Akron // Central Michigan Dual
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron redshirt freshman Demetrius Jackson (Beachwood, Ohio) won three events en route to posting a pair of top-five marks in indoor program history to headline the Zips' efforts in a pair of dual-meet victories past Central Michigan on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Stile Athletics Field House.
The Zips combined to win 20 events on the evening, while placing second in an additional 21 to best Central Michigan in the men's and women's competitions, respectively. Akron also garnered 59 career-best performances.
In the men's dual meet, Akron bettered the Chippewas, 100-46, while the Zips' women's squad edged Central Michigan, 84-64.
Jackson registered the third-fastest time in indoor program history in the men's 200 meters crossing the line first in 21.25, while posting the fifth-best performance in the 60 meters with a time of 6.76. Additionally, he ran the third leg on the victorious men's 4x400 relay squad of sophomore Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.), Jackson and freshman Zarik Brown (Dayton, Ohio) that crossed the line in 3:14.24.
The Zips also garnered top-five program marks in the men's 400 meters and mile, respectively, as Williams recorded the No. 2 time, 46.98, in the 400 meters, while redshirt junior Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added the No. 5 time, 4:07.42, the men's mile.
Williams' time in the 400 meters represents the third-best effort in the NCAA this season, while Jackson collected the seventh-fastest NCAA performance in the 200 meters.
Senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) recorded the second-best mark in the NCAA this season, 14-6 (4.42m), en route to winning the women's pole vault, while senior Matt Keim (Bollivar, Ohio) posted the triumph in the men's pole vault eclipsing 16-7.50 (5.07m).
Sophomore Lizzy Gurko (Northfield, Ohio) opened the evening for the Zips' women's squad winning the women's mile in a career-best time of 5:04.14.
Sophomore Jasmyn Allen (Twinsburg, Ohio) crossed the line first in the women's 60-meter hurdles a career-best time of 8.69, before adding a career-low time of 7.97 to place second in the 60 meters.
Redshirt junior Dimitra Gnafaki (Chania, Greece) captured the women's 400 meters in a time of 58.17, while running the opening leg of the winning women's 4x400 relay team of Gnafaki, senior Iman Batiste (Dublin, Ohio), sophomore Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) and senior Bailey Lack (Brunswick, Ohio), which crossed the line in 4:00.80.
Senior Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio) finished first in the women's 3,000 meters in a career-best time of 9:55.73.
Senior Maike Anstett (Karlsruhe, Germany) claimed a triumph in a jump-off to earn the victory in the women's high jump with a mark of 5-3.25 (1.61m).
Sophomore Kassandra Roemer (Kaiserlautern, Germany) capped Akron's women's first-place efforts winning the women's long jump with a mark of 18-4.25 (5.59m).
Redshirt junior Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) placed first in the men's 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.11, while freshman Blake Lucius (Crestline, Ohio) won the men's 800 meters in a career-best time of 1:53.66.
In a career-best time of 8:42.15, junior Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio) placed first in the men's 3,000 meters.
Sophomore Nuh Andu (Doha, Qater) bested the bar at 6-7 (2.01m) to win the men's high jump, while redshirt freshman Bobby Casey (Mayfield Heights, Ohio) earned the victory in the men's long jump with a career-best mark of 22-11.75 (7.00m).
Redshirt junior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) capped the winning efforts with a mark of 49-1.75 (14.98m) in the men's triple jump.
The Zips return to competition as Akron visits Kent State for a dual meet next Friday, Jan. 24
Bowling Green // Toledo Dual
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University indoor track and field team won 9-of-13 events and the Falcons dominated rival Toledo in the annual Battle of I-75, 79-57, Friday night at Perry Field House. In 11 of the 12 individual events, BGSU's top finisher was a freshman or sophomore, with six of those performances coming from first-year student-athletes.
Bowling Green had a pair of double winners and both of those were freshmen. Jemeila Hunter won the 60 and the 200, while Destiny Fernandes won the 60 hurdles and high jump.
