ATHENS, Ohio – Day One of the 2025 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships set the tone for an exciting weekend of competition, as some of the league’s top field athletes -- and distance runners -- claimed early titles at Goldsberry Track on the campus of Ohio University.

Eastern Michigan’s Jake McEachern got the meet rolling with a commanding performance in the men’s hammer throw, unleashing a winning toss of 63.63 meters to secure the first men’s title of the weekend.

In the men’s pole vault, Akron’s Hunter Garretson continued to build his MAC legacy, clearing 5.50 meters to capture his fourth career MAC Outdoor crown in the event. Garretson’s consistency and dominance over the years have helped solidify Akron’s tradition of excellence in the pole vault.

On the women’s side, Bowling Green’s Trista Fintel delivered a powerful performance in the hammer throw, claiming the title with a mark of 63.23 meters to become the first women’s champion crowned in Athens.

Kent State showed strength in both javelin competitions. In the men’s javelin, Payton Shippee made an impressive championship debut, launching a throw of 62.52 meters to earn the MAC title in his first season. On the women’s side, freshman Kristen Jay stood out with a title-winning throw of 47.49 meters, capping off an impressive debut performance of her own.

Akron’s Cassidy Allen soared to a height of 3.95 meters in the women’s pole vault to earn the top spot on the podium and add another gold for the Zips.
 

The distance events closed out the night with impressive showings on both sides. Akron’s Moses Lekokei claimed the men’s 10,000-meter title with a time of 31:07.83, while Eastern Michigan’s Sofia Ivanko earned the women’s 10,000-meter crown, clocking in at 35:07.04 to add another title for the Eagles.

With multiple champions already crowned and momentum building, the MAC Outdoor Championships are just heating up in Athens. Competition continues all weekend at Goldsberry Track.