NCAA Champions

PAT ITANYI

1995 NCAA OUTDOOR LONG JUMP CHAMPION

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 Guthrie-Greshman 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 the 10th longest in NCAA History at the time and set a school record in the finals that still stands to this day.

KATE VERMEULEN

1999 NCAA INDOOR MILE CHAMPION

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.

MEGAN METCALFE

2005 NCAA OUTDOOR 5,000M CHAMPION

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, defeating her by just 0.54 seconds. The Edmonton, Alberta native, finished her career as a nine-time All-American and still holds four school records to this day.