Wheeling, W. Va. - With Cross Country season wrapped up, the Wheeling University Indoor Track & Field team begins the 2025-2026 season with a big first week of action. The Cardinals will take part in two different events across their two days of competition, with the multis heading to the Findlay Oiler Open on Thursday, December 4th, while the rest of the team will head to Youngstown State on Friday for their annual YSU Ice Breaker to wrap up the week. The Cardinals young program is looking to show their talent as many take the competition field for the first time as a collegiate athlete.
Last season's team was paced by a veteran presence, and both the men's and women's team brought that experience to the 2025 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Indoor Track & Field Championships. The women's side would see the Cardinals finish ninth in the field of 10 teams and placed one athlete on the podium. They would end up placing one athlete on the podium, and two in the top four of their respective events. Former Cardinal Keala McCurry would be the one on the podium, finishing third overall in the Women's Pole Vault to earn All-MEC Honorable Mention honors. On the men's side, the Cardinals would take 10th overall at the event, and ended up with one athlete on the podium. They would have former Cardinal Kabwe Bwalya earn his spot on the podium in the Triple Jump, when he finished third overall with a PR of 14.42 meters.
Despite the young team overall, both the track & field side of the team have veterans that look to lead the way. In the field, the Cardinals will be led by senior Mariah Pelkey, who will headline the throwing group after having a strong outdoor season in the circle. She would set a PR in the Hammer Throw at the Trojan Relays, throwing a distance of 33.57 Meters, and earned a top 20 spot in the 2025 MEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the Javelin, where she threw a distance of 22.93 meters in the Javelin. At the start of the week, the Cardinals, will see one of their young stars take the competition field when Fenne Sienaert competes in the Women's Pentathlon at the Oiler Open on Thursday. Sienaert brings with her a high pedigree, competing in the club circuit in Belgium, where she earned a first place regional finish in the shot put and 2nd place in the high jump.
On the men's side, the Cardinals will see more veteran leadership from the throwing group in the form of Davonte Courtney and Tristen Tuttle. Courtney missed most of last season due to injury, but during the 2023-2024 season, Courtney would pace the throwers by earning a top five finish in the shot put, where he threw a distance of 14.17 meters. Tuttle would come on the scene last season, and finished top 10 in the conference in the weight throw. He would set his PR at the Kent State Douglas Raymond Invitational, where he threw a distance of 13.94 meters to finish 16th in the field. On the track, the Cardinals will feature a young lineup, with The Linsly School alumni Taven Mayo leading the sprinters. Mayo was an West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Champion in Pole Vault, and brings experience to both the track and field events.
With a young team headlining this year's Cardinals, Head Coach Greg Schmitt is looking for them to shake off the nerves over the first week. Both teams will see eight or more athletes making their collegiate debuts during the week, and the opening two events will help them set a benchmark that they can build off of the rest of the season. Both events will also feature different levels of talent from across all three levels of the NCAA, with the Cardinals getting to see DI runners along with top DII competition. With a new Head Coach and a young roster, it is a fresh start for the Track & Field program, and they will get a chance to lay a solid foundation for the future.
The week kicks off for the Wheeling Indoor Track & Field team on Thursday, December 4th, when Fenne Sienaert represents at the Oiler Open, with first events beginning at 10 AM.
