Eastern Michigan Athletics
Olympians Turn Out for Men's Track & Field Year-End Banquet
5/18/2011 3:05:59 PM | Men's Track & Field
Coach John Goodridge honored five Olympians and hall of famers at inaugural banquet
*** CORRECTION ***
This story included corrected information from a previous release
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field program hosted its inaugural year-end banquet this past weekend, as Head Coach John Goodridge presented team awards and honored numerous alums and others who have been instrumental to the success of the program.
The banquet was held in the Convocation Center Atrium following the Mid-American Conference Championship. The banquet also featured a DVD highlight presentation of the season in review, historical highlights and other footage. Long-time EMU men's track and field and cross country head coach Bob Parks also returned for the event and introduced the 1958 and 1971 teams that were honored. Parks retired in 2001 after coaching the teams for 34 years.
Five awards were presented to current athletes. Chris Scott, a freshman sprinter, won the distinguished Coaches' Award, which is generally given to the athlete who best demonstrates, throughout the course of the season, what it really means to be an EMU track and field participant. Scott has already compiled an impressive resume as a first-year runner with the Eagles, having posted 11 top-three finishes on the season. His efforts at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships contributed 21 total points, as he earned nine points in solo events and another 12 in relays. He also had season-best times of 11.13 in the 100-meter dash, 21.48 in the 200, 48.14 in the 400, 54.16 in the 400 hurdles and 7.23 during the 60-meter dash during the indoor season.
Brycen Spratling took home the award for Most Outstanding Freshman as the first-year speedster only finished outside of the top three in six of his 26 races on the year. He started out his collegiate career by winning three of his first four races, as the 400-meter specialist quickly became the best in the conference at that distance. He picked up MAC Gold in the 400 during both the indoor and outdoor campaigns, and, at one time, held a top-20 time in the nation in the event this year. His season-best time of 46.65 at the MAC Championships this past weekend was the 54th-best time in the nation this year. In addition to his MAC Titles, he picked up another 400-meter first-place finishes at the Toledo Collegiate Challenge on April 2 (47.89). Spratling competed in the 200-meters, 300-meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and the 600-meter run as well.
The award for the Most Improved athlete went to pole vaulter Joseph Tesner. After a less-than stellar freshman campaign in which he failed to finish in the top six at any event, Tesner rebounded in the 2011 campaign, winning two events and clearing a personal-best 16-00.75 on two different occasions. He also scored for the Eagles at both the indoor and outdoor championships. He was also impressive for the home crowd, as both of his wins came at EMU-hosted meets, the EMU Invite (indoor season) and the EMU Twilight (outdoor season).
The Most Outstanding Track Athlete award was given to first year trackster and two-sport athlete Donald Scott. Scott, who is also a starting wide receiver for the EMU football team, came on very strong for the Eagles as he competed in just four events on the season, but still had a profound impact on the team. In his four triple jumps, Scott twice placed second, and won his other two, including a jump of 50-08.25, the third-best triple jump in EMU's history. Scott quickly cemented himself into the EMU record books and placed himself on the fast-track to overtake the top spot in EMU history.
Terefe Ejigu was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Track Athlete. Ejigu posted the team's top times in the 1,500-meter run, the mile run and the 5k. Additionally, he shaved nearly 20 seconds off of his personal best in the 5k by running a time of 14 minutes flat and winning the Penn Relays. It was the fifth-fastest time in the event in school history. Perhaps most impressive of all of his feats thus far, Ejigu has earned an unprecedented three straight MAC Most Valuable Performer awards and is a six-time MAC Champion and a three-time MAC Bronze Medalist. He picked up nearly 25 percent of EMU's point total at the most recent MAC Championships.
The banquet also served as a platform to honor the 1958 team, which was led by Olympian and Hall of Fame inductee Hayes Jones. That 1958 squad was honored for their storied Bowen Field House dual meet win over Big Ten and national powerhouse Indiana University. Additionally, the 1971 team led by Eugene Thomas (which celebrated the 40th anniversary of their Central Collegiate Conference Championship) was honored.
At the banquet, former EMU runner Paul McMullen, current assistant coach Chris Huffins, and former world-record holder and EMU Head Coach John Goodridge's wife Francie Kraker Goodridge are pictured aboved holding bronzed shoes. The shoes commemorated Hayes Jones' Gold and Silver Medals in the 110m High Hurdles, Earl Jones' Bronze Medal in 800 meters and Hasely Crawford's Gold Medal in the 1976 100-meter dash. Also on hand to commemorate the event was legendary coach and E-Club Hall of Fame inductee, 101-year-old Ken 'Red' Simmons.
William Mays Jr., a 1954 EMU graduate, was the recipient of the Eastern Man Award. Mays who has received awards such as the EMU distinguished Alumnus award, has for years been a strong supporter of the track program and as an active member and president of the Alumni Association.
"This was a wonderful afternoon for our athletes and alumni," John Goodridge said.
2011 Team Awards
Coaches' Award - Chris Scott
Most Outstanding Freshman - Brycen Spratling
Most Improved - Joseph Tesner
Most Outstanding Field Athlete - Donald Scott
Most Outstanding Track Athlete - Terefe Ejigu
Eastern Man - William Mays Jr.
