Ypsilanti, Mich. - With six events complete on the women’s side and four events complete on the men’s side, Eastern Michigan stands on top of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship leader board.
In the men’s weight throw Eastern Michigan’s Ryan Johnson took home the gold with a mark of 22.24m, the win was Johnson’s first MAC weight throw title. Akron’s Jabari Neal-Jackson and Eastern Michigan’s Jake McEachern took home second and third place with throws of 19.42m and 18.34m.
The Eagles picked up another win as Alexander Thompson took home the gold in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.68m.
Buffalo dominated the 5000m run with Ryan Buzby winning in a time of 14:36.50 and Alex Hislop finishing in second (14:45.43). UB’s Luke Stoeffler rounded out the top three with a time of 14:45.73.
Rounding out the night was the men’s 4000 DMR in which Buffalo’s Cory Demo, Fernando Sanchez, Noah Brightman and Evan Hilbert took home the gold in a time of 9:56.10.
Ball State’s Jenelle Rogers won the long jump by a mark of 6.26m, while Western Michigan’s Sandra Ferrari finished second with a mark of 6.19m. Miami’s Ella Scally rounded out the top three finishers with a mark of 6.05m.
Akron’s Cassidy Allen earned the title in the pole vault with a mark of 3.90m, while Miami’s Emily Eterovich took home second with a mark of 3.80m. Eastern Michigan’s Fleur Van Der Linden finished third with a mark of 3.70m.
In the women’s weight throw, Eastern Michigan’s Miranda Cadwell won the event with a throw of 19.46m. Kent State’s Grace Luther took home second with a throw of 19.15m while Ella Rigel of Miami rounded out the podium with a throw of 18.71m.
Central Michigan’s Emily Paupore won the women’s 5000m run in a time of 16:16.81 while Esme Davies of Eastern Michigan came in second (16:24.00) and Ava Nuttall of Miami finished in third (16:33.24).
Ball State’s Rogers would also go on to win the women’s pentathlon with 4,056 points while Buffalo’s Scilla Benussi scored 3,881 points. Bowling Green’s Jenna Lucas took home third with a score of 3,700 points.
Toledo’s squad of Lianna Surtz, Laura Nicholson, Krystal Clark and Cadence Christie finished off the night winning the women’s 4000 DMR in the time of 11:30.45.
Action continues tomorrow at 10 am ET with the men's heptathlon 60m hurdles.
Men's Standings (Through Day 1)
1. Eastern Michigan– 42 points
2. Buffalo – 38 points
3. Akron – 28 points
4. Kent State – 12 points
Women's Standings (Through Day 1)
1. Eastern Michigan – 36.5 points
2. Miami – 34.5 points
3. Bowling Green– 29 points
4. Kent State – 26 points
5. Ball State – 23 points
6. Toledo – 22 points
7. Buffalo – 17 points
8. Akron – 15 points
9. Central Michigan – 11 points
T-10. Ohio – 10 points
T-10. Western Michigan -- 10 points
12. Northern Illinois – 0.0 points
