Mid-American Conference

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
 
Willy Fink, R-Junior, Eastern Michigan
Willy Fink had a fantastic performance at the Mt SAC Relays, April 15, taking part in the 5000m Elite race against some of the top runners in the nation. There, he clocked in at 13:43.06, setting a new personal-record by eight seconds. Additionally, his time also brought him within three seconds of the second fastest 5000m time in EMU history, which was run by Gordon Minty in 1972. Finally, Fink’s time puts him within the top-10 times nationally so far this season, coming in at No. 9.
 
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
 
Jackie Siefring, Sophomore, Akron
Crossing the line in a school- and track-record time of 57.61 to win the 400-meter hurdles was sophomore Jackie Siefring. The time was the 19th-fastest mark in the country this spring. Additionally, she placed second in the javelin (120-8), fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (14.13) and ran the second leg of the second-place 4x400 relay team (3:49.40).
 
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
 
Terrell McClain, Sophomore, Akron
Recording the third-best all-time mark Zips’ track and field history in the long jump to finish first at the Northeast Ohio Quad on Saturday, April 16, was sophomore Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio). McClain surpassed 26-1 (7.95m), to post the second-best mark nationally this spring.
 
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
 
Claudia Garcia Jou, Senior, Akron
Claudia Garcia Jou captured the title in the women’s high jump at the Northeast Ohio Quad on Saturday, April 16, surpassing 6-0.75 (1.85m).
 

Other Nominees
  
Women’s Track
 
Peyton Stewart, Freshman, Ball State
Freshman sprinter Peyton Stewart factored in two of Ball State’s three event wins, taking the 100m dash with a career-fast clocking of 11.80, while running the second leg for the first-place 4x100m relay which turned in a Ball State season-best time of 47.58. She was joined on the winning relay by sophomore Anna-Kay West, freshman Amber McGee and freshman Jazmin Smith. Following her time of 11.80 in the 100m dash, which was also a MAC Championship automatic qualifying mark, Stewart collected another career-best mark in the 200m dash, placing third overall in 24.74.
 
Tina Davis, Sophomore, Central Michigan
Sophomore Tina Davis led the Chippewa women with two other firsts to go along with the 100-meter. She came in first in the 200 and also was apart of the winning 4x100 relay team. Her time in the 100-meter was good enough to place her at third on the season in the MAC. The 4x100 relay team also placed third on the season and her 200-time set her in the top 10. All personal-best times.
 
Jordann McDermitt, Sophomore, Eastern Michigan
Jordann McDermitt continued her successful season this past week, running at the Mt SAC Relays. Participating in the 5000m Elite race, the sophomore turned in a time of 16:14.89, putting her in 24th within a talented field of runners. Her time was also solid on the national stage, putting her at No. 39 in the country.
 
Olivia Gaus, Junior, Kent State
At the Northeast Ohio Quad this past weekend, junior Olivia Gaus captured the 1,500m title with a personal-best time of 4:41.04.  Gaus also anchored the 4x400m relay, aiding Kent State to a 1st place finish with a time of 3:44.46, which ranks 2nd in the MAC this season.  In total, Gaus contributed 10 points to the Golden Flashes dual score. 
 
Alexus Jimson-Miller, Junior, Miami
Junior Hurdler, Alexus Jimson-Miller posted a time of 13.67 in the 100m hurdles to take second at the Ball State Challenge. Jimson-Miller’s time gives her the fastest 100m hurdle time in the conference this season by .14 of a second.
 
A’lesha Irvin-Muhammad, Northern Illinois
A’Iesha Irvin-Muhammad had her best weekend of the outdoor season thus far, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes at Illinois State’s Redbird Invitational on Saturday. The junior sprinter posted season-best times in both events, crossing the line in the 100 in 11.77 seconds and finishing the 200 in 24.03 seconds to take top placing in both events.
 
Kristin Winkel, Senior, Ohio
Ohio senior Kristin Winkel captured the individual title in the 100 hurdles at the Charlotte Invitational this weekend clocking a career best time of 13.81. Winkel beat athletes from Virginia Tech, Charlotte, Appalachian State, UNC-Wilmington and USC-Upstate. Her time was the second-fastest time run in the event this season in the Mid-American Conference and was a MAC Outdoor Qualifier.
 
Nautica Hill, Freshman, Toledo
Freshman Nautica Hill picked up two personal-bests in the 100m and 200m. Hill placed fourth in the 200m with a time of 24.75 and fifth in the 100 with a time of 12.19. Hill now owns the ninth-best time in the conference in the 200m.
 
Ayiana Gaines, Sophomore, Western Michigan
Gaines ran the fastest time in the MAC in the 400-meter dash and contributed to WMU running the fastest 4x400 time in the conference as well. In the 400-meter dash she finished fifth overall and third collegiately in a tough field at the Mt. SAC Relays after posting a time of 53.91 seconds. Gaines then combined with her three teammates to turn in a conference-best time of 3:42.31.
 
Women’s Field
 
Michaela Hull, Senior, Ball State
Senior Michaela Hull paced Ball State’s throwers with a pair of top thee finishes at the Ball State Challenge, taking second in the javelin (36.13m/118’-6”) and third in the discus (41.55m / 136’-4”). She also competed in the hammer throw (44.75m / 146’-10”), placing 10th overall.
 
Crystal Henderson, Freshman, Buffalo
Crystal Henderson finished third at the Northeast Challenge with a personal-best and MAC Championship qualifying mark of 11.87m (38-11.50) in the triple jump.
 
