Wesleyan’s Cash wins Most Valuable Performer at MEC Track and Field Championships

Samantha Cash of West Virginia Wesleyan was named Most Valuable Performer at the Mountain East Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, where University of Charleston claimed the team title and several individual awards.

Sports Release
May 1, 2025

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With strong performances during all three days of the Mountain East Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, the University Charleston captured the 2025 team title.

In addition to finishing first as a program in total points, UC picked up a trio of individual honors: Brooke Burns was named Field Athlete of the Year; Beth Sykes was named Track Athlete of the Year; and Nick Bias earned Coach of the Year honors.

The Most Valuable Performer — as determined most individual points accumulated at the meet — went to West Virginia Wesleyan’s Samantha Cash. Concord’s Cassidy Hammonds was named the 2025 MEC Outdoor Freshman of the Year.

UC tallied 205 points across 21 events as a team. Cash helped lead West Virginia Wesleyan (137 points) to a runner-up finish, with MEC newcomer Point Park, West Virginia State, and West Liberty rounding out the top five.

The full list of honorees:

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Award Winners
Most Valuable Performer: Samantha Cash, West Virginia Wesleyan
Freshman of the Year: Cassidy Hammonds, Concord
Field Athlete of the Year: Brooke Burns, Charleston
Track Athlete of the Year: Beth Sykes, Charleston
Coach of the Year: Nick Bias, Charleston

Women’s Hammer Throw
First Team All-MEC: Brooke Burns, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Ella Nilsson, Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Mia Huber, Charleston

Women’s Javelin
First Team All-MEC: Kalista Milne, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Cassidy Hammonds, Concord
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Lina Single, Point Park

Women’s 10,000M
First Team All-MEC: Cassondra O’Connor, Point Park
Second Team All-MEC: Lydia Falkenstein, Davis & Elkins
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Savanna Hardman, Davis & Elkins

Women’s Heptathlon
First Team All-MEC: Cassidy Hammonds, Concord
Second Team All-MEC: Samantha Cash, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Dunya Van Den Tooren, Point Park

Women’s Shot Put
First Team All-MEC: Janae Scott, Glenville State
Second Team All-MEC: Abby McKinney, Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Brooke Burns, Charleston

Women’s Long Jump
First Team All-MEC: Ky’Ara Ross, West Liberty
Second Team All-MEC: Isabella Mastria, Frostburg State
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Cassidy Hammonds, Concord

Women’s Pole Vault
First Team All-MEC: Keala McCurry, Wheeling
Second Team All-MEC: Jordyn Taylor, Glenville State
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Abby McDonough, West Virginia Wesleyan

Women’s 3K Steeplechase
First Team All-MEC: Leigha Hall, West Virginia Wesleyan
Second Team All-MEC: Lindsey Dillon, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Ella Hesson, Davis & Elkins

Women’s Triple Jump
First Team All-MEC: Stefani Vasileva, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Samantha Cash, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Laura Delgado De Torres

Women’s Discus Throw
First Team All-MEC: Brooke Burns, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Janae Scott, Glenville State
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Pamela Kandrach, West Liberty

Women’s High Jump
First Team All-MEC: Cierra Parker, Concord
Second Team All-MEC: Dunya Van Den Tooren, Point Park
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Samantha Cash, West Virginia Wesleyan

Women’s 4×100 Relay
First Team All-MEC: West Virginia State
Second Team All-MEC: Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: West Liberty

Women’s 1,500M
First Team All-MEC: Beth Sykes, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Lauren Twyman, Davis & Elkins
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Madison Woolwine, Charleston

Women’s 100M Hurdles
First Team All-MEC: Zoe McDonald, West Virginia State
Second Team All-MEC: Jorden Golden, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Mike Engelbrecht, Charleston

Women’s 400M
First Team All-MEC: Maya Clark, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Jaime Preston, West Virginia State
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Diamond Rush, Point Park

Women’s 100M
First Team All-MEC: Candace Morris, West Virginia State
Second Team All-MEC: Colette Patti, Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Zoe Ledet, West Virginia State

Men’s 800M
First Team All-MEC: Ryan Rasco, Davis & Elkins
Second Team All-MEC: Ethan Board, Concord
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Francis Toohey, West Liberty

Women’s 800M
First Team All-MEC: Beth Sykes, Charleston
Second Team All-MEC: Dakota Johnson, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Natalie Barr, Glenville State

Women’s 400M Hurdles
First Team All-MEC: Samantha Cash, West Virginia Wesleyan
Second Team All-MEC: Jorden Golden, West Virginia Wesleyan
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Camila Hoya, Charleston

Women’s 200M
First Team All-MEC: Candace Morris, West Virginia State
Second Team All-MEC: Colette Patti, Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Zoe Ledet, West Virginia State

Women’s 5,000M
First Team All-MEC: Leigha Hall, West Virginia Wesleyan
Second Team All-MEC: Cassondra O’Connor, Point Park
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Lydia Falkenstein, Davis & Elkins

Women’s 4×400 Relay
First Team All-MEC: West Virginia State
Second Team All-MEC: Charleston
Honorable Mention All-MEC: Point Park