FINAL RESULTS | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Bowling Green, Ohio - The Eastern Michigan University men's and women's track and field program captured the team titles at the 2023 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 25, as the men won eight individual crowns and the women added one to sweep the championships inside Perry Field House in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Baldvin Magnusson's outstanding 30-point, three-title performance garnered him the 2023 MAC Men's Most Valuable Performer award for the second year in a row. The MVP trophy is the 22nd earned by an Eastern man since 1996 with 18 different Eagles earning the award. Magnusson is the first multiple-time recipient from Eastern since Willy Fink earned the honor in 2015 and 2017. He also is the first Eastern man to win the award in consecutive indoor meets since Terefe Ejigu earned the accolade in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
In the team race, the Eastern men tallied 171 points with Kent State University taking second with 160 points while the University Akron (128) and the University at Buffalo (62) rounded out the scoring. In the women's competition, the team scoring was closer as the Eagles' 89.5 points placed them ahead of Ball State University's 83.0 points. Bowling Green State University (74.5), Kent State (73.5) and Miami University (66.0) rounded out the top five in the women's standings.
Overall, the Eagles swept the team titles for the fourth time in program history as both Eastern teams hoisted the trophy in the same meet in 1997, 2000, and 2018 before this year's sweep. The Eagles are one of two schools to sweep the MAC indoor titles with Akron taking home both titles in 2017. With the sweep, Eastern continues to build upon its legacy of championship excellence as the Eagles brought home MAC Championships No. 156 and No. 157. The most decorated athletics department in the conference, the titles earned this week bring the Eastern men's indoor total to 17 MAC crowns while the women secured their eighth.
Following the meet, EMU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Sue Parks earned a pair of awards as she was named the MAC Men's and Women's Coach of the Year following her teams' sweep. Park's accolades are the eighth and ninth of her career as she previously garnered the women's honor three times with Ball State before earning four with the Eagles. She also has been honored with the men's accolade each of the past two years. By receiving both awards, Parks is the first coach to sweep the accolades at the MAC indoor meet since 2017 when Akron's Dennis Mitchell did so. Additionally, with four women's honors, Parks is second among any EMU coach with four indoor MAC Coach of the Year accolades, moving past her legendary father, Bob Parks, who was a three-time men's honoree.
The NCAA Indoor Championships are on the horizon for those Eagles that qualify with the meet set to be held March 10-11 in Albuquerque, N.M. Following that meet, the outdoor season will get underway for Eastern as the Eagles will travel to Orlando, Fla., March 17-18, to take part in the Black and Gold Invitational hosted by the University of Central Florida.
2023 MAC Men's Coach of the Year: Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
2023 MAC Women's Coach of the Year: Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
?2023 MAC Indoor MVP: Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Final Team Scores - Women
1. Eastern Michigan - 89.5 points
2. Ball State - 83.0 points
3. Bowling Green - 74.5 points
4. Kent State - 73.5 points
5. Miami - 66.0 points
6. Central Michigan - 53.0 points
7. Toledo - 51.0 points
8. Northern Illinois - 50.5 points
9. Buffalo - 43.5 points
10. Akron - 32.5 points
11. Western Michigan - 29.0 points
12. Ohio - 16.0 points
Final Team Scores - Men
1. Eastern Michigan - 171 points
2. Kent State - 160 points
3. Akron - 128 points
4. Buffalo - 62 points
