Eastern Michigan Women Complete MAC Triple Crown
Final Results
TOLEDO, Ohio - The ladies of Eastern Michigan claimed the 2016 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field title, with a final point total of 152. This victory gives MAC Women’s Coach of the Year, Sue Parks and the Eagles a MAC triple crown for the 2015-16 season, having won the Indoor Track & Field Championship as well as the Cross Country Championship.
Akron’s Abigale Wilson started the morning off with a discus throw of 49.58m (162’8.25”) to claim the title. She was also selected as Women’s Field Freshman of the Year.
Claudia Garcia Jou of Akron reclaimed her high jump crown with a vertical of 1.76m (5’9.25”). Kent State’s Dior Delophont claimed silver at 1.71m (5’7.25”) and Ball State freshman Regan Lewis took third with 1.66m (5’5.25”).
Akron would sweep the field events on the final day of competition with Ariadna Ramos Gandia leaping 12.99m in the triple jump. The junior was voted Most Outstanding Women’s Field Performer.
In the 4x100m relay, Eastern Michigan claimed the title with a time of 45.72. The team consisted of Jessica Harris, Aaliyah McKinney, Morgan Yeadon, and Jasmine Jones. Harris earned the honor of Women’s Track Freshman of the Year with her second place performance in the 100m and 8th finish in the 200m.
Eastern Michigan continued to excel in running events as Natalie Cizmas claimed the 1500m title with a time of 4:28.38. Her teammate, Alsu Bogdanova crossed at 4:29.44 to take second and Northern Illinois’ Hope Schmelzle finished third at 4:29.90.
Later in the day, the Eagles laid out a 1-2-3 finish in the 5000m run. Sophomore Jordann McDermitt sat on top of the podium after crossing in 16:45.36. Sofie Gallein finished second with a time of 16:47.31 and Alsu Bogdanova followed behind at 16:48.43.
With only six thousandths of a second between the first and second place time, Akron freshman Dara Perry outstretched Miami’s Alexus Jimson-Miller for the 100m hurdle title.
Ayiana Gaines of Western Michigan crossed the line of the 400m in 53.02, winning her second consecutive title in the event. Central Michigan freshman Samantha Cuneo finished in second with a time of 54.29 and Eastern Michigan’s Jasmine Jones took third with 54.83.
In the 100m dash, Northern Illinois’ Kedisha Dallas posted a time of 11.52 to claim the title. Unfortunately, she does not get credited with breaking the conference record due to the wind. The junior earned her second gold medal of the championships in the 200m dash with a time of 23. 98. Based on these efforts, she was selected Most Outstanding Women’s Track Performer.
Eastern Michigan’s Rebekah Branham took home the 800m run title with a time of 2:10.19. Ali Olson of Northern Illinois crossed at 2:11.08 to take second and Branham’s teammate, Natalie Cizmas rounds out the top three with a 2:12.32 finish.
After a stellar performance in the heptathlon the first two day of competition, Akron’s Jackie Siefring returned on the third day to claim another gold medal. The sophomore crossed the finish line at 58.66 to earn the 400m hurdle title. She also earned the honor of Women’s Most Valuable Performer.
The final race of the day went to Western Michigan in the 4x400m relay. The team of Sarita Dotson, Naiomi Dulaney, Diajah Ruffin, and Ayiana Gaines turned in a time of 3:42.09 to claim first place.
Eastern Michigan posted 152 points throughout the three-days of competition. Akron followed in second with 130 points, while Northern Illinois listed 110.5. Kent State finished fourth by collecting 104.5 and Central Michigan rounds out the top five with 67. Bowling Green (52), Toledo (46), Miami (45), Western Michigan (38), Ohio (32), Buffalo (27), and Ball State (14) complete the field, respectively.
The ladies will have a week and a half to prepare for NCAA Regionals, which are scheduled for May 26, 27, and 28th.
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
Women’s Most Valuable Performer
Jackie Siefring, Akron
Women’s Track Freshman of the Year
Jessica Harris, Eastern Michigan
Women’s Field Freshman of the Year
Abigale Wilson, Akron
Most Outstanding Women’s Track Performer
Kedisha Dallas, Northern Illinois
Most Outstanding Women’s Field Performer
Arianda Ramos Gandia, Akron
Women’s First Team All-MAC
Ariadna Ramos Gandia, Akron (triple jump)
Caroline Hasse, Akron (pole vault)
Daniella Johnson, Akron (long jump)
Claudia Garcia Jou, Akron (high jump)
Dara Perry, Akron (100m hurdles)
Jackie Siefring, Akron (400 hurdles, hept.)
Abigale Wilson, Akron (discus)
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green (shot put)
Rebekah Branham, Eastern Michigan (800m)
Natalie Cizmas, Eastern Michigan (1500m)
Jessica Harris, Eastern Michigan (4x100)
Jasmine Jones, Eastern Michigan (4x100)
Jordann McDermitt, Eastern Michigan (10000m, 5000m)
Aaliyah McKinney, Eastern Michigan (4x100)
Morgan Yeadon, Eastern Michigan (4x100)
Jackie Leppelmeier, Kent State (hammer)
Kedisha Dallas, Northern Illinois (100, 200)
Hope Schmelze, Northern Illinois (steeple)
Emma Ryan, Ohio (javelin)
Ayiana Gaines, Western Michigan (400, 4x400)
Sarita Dotson, Western Michigan (4x400)
Naiomi Dulaney, Western Michigan (4x400)
Diajah Ruffin, Western Michigan (4x400)
Women’s Second Team All-MAC
Rebecca Pietsch, Akron (pole vault)
Asher Beasley, Buffalo (4x100)
Tyra Forbes, Buffalo (4x100)
Camaria Long, Buffalo (4x100)
Malayah White, Buffalo (4x100)
Deven Brown, Central Michigan (shot put)
Samantha Cuneo, Central Michigan (400)
Kyleigh Young, Central Michigan (javelin)
Alsu Bogdanova, Eastern Michigan (1500)
Sofie Gallein, Eastern Michigan (5000, steeple)
Dior Delophont, Kent State (high jump, triple jump)
Roseanne Erickson, Kent State (long jump)
Taylor Farquhar, Kent State (400 hurdles)
Gabrielle Figueroa, Kent State (hammer)
Jailyn Mosley, Kent State (discus)
Alexus Jimson-Miller, Miami (100 hurdles)
Jourdan Doffeny, Northern Illinois (4x400, hept.)
Kelsey Hildreth, Northern Illinois (10000)
Cheyenne Hoerr, Northern Illinois (4x400)
Ashanti Hutton, Northern Illinois (4x400)
Ali Olson, Northern Illinois (800)
Asia Thomas, Northern Illinois (4x400)
