DEKALB, IL-
A record-setting victory in the 4x400-meter relay in the final event put an exclamation mark on Kent State winning the 2024 Mid-American Conference Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The Golden Flashes totaled 137.5 points, the most by the meet winner since 2016, to capture the eighth outdoor conference title in program history.
Ahead of runner-up Eastern Michigan by four heading into the last event, Amryne Chilton, Taylor Korytkowski, Jericha Petrella and Ruby Greenwoodcrossed the finish line first in a school record time of 3:38.24. It was the second gold of the meet for Chilton, who tied for first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 23.42 seconds. Greenwood (54.22) and Petrella (54.39) placed second and third, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Korytkowski scored in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.64 seconds for seventh.
Kent State's throwers contributed 53 points to the team total. Gabby Baileyscored 23 points with victories in the shot put (season-best 52'-9.5") and discus (176'-9") and a sixth-place finish in the javelin (126'). Aliesha Shawearned All-MAC honors with a mark of 169'-8" in the discus and took third in the shot put with a toss of 48'-6". Grace Luther's runner-up finish in the hammer throw led the way to 15 points in the event. Luther's best throw soared 186'-11", while Noel Frye recorded a personal-best of 179' for fifth and Briana Wright took sixth with a throw of 174'-8".
The Flashes' multis competitors added 21 points, including 15 with a 3-4-5 finish in the heptathlon. Matilde Carboncini placed third with a season-best 5,059 and took eighth in the javelin (120'-1"). Shelby Grover (4,971) and Svenia De Coninck (4,965) claimed the No. 8 and 9 spots on Kent State's all-time performance list for fourth and fifth place, respectively. De Coninck added a fourth-place finish in the high jump with a clearance of 5'-8".
The final day of the meet started with a third-place finish in the 4x100-meter dash, as Korytkowski, Azsah Bradley, Chilton and Yissis Cortijo Domincposted a season-best time of 45.79 seconds. Individually, Cortijo Dominc placed fourth in the 100m (11.53) and fifth in the 200m (24.16), while Bradley was eighth in the 100m (11.65).
Andrea Filote led the Flashes in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.88 seconds. Filote clocked the same time in a wind-legal race during prelims for a PR that puts her at No. 8 in program history. Gabrielle Hammonds (14.05) and Alexa Nestor (14.36) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Flashes will continue postseason competition with qualifying student-athletes in action at the NCAA East Preliminary in Lexington, Kentucky from May 22-25.
Women's Coach of the Year: Nathan Fanger, Kent State
Women's MVP: Jenelle Rogers, Ball State
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year: Mercy Kinyanjui, Toledo
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year: Mia Boule, Miami
Final Team Scores:
1. Kent State -- 137.5
2. Eastern Michigan -- 126.5
3. Ball State -- 103
4. Akron -- 83
5. Western Michigan -- 78
6. Toledo -- 66.5
7. Miami -- 48.5
8. Buffalo -- 48
9. Bowling Green -- 47
10. Central Michigan -- 31
11. Northern Illinois -- 29
12. Ohio --20
