Carrier-Eades ends illustrious WVU career, trying to earn spot in Olympics

West Virginia track and field athlete Chelsea Carrier-Eades had quite a journey through her years as a Mountaineer.

The Buckhannon, W.Va., native is an eight-time All-American and has competed in many events, including the NCAA Championships to a recent trip and a recent trip to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Carrier-Eades was named a first-team All-American this season in both the heptathlon and 100-meter hurdles by the U.S. Track and Field and
Cross Country Coaches of America.

This season saw a peak in Carrier-Eades’s career. She won the heptathlon for the second consecutive year at the Texas Relays and placed first in the 100-meter hurdles at the Big East Outdoor Championships. She also placed second in the long jump and 400-meter hurdles at the Big East Outdoor Championships.

Carrier-Eades also saw career-best marks in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the 800-meter run.

With her WVU career finished, Carrier-Eades hopes to seek an Olympic berth in August. This past weekend saw her fall in the 100-meter hurdles semifinals.

She was No. 13 overall with a time of 12.96, finishing No. 5 in her heat. She failed to qualify for the final round by five spots.

Still, WVU head coach Sean Cleary said Carrier-Eades has been incredibly consistent this season. She still has an opportunity to qualify in the heptathlon. Carrier-Eades was No. 3 in the heptathlon for the majority of the season.

"It was another very good race for Chelsea," Cleary said, following the 100-meter hurdles semifinals. "She has now become very consistent running under 13 seconds. At this level, if you don’t bring a great performance,
you sit in the stands. She needed just a little more out of herself.

"Chelsea is the youngest in the field and will be back stronger from this experience. She has a week to recover and train for next week’s heptathlon."

Beginning June 29, Carrier-Eades will compete in the heptathlon, with the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and the 200-meter dash.

On June 30, the events will continue with the long jump, javelin throw and the 800-meter run. The top 18 heptathlon athletes will participate in the action.

Carrier-Eades has made some history through her time at WVU. In 2008, she won her first career Big East Conference title in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Through her journey from 2008 to this past season, Carrier-Eades has broken many school records and won many events such as the 2010 Big East Indoor Championships in the pentathlon with 3,994 points.

Not only has Carrier-Eades changed the landscape of track at WVU, she has also become a very well-known name across the nation.

The awards, honors and records have been a form of display of Carrier-Eades’s skill and dedication.

She was the 2010 and 2011 Mid-Atlantic Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Her achievements are just a testament to what type of performer she is.

Carrier-Eades has had quite a ride in the sport of track and field while she’s been at WVU, and she’s hoping it will result in a trip to the Olympics.

"Obviously qualifying for the Olympic trials has always been an ultimate goal and dream of mine," she said in May.

As Carrier-Eades prepares for the Olympics, there is no doubt that her career at WVU was truly a remarkable one.