Marshall University Athletics
Herd To Open New Track Facility Versus Ohio
12/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University makes its 2014-15 women's indoor track and field debut Thursday night with the Ohio Dual, facing the neighboring Bobcats in the first meet on the Jeff Small Track in the Chris Cline Athletic Complex.
The 300-meter track, dedicated in late October, will be the site of three home meets for the Herd this indoor season. The opener Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., is the first meet hosted by the Thundering Herd since April 4, 2000, when Ohio topped Marshall on the outdoor Lefty Rollins Track oval that was torn out in 2006.
Marshall's track and field program was without a home since the 2005-06 season, when the Rollins track was torn up to be replaced by new dorms and the MU Recreation Center.
Marshall head track and field coach Jeff Small - the track was named for him after a $1 million Vision Campaign contribution by his father, Richard Small - said the new facility "gives us a chance to be better than we've ever been."
The facility seats 880 spectators for track and field, and there is no admission charge for the opening meet. Spectators are advised that no food or drink - except bottled water - is permitted in the Cline Complex indoor facility.
The Herd-Ohio meet will include 12 events - weight throw, long jump, high jump, shotput, triple jump, 60 hurdles, 60 meters, 400, 600, 200, 1-mile and a 4x400 relay. Two athletes from each school will score points in each event.
The Ohio Dual is Marshall's only event before the semester break, and replaces what in recent years has been an early December jaunt to the Oiler Open at Findlay (Ohio) University.
The next two multi-team meets on the Small Track will feature men's and women's competition - the Thundering Herd Invitational, with 12-13 teams, on Jan. 30-31; and the Marshall Invitational with 10-12 teams, on Feb. 13-14.