Devene Brown, Senior, Central Michigan
Senior and Jamaican native, Deven Brown, was one of the many outstanding performances at the invite this past weekend. Her throw of 50’ 6.75” was good enough to place her in the top five of the MAC this season.
 
Dace Dreimane, Sophomore, Eastern Michigan
Dace Dreimane took part in the Mt SAC Relays, April 16, competing as part of the triple jump invite. There, she turned in a top-ten performance, taking home eighth place in a tough field with a mark of 12.61 meters/ 41 feet 4.5-inches. Additionally, the sophomore’s jump now sits at No. 38 nationally.
 
Morgan Estes, Junior, Kent State
Morgan Estes captured 2nd place in the pole vault at the Northeast Ohio Quad this past weekend.  Estes’ mark of 13’ 8.25” ties a career-best which ranks 2nd in the Kent State record book.  Currently, Estes ranks 2nd in the MAC and tied for 23rd in the nation. 
 
Arionna Darling, Junior, Miami
Arionna Darling threw a mark of 51-9 (15.77m) to win the shot put at the Ball State Challenge furthering her lead in the Mid-American Conference standings. Darling’s mark gives her a 8.25 inch lead in the conference standings she also now moves in to second place on Miami’s top-10 performers list. The junior from Columbus also moves to 42nd on the national list her performance.
 
Chennel Palmer, Sophomore, Northern Illinois
Chennel Palmer posted two top-two finishes at Illinois State on Saturday, winning the triple jump with a personal record-shattering mark of 12.03 meters and placing second in the high jump with a season-best clear of 1.76 meters. The sophomore jumps specialist has now qualified for the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships in both events.
 
Jordan Porter, Sophomore, Ohio
Ohio sophomore Jordan Porter won the shot put title at the Charlotte Invitational with a throw of 50’ 55” which was a career best mark for her in the event. Porter bested athletes from North Carolina, Appalachian State, Gardner-Webb, Charlotte and UNC-Wilmington. Her mark was a MAC Qualifier and was the sixth-best throw this season in the league. 
 
Kyesha Neal, Senior, Toledo
Neal had a huge day in Muncie. The Findlay, OH native won the discus throw with a personal-best 47.47m toss. Neal also threw a personal-best in the shot put with a 15.47 toss, earning her a third-place finish. Neal has now qualified for the MAC Championships in the shot put and discus, and sits third and fourth, respectively. Neal also sits at 22nd in the NCAA region in the shot put.
  
Men’s Track
 
Dan Zupan, Junior, Akron
Zupan won the 1,500 meters at the Northeast Ohio Quad last Saturday, April 16, crossing the line in 3:57.52. Additionally, he ran a 1:57.79 time in the 800 meters.
 
Mitchell Moore, Sophomore, Buffalo
Mitchell Moore won the 400 meter hurdles at the Norheast Challenge with a time of 53.61. .  His time hit the MAC Auto qualifying mark.
 
Scott Cousino, Sophomore, Central Michigan
Sophomore Scott Cousino ran to a first place finish in the 800-meter race this weekend at the Oakland University Invite. His time of 1:52.29 is a personal best and puts the sophomore in the top 10 in the MAC this season.
 
Wayne Gordon, Senior, Kent State
Senior Wayne Gordon was victorious in the 100m dash amongst competitors from Akron, Ashland and Youngstown State at the Northeast Ohio Quad this past weekend.  Gordon’s time of 10.44 is the fastest in the Mid-American Conference this season.  Gordon also ran the fourth leg of the 4x100m relay, aiding Kent State to a 1st place finish with a time of 40.43.  Gordon contributed a total of 10 points to Kent State’s dual score.
 
Zack McBride, Senior, Miami
Zack McBride brought home the win for the RedHawks clocking in at 9:19.28 in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Ball State Challenge. McBride’s performance earned him second place on the Mid-American Conference list and his first collegiate win.
 
Men’s Field
 
Laurent Dure, Sophomore, Buffalo
Laurent Dure hit a MAC Championships qualifying mark and finished fourth at the Northeast Challenge with his best clean attempt of 2.04m (06-08.25).
 
Cole Walderzak, Senior, Central Michigan
Walderzak’s throw of 211’ 8” landed the senior a first place finish over the weekend at the Oakland University Invite. His toss of 211’8 places the senior at the top of the MAC in the Hammer Throw this season.
 
Keith Williams, R-Senior, Eastern Michigan
Keith Williams led the Eagles on their trip to the west coast, where the team participated in a trio of competitive meets. There, he competed in the hammer throw at the Beach Pacific Coast Invite, April 14, turning in the best mark in EMU history. The redshirt senior claimed the gold, notching a throw of 63.24 meters/ 207 feet 5.75-inches, besting his own record by one meter. His mark also ranks in the top-50 nationally, coming in at No. 42.
 
Jesse Oxley, Senior, Kent State
Senior Jesse Oxley secured the pole vault title at the Northeast Ohio Quad this past weekend at the University of Akron.  Oxley finished with a season-best mark of 5.22m (17’ 1.5”) which ranks 2nd in the Mid-American Conference and tied for 28th in the nation.  Oxley also competed in the javelin, taking 5th place with a personal-best mark of 47.77m (156’ 9”), which ranks 8th in the MAC this season. 
 
Kenny Glenn, Sophomore, Miami
Kenny Glenn posted a mark of 24-1 inch to win the long jump at the Ball State Challenge. This mark moves the sophomore from Cincinnati to fifth in the Mid-American Conference standings. Glenn also picked up the win in the 100m posting a time of 10.78 for ninth on the conference list.