SWEEPING THE MEDALS
Central Michigan // Akron Dual
AKRON, Ohio -- The Central Michigan track and field teams got a look at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships venue on Friday as they competed in a dual meet with Akron at the Zips' Stile Athletics Field House.
The league championships are set for the facility on Feb. 28-29.
Akron won Friday's women's meet, 84-64, and the Zips captured the men's meet, 100-46.
Top CMU Finishers
The Chippewa men's and women's squads combined for eight first places on Friday, with freshman Reghan Draper claiming two wins.
Draper won the women's 60-meter dash in 7.89 seconds and captured the 200 in 26.33.
Other CMU firsts: Quiara Wheeler, women's weight throw, 63 feet, 4 ¼ inches; Emma Fountain, women's 800, 2:18.74; Ja'la Taylor, women's triple jump, 37-8; Erin Howard, women's shot put, 49-11 ¾; Logan Targgart, men's weight throw, 66-6 ½; Connor Covert, men's shot put, 50-6 ¼.
It was the Chippewas' first meet in some five weeks. They are scheduled to compete in two meets next weekend, with some squad members going to the Jet's Pizza Invitational at Saginaw Valley State, and others partaking in the Can Am Classic at Eastern Michigan.
"People definitely went out and competed," said Jenny Swieton, the Chippewas' director of track & field. "We have a little more clear view of what we need to work on, and where we need to improve.
"I was happy with the effort, for the most part, from everybody. It was big to get out there and compete again. For some people, it was kind of a shock to (not) run as fast or be as explosive. But at some point you have to get the Band-Aid off and get it going again. I'm sure we'll see big improvements the next time we compete."
Knocking off the Rust
While for many of the Chippewas, Friday was their first race since the Dec. 6 Grand Valley State Holiday Open; and for others, it was their first compeititon of the indoor season.
"We were definitely rusty," Swieton said. "I think there were definitely some reacclimating to the intensity involved in competing. From a mental perspective, they handled that really well and they understand this is just a step in the process. (This event) made them more motivated to go home and work hard and get better."
While the dual served as a good start, or re-start, for several Chippewas, it should serve them well when they return to Akron in six weeks for the MAC Championships.
"It's really important," Swieton said. "I think it was key for us to come to Akron and for them to get comfortable in the facility. I think it was good that (this meet) was done in a little bit of a low-key environment so there wasn't a lot of pressure where people were freaking out or anything. There were good nerves, but not any 'Oh no, what's going to happen' type of nerves."
Eastern Michigan Men // Doug Hansen Open
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team earned a half-dozen event titles at the Doug Hansen Open Friday, Jan. 17, inside SVSU Fieldhouse. The meet served as the Eagles' final tune-up before hosting the Can-Am International, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 25 at Bob Parks Track inside Bowen Field House.
Junior sprinter Owen Richardson (Basingstoke England-The Costello School), who was honored as the Mid-American Conference Men's Track Athlete of the Week this past Tuesday, Jan. 14, claimed first prize in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. EMU had four of the top five finishers in the 200-meter race, which Richardson won with a time of 21.29 seconds. Meanwhile, freshmen Alec Frymier (Hilliard, Ohio-Hilliard Bradley) and Trent Barron (Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth) placed third and fourth with times of 21.94 and 22.48, respectively, before senior Sean Beckom II (Saginaw, Mich.-Heritage) came in fifth with a mark of 22.61.
Richardson then took home the 400-meter title in convincing fashion. He cruised in the opening section of the event with a time of 47.62 seconds, while freshman Frankie Grey (Brentwood, N.Y.-Brentwood) was the runner-up as he crossed the finish line in 49.09. After needing fewer than eight seconds to post the fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, senior Devonte Findlay (Lauderhil, Fla.-Banche Ely) won the final round with a near-identical time of 7.98.
