Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Junior, Akureyri, Iceland/Hull University
At the GVSU Mike Lints Alumni Open, junior Baldvin Magnusson paced all runners in the 3000m, clocking in at 8:05.34, over five seconds faster than the closest competitor. Magnusson's time is the fastest in the Mid-American Conference by nearly nine seconds and ranks 16th in the NCAA.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Jake Wickey, Kent State
Senior Medina, Ohio/Medina
Jake Wickey claimed the No. 4 position on the national weight throw performance list with a huge toss of 22.24m (72’-11.75”) on his final attempt at the Akron Tri-Meet on Friday. Wickey’s personal-best throw was the best in the NCAA for the week of January 19-25 and moves him into second in Kent State’s record book, passing weight throw national champions Al Schoterman (1971) and Jacques Accambray (1972 and 1974), as well as Reggie Jagers III. His impressive performance included a PR on each of his final three attempts and four of the top-10 attempts by NCAA Division I competitors for the week. All six of his attempts were among the week’s top-14 throws.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Ashley Tutt, NIU
R-Junior, Channahon, Ill./Minooka
Ashley Tutt posted a pair of top-three finishes at the Mike Lints Open, taking top-three spots in both the mile and the 3,000 meters. In the 3,000, Tutt was second in a time of 9:31.86, behind only Grand Valley All-American Allie Ludge. Tutt’s time is the best in the MAC this season and 18th nationally. In the mile, Tutt recorded a time of 4:52.86, third-best in the conference this season and 36th nationally.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Quiara Wheeler, Central Michigan
Senior, Flint, Mich./Grand Blanc HS
Central Michigan senior Quiara Wheeler continued her outstanding start to the 2021 season by winning the weight throw at the Grand Valley State Mike Lints Alumni Open in Allendale, Mich. Wheeler, a senior from Flint, completed a toss measuring 20.73 meters to win the event by more than 1.4 meters and lead a dominant performance by the Chippewas in the event. CMU throwers took four of the top six spots in the weight throw. Wheeler's big throw came one week after she set the program record with a 20.74-meter toss in the Chippewas' season-opening dual meet victory over Western Michigan. Wheeler is ranked first in the MAC and 10th nationally.
Other Men's Nominees
Jake Matthews, Miami
Perrysburg, Ohio Perrysburg
1st overall in the 400m, 2nd in conference. PR 48.95.N/A
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore
Asa Hodrick sprinted to a pair of victories in his 2021 debut at the Akron Tri-Meet on Friday evening. Hodrick opened the meet with a time of 6.83 seconds in the 60m, which was just .01 off his personal-best. Later in the night, he won the 200m in 21.66, which is the second-fastest time in the MAC this season.
Zarik Brown, Akron
Sophomore, Dayton, Ohio
Akron sophomore won the men's 400 meters at the Akron Triangle on Friday in a time of 48.53. Brown also anchored the winning 4x400 relay team that crossed the line in a time of 3:18.69. Brown owns the top-two times in the MAC in the 400m this season, including a 47.23 mark at the Akron Quad on Jan. 15 that is nearly two seconds faster than the No. 2 mark in the league this season.
Benjamin Cardamone, Buffalo
Graduate Student, Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira
Benjamin Cardamone won the mile run at the Akron Tri-Meet, setting a 7-second personal-best time of 4:13.32. His time ranks third in the MAC and the seventh best performance all-time in UB program history.
Michael Davenport, Miami
Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio
Michael Davenport 1st overall in the pole vault, 4th in conference. PR 4.75m
Nuh Andu, Akron
Junior, Doha, Qatar
Akron junior Nuh Andu bested the field in the men's high jump at the Akron Triangle on Friday with a clearance of 7-0.25 (2.14m), the 12th-best mark in the NCAA this season. Andu bested the bar on his opening attempts at 6-0.75 (1.85m), 6-4.75 (1.95m), 6-6.75 (2.00m) and 6-8.75 (2.05m) before besting 6-10.75 (2.10m) on his second attempt. He won the competition surpassing 7-0.25 (2.14m) on his initial attempt at the bar.
