MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — For the first time since 2014, the Kent State Golden Flashes has claimed the MAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Golden Flashes put together a total team performance at Central Michigan’s Jack Skoog Track, highlighted by head coach Nathan Fanger earning MAC Coach of the Year honors.
Several standout individual performances defined the championship, with Akron's Brook Boes stealing the show. Boes was named the MAC Most Valuable Performer after claiming the shot put with a mark of 15.22 and the weight throw with a personal best 20.84 tally.
Eastern Michigan’s Mariah Taylor gave the Eagles a win in the triple jump, landing at 12.69m. In the high jump, Northern Illinois’ Arianna Calloway cleared 1.75m to win the event.
The sprints and hurdles provided thrilling finishes, as Ball State’s Layla’Lapri Ratney took home the 60m hurdles title with a time of 8.41, and Akron’s Jackline Nanjala winning the 400m with a time of 54.30. Western Michigan’s Soniya Jones claimed the 60m title in 7.41, while Kent State’s Amryne Chilton successfully claimed the 200m championship, clocking 24.36 before Karsyn Spears won the 800m with a time of 2:09.95.
Toledo's Dorcas Kiptanui took home the 1-mile crown with a winning time of 4:45.37. Megan Hipple from Akron set a meet record in the 3000m with a time of 9:18.79 while Melody Jebiwot secured another Toledo victory with a personal best mark of 16:03.46 in the 5000m.
In the distance medley relay, the Bowling Green contingent of Reese Reaman, Tyyetta Herman, Marissa Boone and Kylee Cubbison combined for the winning time of 11:24.61.
The 4x400 relay closed out the meet in exciting fashion, with Akron’s squad of Vanessa Horn, Maria Moore, McKenzie McKnit and Jackline Nanjala racing to victory in 3:43.38 to claim the final event of the day.
2026 MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: Nathan Fanger, Kent State
2026 MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Most Valuable Performer: Brook Boes, Akron
2026 MAC Women's Indoor Freshman Track Performer of the Year: Jackline Nanjala, Akron
2026 MAC Women's Indoor Freshman Field Performer of the Year: Nina Garner, Ball State
Women's Team Standings
1. Kent State – 104 points
2. Akron – 101 points
3. Bowling Green – 86 points
4. Toledo – 65 points
5. Ball State – 60 points
6. Western Michigan – 45 points
7. Central Michigan – 40.5 points
8. Eastern Michigan 40 points
9. Ohio – 33 points
10. UMass – 30 points
11. Miami – 26.5 points
12. Buffalo – 16 points
13. Northern Illinois 15 points