The Eagles also had each of the top-four runners in the 800-meter race. Junior Derek Jones (Erie, Pa.-Cathedral Preparatory) led the pack with a time of 1:55.17, while sophomore Ronald Brandal (Huron, Ohio-Huron), senior Roderic Wilson (Atlanta, Ga.-Blanche Ely), and sophomore Charlie Young (Grand Haven, Mich.-Grand Haven) followed in second (1:55.66), third (1:57.80), and fourth (2:00.62), respectively.
The Green and White notched a pair of titles in the field, as freshman Kappa Bedoui (Doha, Qatar-Aspire Academy) recorded the meet's farthest weight throw at 19.59 meters, while fellow freshman Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) won the shot put with a heave of 16.84 meters For his part, reigning MAC Men's Field Athlete of the Week Baboucar Sallah-Moahmmed (Arlington, Va.-Fishburne Military) finished second in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 7.26 meters.
Field events at the Can-Am International Saturday, Jan. 25 are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., while track events are set to start 1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan Women // Doug Hansen Open
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team earned event titles in all but one of the 11 events in which it competed at the Doug Hansen Open Friday, Jan. 17, inside SVSU Fieldhouse.
In total, EMU collected five track titles and five field crowns, and concluded the meet with 19 podium finishes in a dominant all-around performance. Sophomore sprinter Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) topped the charts in a pair of races, as she claimed first prize in both the 200-meter and 400-meter sprints.
The Eagles recorded each of the top-four finishes and 11 of the top 13 overall in the 200-meter dash, which Edwards won with a time of 24.79 seconds. From there, junior Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start), sophomore Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer), and senior Kolby Ganther (Park City, Kan.-Northeast Magnet (Garden City C.C.)) placed second (25.06), third (25.10), and fourth (25.16), respectively. Edwards also edged Gibson in the 400-meter event with a time of 55.84 seconds, while the latter crossed the finish line in second spot at 56.15.
After clocking the fastest time in the 60-meter dash preliminaries, senior Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) captured the title race with a Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying mark of 7.56 seconds. Ganther claimed second place in the event with a time of 7.73, while freshman Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) finished right behind in third at a 7.74 clip.
Meanwhile, sophomore Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peters) paced the field in the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, before winning the finals with a time of 8.71 seconds. Two more sophomores cracked the top-four, as Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) came in second place with a time of 8.83, while Morgan Iverson (Hoschton, Ga.-Mill Creek) was fourth at 9.25. Additionally, sophomore Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) snatched the 800-meter crown with a 2:20.47 finish.
In the field, junior Kadian Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) continued to lead the Eagles in the weight throw as she earned the top spot with a heave of 17.96 meters. Fellow junior Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) was EMU's sole representative in the pole vault and won first prize with a mark of 3.42 meters. Additionally, freshman Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) landed the shot put title with a 13.24-meter throw.
Elsewhere, junior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Marys (Texas Southern)) captured the high-jump crown with a leap of 1.59 meters, while sophomore Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) finished in a tie for second place with a 1.54-meter showing. The Eagles also excelled in the long jump, as sophomore Brenna Cavanaugh (Bentleyville, Pa.-Bentworth) and freshman Antonia Woods (Winchester, Ohio-Groveport Madison) placed in the top-two with marks of 5.53 and 5.25 meters, respectively, while senior Gianna Salzbrunn (North Aurora, Ill.-Montini Catholic) tied for third with a leap of 5.20 meters.
The meet served as the Eagles' final tune-up before hosting the Can-Am International, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 25 at Bob Parks Track inside Bowen Field House. Field events are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., while track events are set to start at 1 p.m.
Kent State // YSU Invite
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Kent State had four student-athletes earn first-place as the track and field program returned to action Friday at the YSU Collegiate Invitational.
Christian Champen cleared 17'-0.5" to win the men's pole vault and set a new Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) facility record. Champen was successful on each of his first three attempts but was unable to clear the bar at what would have been a school record height of 17'-6.25". Mitchell Kubicki tied for second with a top height of 15'-11.75".
The Golden Flashes also took the top two spots in the women's shot put. Grace Tennant's mark of 50'-1.25" on her first attempt was good enough for the victory. Gabby Bailey placed second with a top throw of 49'-9". All five of the duo's legal attempts were further than any other thrower in the 74-athlete field.