Brandon Burke, Buffalo
Senior, Churchville, N.Y. / Byron-Bergen
Brandon Burke for the second straight meet placed second in the high jump. He earned a new personal-best height of 7'-00.25" (2.14-meters) which ranks tied for first in the MAC and tied for 12th in the NCAA. Burke now ranks second in UB program history.
Other Women's Nominees
Sarinity Bracey, Western Michigan
Freshman, Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
Bracey took second overall in the 60-meter hurdles at the GVSU Mike Lints Open. After running 8.99 in the prelims she finished off the finals with a time of 9.0 seconds, which ranks fifth in the MAC so far this season. It's the highest finish for Bracey in her young career with the Broncos. She also competed in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.49.
Kayla Walters, Miami
Sophomore, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook
Kayla Walters 3rd overall 60mHur, 6th in conference.
Mi’Angel Daniels, Kent State
R-Senior, Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln
Representing Kent State for the first time since the 2019 MAC Outdoor Championships, Mi’Angel Daniels won the 60m Hurdles at the Akron Tri-Meet on Friday. Her time of 8.94 seconds is the second-fastest in the MAC this season.
Beth Arentz, Akron
Freshman, Cronulla, Australia
Freshman Beth Arentz made a mark in her Zips' debut winning the women's mile and 800 meters at the Akron Triangle on Friday. She claimed the top finish in the women's mile recording a career-best time of 4:51.07, the top-rated time in the MAC this season and No. 28 time in the NCAA. Arentz doubled up winning the women's 800 meters in a career-best time of 2:14.81.
Priscilla Faa, Buffalo
Senior, Jamaica, N.Y. / John Bowne
Priscilla Faa won the 60-meter dash at the Akron Tri-Meet. She won the event with a new personal-best time of 7.77 seconds. Her time ranks 11th in the MAC.
Jemeila Hunter, Bowling Green
Sophomore, Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington North
Jemeila Hunter won the 200 in a dual meet against Toledo, posting a season-best time of 25.31 seconds. The time converts down to 24.93 seconds and is the third fastest in the MAC this year and the fastest of the weekend.
Promise Cross, Toledo
Freshman, Morehead, Kentucky
In her very first meet as a collegiate athlete, Freshman Promise Cross finished first in the high jump event with a height of 1.62m at the BGSU Dual on January 22, 2021.
Meg Wilson, Miami
Freshman, Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood
3rd overall in long jump, 7th in conference.
Jazmyn Smith, NIU
Junior, Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep
Jazmyn Smith comfortably bettered the field in the long jump at the Mike Lints Open, winning by more than a foot over second-place Hayley Manners of Central Michigan. Smith's top leap of 5.87 meters (19-03.75) came on her second attempt of the competition, Manners' best mark was 5.53 meters (18-01.75). Smith’s leap is the second-best in the MAC this season and ranks in the top-50 nationally.
Kadian Clarke, Eastern Michigan
Senior, Kingston, Jamaica/ Immaculate Conception
At the GVSU Mike Lints Alumni Open, senior Kadian Clarke finished first in the shot put with a career-high distance of 15.29m. Clarke's performance in the event gives her the fourth best mark in the Mid-American Conference. Meanwhile, the Jamaica product placed second in the weight throw with a 19.31m heave, the second-highest distance in the MAC so far this season.
Grace Tennant, Kent State
Senior, Caistor Centre, Ontario/South Lincoln
Grace Tennant took her second shot put title of the season with a top throw of 15.99m (52’-5.5”) at the Akron Tri-Meet on Friday. Tennant’s season-best mark is the best among MAC competitors and ranks #13 on the national performance list.
Abby Helminiak, Akron
R-Junior, Toledo, Ohio
Akron redshirt junior Abby Helminiak captured the women's pole vault with a season-best clearance of 13-4.25 (4.07m) at the Akron Triangle on Friday. She cleared the bar on her opening attempts at 12-4.50 (3.77m), 12-8.25 (3.87m), 13-0.25 (3.97m) and 13-4.25 (4.07m), before coming up short at 13-8.25 (4.17m).
Earnie Burapan, Buffalo
Senior, Hilton, N.Y. / Hilton
Earnie Burapan placed third at the Akron Tri-Meet in pole vault. She opened her season with a mark of 12’-04.50” (3.77-meters). She ranks third in the MAC.
