Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Track Heads to Michigan
1/24/2008 3:57:17 PM | Men's Track & Field
EMU HEADS TO MICHIGAN:
The Eastern Michigan University men’s track team will head across the county to the University of Michigan’s Simmons/Harvey Invitational Saturday, Jan. 26. The meet will begin at 10 a.m.RÁPIDO ALEJANDRO: Senior Eric Alejandro won the 60-meter dash at the EMU Open in a time of 7.97 seconds. Alejandro was also third in the 60-meter dash 6.99 seconds.
EMU PICKED TO WIN THE MAC TITLE: The Mid-American Conference released the 2008 preseason coaches poll and the 2007 defending championship Eagles were picked to claim their third consecutive MAC title. If the Eagles were to win, it would mark their 12th title in 13 years at the conference meet at the end of February. Eighth-year veteran head coach Brad Fairchild returns 32 athletes, including 2007 All-MAC selections Jacob Dubois, Josh Perrin, Eric Alejandro and Josh Karanja from last year’s team and 13 newcomers who all hope to make their impact. Dubois looks to become the first three-time 800-meter champion in the 13-year history of the indoor championship meet.
EMU TO HOST 2008 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP: The Eastern Michigan University men’s and women’s track and field team will host the 2008 Mid-American Conference Championships, Feb. 29 and March 1. This is the fourth time that EMU has hosted the meet since the MAC began awarding an indoor title in 1996. The three previous times were 1996, 2000 and 2004. EMU has won the title 11 times in the 12-year history of the event. The lone loss came in 2005 when Central Michigan University won the title.
SEASON PREVIEW: After a very successful 2007 season, winning both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference track and field championship title, the Eagles hope to defend both in 2008. The cross country team won the MAC title this past fall in a bid to win the triple crown for the second straight year.
The Green and White lost 12 seniors, including All-American 3,000-meter steeplechaser Corey Nowitzke; high jumper Adam Kring; throwing duo Dave Adamek and Matt Pinter and sprinters Roy Shavers and Fred Blackwell.
"The contributions of last year’s seniors were significant," said eighth-year head coach Brad Fairchild. "They were great examples to the underclassmen, showing them what hard work and dedication can accomplish."
So, as the Eagles begin their quest for their 12th indoor title and 21st outdoor title, there are a slew of upperclassman ready to take charge and continue the winning tradition of the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
"We always look to the upperclassmen to take leadership roles on the team," said Fairchild. "I look to them to share their experience and knowledge with the underclassmen and keep things on an even keel, showing people how to compete and act in different situations."
Coach Fairchild had high expectations for the 2007 squad and has even higher ones for the 2008 team.
"Our team goals for the 2008 season are to defend our 2007 championships," said Fairchild. "Winning the triple crown (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) is a very difficult thing to do. You have to be smart about training and keep athletes injury free and ready to compete. You have to be lucky with illness and other unexpected dampeners and you have to do this for the entire year, which can be a grind when you think about nine months of training and competition with very little down time. One of the biggest obstacles that the team will face is the desire to continue to do the things that they did last year to win the championships and not rest on their laurels."
The biggest change the Eagles and the rest of the MAC will have to adjust to is a scoring change. The men’s championships will revert to the former way of scoring and now only score the top six athletes, putting the pressure on all teams to make sure that they score in the top two or three in an event.
"The change from eight athletes to six athletes scoring will have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the championships," said Fairchild. "If the six place scoring system were in effect last year, the outcomes would have been different. Going to six scorers makes it more important to have athletes finish in the top two or three in their event because there are less points available at the bottom end to off-set the top end finishes."
Coach Fairchild breaks down the team as he sees it, following fall practice.
SPRINTS/HURDLES: The EMU sprint group includes returning MAC scorers Nathan Blackwell (200/400 4x400 meters), Eric Alejandro (60/100/400 meter hurdles, 200 meters, 4x400 meters), Tymel Dodd (60/100-meter hurdles) and newcomers that should have an immediate impact in Clint Allen (60/100/200 meters), Kevin Lanier (60/100-meter hurdles, high jump, heptathlon) and Daniel Collins (60/100-meter hurdles), Ackeem Forde (60/100/200/400 meters). Sophomore Oliver Walther will be splitting time in the jumps and 400 meters as well this year and could be a scorer on the MAC level in the 400-meters.
DISTANCE: The EMU distance group will once again be a deep contingent with a very strong junior class that has plenty of experience. Leading the way will be Josh Karanja (Jr./Ottawa, Canada), Josh Perrin (Jr./ Hillsdale, MI), Jake Dubois (Jr./East Jackson), Luke Chrusciel (Jr./Grandville, MI), Kyle Mena (Jr./Portage Northern), Neal Naughton (Jr./Walled Lake, MI), David Brent, (So./Monroe St. Mary’s), Joel Kirsch (Sr./Wyoming, Mich.). Newcomer and transfer from Moi University in Kenya Albert Mong’ony will also help the Eagles rack up a lot of honors on the track this season.
JUMPS/MULTIS: The EMU jump group consists of these returning MAC placewinners: Phil Saffron (Sr./Grosse Pointe) pole vault, Brad Waidmann (Sr./Canton, MI) 60/100-meter hurdles/ high jump/ heptathlon, Kyle Holmes (Jr./Country Day) long jump/triple jump, Oliver Walther (So./Germany) long jump/triple jump/400-meters. Darrin Trammell (So./Detroit MacKenzie ) high jump/400-meters, will likely redshirt. Freshman Kevin Lanier will be an excellent addition in the high jump and perhaps heptathlon or long and triple jump. Transfer Xavier Clais (So./France) will be counted on in the high jump and perhaps Hept.
THROWS: The throwing group will certainly miss Dave Adamek and Matt Pinter who have graduated and moved on, however Gerald Gersham (Jr./Southfield) has looked good in the fall and did place indoors in the shot put in 07. Jarid Pearson (Jr./Novi) will also be looked at to aid in the scoring. Freshman Andrew Meyer (Fr./Minster, OH) could also be a contributor in the shot put as he has progressed well throughout the fall training. All three will be throwing the 35-pound weight throw as well.