Asa Hodrick sprinted to victory in the men's 60-meter dash, crossing the finish line in a time of 6.86.
Jaheim Jonesposted a time of 6.93 to place fourth in his collegiate debut.
Jack McElligott was victorious in his first competition as a member of the Kent State program, clearing 6'-6.75" to win the unseeded men's high jump.
The Flashes had three of the top four finishers in the men's 500-meter run. Nate Cousino (1:06.57) placed second, Quintin Cooks (1:06.93) placed third and Kole Johnson (1:08.06) placed fourth.
Three additional Flashes earned runner-up finishes. Jacob Mally clocked a personal-best time of 8.14 in the men's 60-meter hurdles, which is the eighth-fastest time in program history. Jake Wickey had a strong performance in the men's weight throw with a mark of 66'-7.25" on his best attempt. Brian Phillips leaped 23'-4.5" in the men's long jump.
Walter Petzel finished third in the men's shot put with a top toss of 55'-2.75".
Ruby Greenwood placed fourth in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 58.23, while Justin Dwyer clocked a 49.54 to take fifth in the men's 400-meter dash.
The Golden Flashes will host the annual Akron Dual on Friday, Jan. 24 for the first of three home meets at the Kent State Field House. Competition is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Northern Illinois // Bill Clinger Classic
ALLENDALE, Mich. – Three event victories highlighted the day for the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team on Friday (Jan. 17) at the GVSU Bill Clinger Classic at Grand Valley State. Freshman Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) took top honors in the 200-meter dash, senior Jehvania Whyte (Kingston, Jamaica/Vere Technical) was victorious in the long jump and the Huskies also earned a win in the 4x400-meter relay.
In the 200 meters, Jones led three Huskies in the top-six, taking first-place with a winning time of 24.99 seconds, 0.07 seconds ahead of Debra Wallace of Northwood. Jones' time is the eighth-fastest time in the MAC this season. Senior Remy Amarteifio (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) claimed fifth in the 200 in 25.88 seconds while senior Britney Hew (Hanover, Jamaica/New Mexico JC) was sixth with a time of 25.95.
Whyte took first in the long jump with the third-best leap in the MAC this season, and a conference automatic qualifying mark, of 5.89m (19-04.00). Whyte recorded her winning jump on her first attempt of the competition. Sophomore Jazmyn Smith (Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep) earned second with a best mark of 5.83m (19-01.50), a MAC automatic qualifying jump and the fourth best in the conference this year.
Junior Kenyae Majors (Burlington, N.C./Hugh Cummings) was the third Huskie in the top-five in the long jump with a best leap of 5.54m (18-02.25) to take fourth.
Already holding the fastest time in the conference this season, the NIU 4x400-meter relay took first place as the quartet of sophomore Kaitlyn Lewis (Liberty, Mo./Liberty), junior Victoria Robinson (Lansing, Kan./Kansas State), junior Nora Finegan (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and senior Grace Harris (Dousman, Wis.) ran a time of 3:51.02, six second ahead of second-place University of Windsor.
Elsewhere, Harris ran the second-best time in the MAC this season in the 400-meter dash as she finished second with a time of 56.46, behind only Kristy Hodgins of Windsor (56.12). Lewis was fourth in the 400 with a time of 57.07, the seventh-best time in the conference this year.
Next Saturday, January 25, the Huskies will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the Sycamore Team Invite, hosted by Indiana State.
Ohio // YSU Invite
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Ohio track and field team saw three student-athletes turn in top-four finishes in their respective events today at the YSU Collegiate Invitational at the Watson and Tressel Training Site on the campus of Youngstown State University.
Senior Ashleigh Kitrell (Oakland, Neb.) placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.05. In the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Maria Welch (Massillon, Ohio) took third place in 9:07. She qualified for the finals of the event with a fifth-place finish in the prelims thanks to a time of 9:03. Senior Tajah Haley (Washington, Pa.) claimed fourth place in the high jump with a mark of 1.60 meters.
