Dec |
6,228 pts |
| 2017 NCAA Provisional Qualifiers (Women) |
| Name |
Event |
Mark |
| Kelsey Chambers (WJU) |
5,000 |
17:17.21 |
|
Steeple |
10:55.85 |
| Kaitlyn Workman (WJU) |
10,000 |
36:37.53 |
| Anna Massa (WJU) |
PV |
12-11.75 |
| Abby Buchan (WVWC) |
Jav |
142-10 |
| Katie Demi (WVWC) |
Jav |
137-10 |
| Rachel Czulewicz (WVWC) |
Jav |
134-0 |
| Lauren Cvechko (WVWC) |
Hep |
5,012 pts |
Several athletes have already reached NCAA provisional marks this season and will be looking to improve those marks as well as win conference titles
(see table).
On the women's side, West Virginia Wesleyan's strength will likey be its depth. WVWC athletes/teams are seeded first in just five of the 21 events. Lauren Cvechko, last year's championship MVP, is the top-rated athlete in three of those.
Wheeling Jesuit is seeded first in 12 events for the weekend. Kelsey Chambers, the 2016 Female Track Athlete of the Year, will try for a difficult triple in the 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m. Anna Massa, already an indoor All-American in the pole vault, will compete in that event as well as the heptathlon.
In the men's championship, several teams are in the mix to push for points to challenge the Bobcats. While WVWC has the top mark in eight events for the championship, while Concord is seeded first in five events. Wheeling Jesuit, Notre Dame and Charleston also have athletes with top marks for the championship.
WVWC's Tavaris Anderson, last year's MVP, returns again this year to compete in five events. He holds the meet record in the long jump and also has the best mark in the triple jump this year. Dylan Rippeto, last year's Field Athlete of the Year, has the best marks in both the shot and the discus this year, and is seeded third in the third in the hammer.
The middle distance races between Charleston's Liam Mumford and Concord's Damon Akers should provide plenty of excitement. The two are separated by just 0.03 in the 800 meters, and 0.56 in the 1,500 meters. WVWC's Matt Dearth broke the 15-minute mark in the 5,000 meters earlier this season, and also had the best time in the 10,000 meters as well.