This story included corrected information from a previous release
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field program hosted its inaugural year-end banquet this past weekend, as Head Coach John Goodridge presented team awards and honored numerous alums and others who have been instrumental to the success of the program.
The banquet was held in the Convocation Center Atrium following the Mid-American Conference Championship. The banquet also featured a DVD highlight presentation of the season in review, historical highlights and other footage. Long-time EMU men's track and field and cross country head coach Bob Parks also returned for the event and introduced the 1958 and 1971 teams that were honored. Parks retired in 2001 after coaching the teams for 34 years.
Five awards were presented to current athletes. Chris Scott, a freshman sprinter, won the distinguished Coaches' Award, which is generally given to the athlete who best demonstrates, throughout the course of the season, what it really means to be an EMU track and field participant. Scott has already compiled an impressive resume as a first-year runner with the Eagles, having posted 11 top-three finishes on the season. His efforts at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships contributed 21 total points, as he earned nine points in solo events and another 12 in relays. He also had season-best times of 11.13 in the 100-meter dash, 21.48 in the 200, 48.14 in the 400, 54.16 in the 400 hurdles and 7.23 during the 60-meter dash during the indoor season.
Brycen Spratling took home the award for Most Outstanding Freshman as the first-year speedster only finished outside of the top three in six of his 26 races on the year. He started out his collegiate career by winning three of his first four races, as the 400-meter specialist quickly became the best in the conference at that distance. He picked up MAC Gold in the 400 during both the indoor and outdoor campaigns, and, at one time, held a top-20 time in the nation in the event this year. His season-best time of 46.65 at the MAC Championships this past weekend was the 54th-best time in the nation this year. In addition to his MAC Titles, he picked up another 400-meter first-place finishes at the Toledo Collegiate Challenge on April 2 (47.89). Spratling competed in the 200-meters, 300-meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and the 600-meter run as well.
The award for the Most Improved athlete went to pole vaulter Joseph Tesner. After a less-than stellar freshman campaign in which he failed to finish in the top six at any event, Tesner rebounded in the 2011 campaign, winning two events and clearing a personal-best 16-00.75 on two different occasions. He also scored for the Eagles at both the indoor and outdoor championships. He was also impressive for the home crowd, as both of his wins came at EMU-hosted meets, the EMU Invite (indoor season) and the EMU Twilight (outdoor season).
The Most Outstanding Track Athlete award was given to first year trackster and two-sport athlete Donald Scott. Scott, who is also a starting wide receiver for the EMU football team, came on very strong for the Eagles as he competed in just four events on the season, but still had a profound impact on the team. In his four triple jumps, Scott twice placed second, and won his other two, including a jump of 50-08.25, the third-best triple jump in EMU's history. Scott quickly cemented himself into the EMU record books and placed himself on the fast-track to overtake the top spot in EMU history.
Terefe Ejigu was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Track Athlete. Ejigu posted the team's top times in the 1,500-meter run, the mile run and the 5k. Additionally, he shaved nearly 20 seconds off of his personal best in the 5k by running a time of 14 minutes flat and winning the Penn Relays. It was the fifth-fastest time in the event in school history. Perhaps most impressive of all of his feats thus far, Ejigu has earned an unprecedented three straight MAC Most Valuable Performer awards and is a six-time MAC Champion and a three-time MAC Bronze Medalist. He picked up nearly 25 percent of EMU's point total at the most recent MAC Championships.
The banquet also served as a platform to honor the 1958 team, which was led by Olympian and Hall of Fame inductee Hayes Jones. That 1958 squad was honored for their storied Bowen Field House dual meet win over Big Ten and national powerhouse Indiana University. Additionally, the 1971 team led by Eugene Thomas (which celebrated the 40th anniversary of their Central Collegiate Conference Championship) was honored.
At the banquet, former EMU runner Paul McMullen, current assistant coach Chris Huffins, and former world-record holder and EMU Head Coach John Goodridge's wife Francie Kraker Goodridge are pictured aboved holding bronzed shoes. The shoes commemorated Hayes Jones' Gold and Silver Medals in the 110m High Hurdles, Earl Jones' Bronze Medal in 800 meters and Hasely Crawford's Gold Medal in the 1976 100-meter dash. Also on hand to commemorate the event was legendary coach and E-Club Hall of Fame inductee, 101-year-old Ken 'Red' Simmons.
William Mays Jr., a 1954 EMU graduate, was the recipient of the Eastern Man Award. Mays who has received awards such as the EMU distinguished Alumnus award, has for years been a strong supporter of the track program and as an active member and president of the Alumni Association.
"This was a wonderful afternoon for our athletes and alumni," John Goodridge said.
2011 Team Awards
Coaches' Award - Chris Scott
Most Outstanding Freshman - Brycen Spratling
Most Improved - Joseph Tesner
Most Outstanding Field Athlete - Donald Scott
Most Outstanding Track Athlete - Terefe Ejigu
Eastern Man - William Mays Jr.
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