Wheeling, W. Va. - The 2026 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships began Sunday at the Mylan Park Track & Field facility in Morgantown, West Virginia. After competing their earlier in the year, the Wheeling University Men's Track & Field team returned to the facility as they competed against the best of the best in the conference. Wheeling would put their first two athletes on the podium, including their first MEC Champion of the event, with the Javelin leading a strong showing to open the three-day event.
Taking that top spot for the Cardinals was Felix Manyani, who continued to excel in the Javelin Throw. He would not only take first in the MEC, but set a new meet record and a PR throwing a distance of 60.63 meters. His first two throws of the day were his best, with the freshman hitting 59.36 meters on his first throw, before hitting the 60.63 meter mark on throw number twp. It was enough to advance him into the finals, where he hit distances of 56.09 meters and 55.41 meters, but it was his second throw that was enough for the meet record. It was over a meter longer than his previous PR, set at this same facility at the Marty Pushkin Invitational, as he tries to make his case for an NCAA DII Nationals run. The throw was also enough to rank him in the country, as he finished with the 49th longest throw in NCAA DII in the effort.
Finishing right behind him was Erick Berroa who, after leading the Cardinals in the event a year ago, would be competing for the first time this season. Berroa would also break the meet record in the event, tossing a distance of 57.06 meters to hit the NCAA provo mark. He set a PR right off the bat in his first throw, hitting 51.81 meters, but it was throw #3 that would clinch him second in the conference and give him the provo mark. He is the second Wheeling athlete to hit a provo mark this season, as he looks to grow his credentials in the Last Chance schedule. Jacob Legg would be the final Cardinal to throw in the javelin, finishing just outside to top 10, taking 11th with a distance of 42.95 meters. It was his final throw of the day that would see him hit the mark, as he fell just short of his PR in the event.
Rounding out the first day of competition for Wheeling was Kris Vigars, who took on the 400-Meter Hurdles in the lone track event of the day. He would finish 11th overall, running a time of 58.50, cracking the one-minute mark for the third time this season. It was just .21 seconds off of his PR as he rounded out his season strong in the event.
Day two of the 2026 MEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships is scheduled for Monday, April 28th, with first events beginning at 11:45 AM.
