MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 16, 2024) – A trio of Mountaineers from the West Virginia University track and field team were selected to compete at the 2024 NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 22-25. This year’s preliminary round will be hosted by Kentucky at the Outdoor Track and Field Facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Redshirt junior Cassandra Williamson was selected to compete in the women’s 800 meters, while redshirt seniors Sarah Tait and Mikenna Vanderheyden qualified for the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Williamson heads to the preliminary round after boasting a program record time of 2:03.87 in the 800-meter race at the 2024 Big 12 Outdoor Championship on May 9. The redshirt junior claimed All-Big 12 honors after crossing the finish line in sixth place.
Tait booked her trip to Lexington after her collegiate debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on May 4 at the WVU Last Chance meet. The redshirt senior recorded a time of 10:16.07.
Vanderheyden will travel to the NCAA preliminary round after stellar back-to-back performances in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. The redshirt senior added her name to WVU’s record book after posting a time of 10:02.80 at the WVU Last Chance Meet on May 4. Vanderheyden went on to claim fourth in the event at the 2024 Big 12 Outdoor Championship on May 9 etching a time of 10:13.39, clinching conference honors.
Press Release and Photo Courtesy of WVU Athletics
