Marshall University Athletics
2010-2011 Marshall Track and Field Year in Review
9/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Sept. 19, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The 2010-2011 season saw Marshall University 's track and field team rise to prominence on both the Conference USA and national levels. As a strong group of athletes eager to compete, the members of the Thundering Herd track and field team set out last season with something to prove, and by season's end, had done little to disappoint.
For the athletes participating in the sprinting events, it was a year of personal achievement. Three school records were set by the sprints athletes, including the 300m time of 41.50 set by Vanessa Jules, and the 4x100 and 4x400 relay times of 46.60 and 3:45.50 set by Jules, Brittany Carey, Delkira Maybin, Moriah Njoku, Amber Pierson, and Hadassah Lynch.
The visible, common denominator to all three of these sprints records is Vanessa Jules, who further went on to cap-off a very successful sophomore season by setting school high-jump records of 5'9.25'' and 5'8.75'' in the indoor and outdoor seasons respectively. Jules also took 3rd place at the C-USA Indoor Championships, and earned a spot on the All-Conference team.
Fellow compatriot Jasia Richardson was also very successful in the jumping events, claiming 3rd place in the triple jump at the C-USA Indoor Championships, and 7th place in the Outdoor Championships. For her efforts, Richardson was also a recipient of All-Conference accolades.
Perhaps the most high-profile track and field storyline of 2010-2011, though, was seen in the performances of sophomore Elaine Derricott. Derricott had arrived as a transfer from Radford prior to the season, but wasted little time in getting settled at Marshall. The Richmond, Virginia, native set two school records with 3710 points in the indoor pentathlon and 5139 points in the outdoor heptathlon. Furthermore, Derricott became Marshall's first-ever Conference USA Champion with a 1st place finish in the outdoor heptathlon. For her efforts, she earned a spot on the C-USA All-Conference team, while teammate Lauren DeHays also gained respect with an 8th place finish in the outdoor heptathlon.
In the throwing events, two Amandas - Hottenstein and Kennedy - paired with Elizabeth Barnhart to finish as scorers at the conference tournaments. At the C-USA Indoor Championships, Hottenstein placed 6th in the shot put, while Kennedy and Barnhart respectively finished 7th in the javelin and 6th in the discus at the Outdoor Championships.
And last but not least there were the distance runners, who rounded off a strong showing by Marshall's athletes in all track and field areas by setting two school records in the outdoor 3k steeplechase and distance medley relay. Allison Cox also made a name for herself by becoming a C-USA finalist in the 1500m at the Outdoor Championships, and Kathleen Clark was a C-USA All-Academic selection.
All told, the 2010-2011 season was a very successful one for the members of the Herd both individually and as a team. As the records were broken, higher standards were set, and the members of the Marshall track and field team can now look forward to the upcoming 2011-2012 season with a new feeling of confidence.
Players Mentioned
