NCAA Champions Pat Itanyi
Kate Vermeulen
Megan Metcalfe
In only her sophomore season, Pat Itanyi became the first female in West Virginia University women’s track and field history to win a national championship by taking top honors in the long jump at the 1995 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., with a leap of 22’1. Itanyi edged out George Mason’s Diane GuthrieGreshman who had a jump of 22’0.25” and surpassed her WVU record of 21’10.25”, a mark that placed her ranking second entering the meet. A native of Ukehe, Nigeria, Itanyi’s jump was at the time the 10th longest in NCAA history and set a school record in the finals that still stands to this day.
As a freshman, Kate Vermeulen became the second female NCAA champion when she took top honors in the mile at the 1999 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., with a time of 4:39.07. Vermeulen’s time was her best of the year as she edged out Mary Jayne Harrelson of Appalachian State who finished with a time of 4:39.53. The London, Ontario native is the only indoor champion for WVU and in only one year as a Mountaineer, Vermeulen tied other national champion Itanyi by setting six school records in one season.
In her final season at WVU, Megan Metcalfe concluded an already stellar career as a Mountaineer by capturing the 5,000 meter title at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., with a time of 16:31.88. Metcalfe used a final surge of energy to outkick the defending champion, Sara Bei of Stanford, and defeating her by just 0.54 seconds faster. The Edmonton, Alberta, finished her career as a nine-time All-American and still holds four school records to this day.
Pat Itanyi
Kate Vermeulen
Megan Metcalfe
1995 NCAA Outdoor Long Jump Champion
1999 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion
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2012-13 Mountaineer Track & Field
2005 NCAA Outdoor 5,000m Champion