Two other Bobcats placed in the top-eight of their respective events. Redshirt senior Madison Sury (Waterford, Ohio) finished sixth in the mile run by clocking a 5:07.82. Junior Abby Moore (Rootstown, Ohio) took seventh in the weight throw with a toss of 16.44 meters and eighth in the shot put with a mark of 13.47 meters.
In additon to those individual performances, Ohio's 4x400-meter relay 'A' team clocked a 4:05.37 to finish seventh.
With the YSU Collegiate Invitational in the books, Ohio will head to Lexington, Va., to participate in the VMI Team Challenge next Saturday (Jan. 25).
Toledo // Bowling Green Dual
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The University of Toledo women's track and field team fell to Bowling Green at the BGSU Dual Meet by a score of 79-57. The Rockets posted first-place finishes in the triple jump, 800 meters, mile and 3,000 meters, and notched 20 personal bests.
"We had a solid overall performance with some really nice individual highlights," said head coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "I really enjoyed the atmosphere and camaraderie our team showed across all the event areas tonight. Our field events had a really good day with Janell Rowecompeting in three events while winning the triple jump with Raynesha Lewis close behind. The highlight on the track was Meltem Yasar winning both the mile and the 800 meters as well as the 1-2-3-4 finish in the 3,000 meters."
Rowe won the triple jump with a leap of 5.46m. She also competed in the 60 meter hurdles and high jump, taking third in both events with personal-bests of 9.77 and 1.50m, respectively. Also in jumps, Lewis posted second-place finishes in the long jump (5.46) and triple jump (11.32m).
On the track, junior Yasar placed first in the 800 meters (2:17.89) and the mile (4:56.41), both personal bests. In the 3,000m the Rockets swept the first four spots, with senior Petronela Simiuc leading the way (9:59.37), followed by Amanda Bakley (10:21.82), Hannah Sponaugle (10:25.62, **PR**), and Madeline Vining (10:29.48 **PR**).
Western Michigan // YSU Invite
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Western Michigan track and field team wrapped up its first official meet of the indoor season, competing at the Youngstown State Invitational on Friday.
The best individual performance on the day came from senior sprinter Erin Dowd. Dowd took first overall in the 400-meter dash, dusting the competition with a time of 54.74. The time was an indoor personal best for the Brighton, Mich., native.
WMU's 4x400-meter relay team also took first place with the combined time of 3:53.06, 2.02 seconds faster than second-place Buffalo.
Senior Juliane Sormain took fifth overall in the 800-mter run after turning in a time of 2:14.76. She was one of three racers to finish in the 2:14 range, just missing out on third and fourth place.
Sophomore Taylor Rucker too sixth overall in the 60-meter hurdles after running a time of 9.33 seconds.
Freshman Annalise James was the team's top finisher in the mile run, taking eighth overall with a time of 5:10.57. Senior Brittney Hall also competed in the event, running a time of 5:16.84.
Four Broncos competed in the 3,000-meter run with Rebecca McNamee turning in the top time of 10:47.28. Sophomore Paisley Sipes finished a few spots behind her with a time of 10:55.38.
Over in the field events the top performance came from senior Erica Sheahan in the long jump. Sheahan took third overall with a distance of 18-8.00 (5.69m). Sheahan reached the mark on her fifth jump.
Junior Taylor Eaton took eighth overall in the weight throw, reaching a distance of 53-7.50 (16.34m). Eaton's performance improved by over three feet compared to her season-opener in 2019 at the Gladstein Invitational. Junior Aniya Davis and sophomore Madison Ochs also both competed in the weight throw, with both eclipsing the 50-foot mark.
Junior Tierre Richardson reached a distance of 35-7.25 (10.85m) in the triple jump, finishing 10th overall, while junior Audrey Pickering was WMU's top finisher in the shot put with a distance of 41-10.75 (12.77m).
The indoor season rolls on as Western Michigan heads to Eastern Michigan University next Saturday for the Can Am International.
