Youngstown, OH. – After competing in single-day events throughout the Indoor season, the Wheeling University Women's Indoor Track & Field team would take on their first two-day event of the season on Friday. They kicked off day one of the YSU-Mid Major with two field athletes kicking off the festivities. It was a big day for the Cardinals, with the team taking an individual win and a huge PR to lead the day.
That top effort came courtesy of graduate student Jenna Smith in the Pole Vault. Smith would take the top spot in the field, reaching a height of 3.40 Meters to set a new career-best in the event. It was . 05 meters higher than she reached at last year's Mountain East Conference (MEC) championship event, and was .20 meters higher that her previous season high of 3.20 meters. Her run to the PR began at the 3.10 meter height, where she sailed over the bar on her first flight. As the bar raised to 3.25 meters, Smith once again propelled herself over the bar on the first try to set her new season high. The next height would go up to 3.40 meters, and once again it took just one flight for Smith to get over the bar, officially giving her the victory. She was one of two vaulters to clear the height, and set the fourth highest vault in program history.
The other competitor for the Cardinals on the day was thrower Mariah Pelkey, who competed in the Women's Weight Throw. Pelkey was able to crack the top 25, throwing a distance of 10.18 meters, and finished 11th amongst her fellow MEC competitors. After fouling on her first throw of the night, Pelkey would increase her distance on each of her next two throws. She hit the 10.18 meter mark on the final throw of the event, rounding out a big day in the field for the Cardinals.
The Wheeling University Women's Indoor Track & Field team returns to action for day two of the YSU Mid Major on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 AM.
