Marshall University Athletics
Derricott's Transition to Marshall Made Easy
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Nov. 9, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After being named the Big South Freshman of the Year one season ago at Radford, Elaine Derricott has brought her talents to the Marshall University women's track & field team.
But with all the success she experienced as a freshman, which also included winning the indoor pentathlon championship, why would she transfer?
"One of the main reason's I transferred is because this is a bigger conference and there is way more competition," Derricott stated. "It was nice to win as a freshman at Radford, but I didn't want to win by the way I was winning, I wanted to be more challenged."
When the Thundering Herd announced the addition of new assistant track & field coach, Willie Johnson, last May, it also made it an easy decision for the Virginia all-state selection as a junior and senior at Henrico High.
Johnson recruited Derricott to Radford and played an integral role in helping Derricott obtain her success as a freshman.
But Derricott is a package deal, so without teammate and cousin Jasia Richardson transferring to Marshall, Derricott wouldn't be a member of the Thundering Herd either.
"We went on all our visits together, we were recruited by all the same schools, we signed together and we live together," said Derricott. "She's better at triple jump, so she can beat me in that, but no one else!"
With her same coach from a year ago, and her best friend on the team, the transition has been smooth for Derricott. The only thing that has changed is an increase in competition, which she has welcomed with open arms.
Players Mentioned
