Track and Field: Season ends for Panthers at NCAA East Regionals

By Alex Oltmanns

The Pitt track and field team’s season ended last month, but the season officially came to an… The Pitt track and field team’s season ended last month, but the season officially came to an end for all Panthers this past weekend, as none of the seven athletes competing in the NCAA East Regionals advanced to the National Outdoor Championships.

Coach Alonzo Webb said he felt the team did not reach its expectations this season as it had a largely young and inexperienced team. But Webb also said he feels that with some of the young runners, such as Cambrya Jones and Antony Hobwana, gaining valuable postseason experience, the team will improve next season.

Although none of the athletes continued to the Championships, many had strong performances at regionals. Mycaiah Clemons ran the 100-meter hurdles in 13.70 seconds, good enough for 13th place. Nicole Cherry finished 14th in the javelin with a toss of 43.13 meters. Jones finished eighth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.25 seconds.

Although the collegiate season might have ended for Jones, she will compete in the Junior Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., later this month with top national runners ranging from age 14 to 20.

Senior Janessa Murphy also competed at the event, leaping 5.87 meters in the long jump to finish 16th. Brianna Broyles was the last member of the women’s team at regionals. The junior finished the 400-meter hurdles in 1:04.87, which placed her 40th in the preliminary round but didn’t qualify her for the finals.

On the men’s side, the best finish came from senior Eric Jones, who finished 27th in the triple jump with a leap of 14.25 meters. Sophomore Hobwana also competed at the event, finishing 21st in the preliminary round of the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.65 seconds. He didn’t qualify for the final round.

The members of the team are all home for the summer, but Webb said they all have an intense workout program to help them stay in shape for when they return to Oakland in the fall.