Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eight Eagles Named to Academic All-MAC Team
7/8/2014 4:03:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
Bradley, Dixon, Elam, Fink, Kalinowski, Smith, Waynes, and Williams honored for athletics and academics
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Mid-American Conference announced its Academic All-MAC teams for the 2014 outdoor track and field season Tuesday, July 8. Eastern Michigan University's men's track and field team, which won its 22nd program title at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 15-17, led the way for the conference with eight selections, while three Eagles were named to the honorable mention list.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season only are considered.
The Green and White's eight selections are the most in the conference by a considerable margin, followed by the University of Akron (4), Kent State University and Miami University (3), and the University at Buffalo and Central Michigan University (2). The eight Eagles named to the Academic All-MAC team include: Scott Bradley (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), Harry Dixon (Nelson, New Zealand-Nayland College), Jeff Elam (Latrobe, Pa.-Greater Latrobe Senior), Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee), Grzegorz Kalinowski (Torun, Poland-Nicolaus Copernicus University), Daryl Smith (Windsor, Ontario-Vincent Massey S.S.), Mason Waynes (Kenosha, Wis.-Bradford), and Keith Williams (Sherman, Ill.-Williamsville).
Bradley garnered Second Team All-MAC honors after an exhilirating runner-up finish in the 800m run at the 2014 MAC Championships. The sophomore sprinted past a slew of MAC athletes in the final leg of the race to claim a 1-2 finish behind Kalinowski. Bradley set two personal records at the MAC Championships, ending with a career-best mark of 1:50.10 in the finals to cap off his season. He holds a 3.70 GPA in political science.
Named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Division I Track and Field/Cross Country Third Team on June 26, Dixon earned his spot at the NCAA East Regional, May 29-31, when he set a personal record of 14:12.91 in the 5000m. He had his most success in the 5000m run, taking second at the Tennessee Relays, April 12, and finishing fourth at the 2014 MAC Championships. He wrapped up his season in Jacksonville, Fla., where he finished the NCAA East Regional 5000m run in 15:40.65. Dixon holds a nearly flawless GPA of 3.99 in biology.
Elam adds the Academic All-MAC accolades to his First Team All-MAC and Second Team All-American honors for the 2014 outdoor campaign. The sophomore was a member of the 4x400m relay team that represented EMU at the NCAA Championships, June 11-14, taking 13th in the semifinals in 3:06.64. Elam also qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 4x100m relay and the 400m hurdles, the latter of which resulted in a personal record of 51.68 seconds in the preliminary heat. He made his mark on EMU history as being a part of the 4x100m relay team to break the 40-second barrier, setting the school standard at 39.98 seconds at the Drake Relays, April 26. Elam holds a 3.54 GPA in general business.
Fink earned First Team All-MAC honors after an astounding performance in the 10,000m run at the MAC Championships. The redshirt-freshman was crowned MAC champion in his collegiate debut in the event, finishing in 30:20.34. Fink also took runner-up in the 5000m run and finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase at the conference meet before ending his season at the NCAA East Regional, where he competed in the 5000m, crossing the line at 14:58.55. He maintains a 3.84 GPA in biology.
A senior with a 3.74 GPA in general business, Kalinowski was able to end his senior campaign on the national stage, garnering Second Team All-American honors after finishing ninth in the semifinal heat of the 1500m in 3:43.18. The Polish native's breakthrough performance in the 1500m came at the Billy Hayes Invitational, May 3, when he ran the fourth-fastest time in EMU history at 3:41.80. At the 2014 MAC Championships, he suffered a setback in the event and claimed runner-up, but bounced back with a personal record in the 800m for the MAC title in 1:48.44. For his performance at the conference meet, Kalinowski was named to the All-MAC first team.
Smith was a Second Team All-MAC honoree after finishing runner-up in the 3000m steeplechase and fifth in the 1500m run at the 2014 MAC Championships. He had success in both events throughout the season, notching a personal record in the 1500m with a win in the open section of the Billy Hayes Invitational in 3:49.94. He recorded another victory in the collegiate section of the 3000m steeplechase at the Penn Relays, April 24, which he completed in 9:05.43. Smith boasts a 3.46 GPA in biology.
Waynes joins Elam as a member of the Second Team All-American 4x400m relay team. The sophomore steadily improved individually in the 400m as well, taking third at the Billy Hayes Invitational and the Toledo Invitational, May 9, before setting a career record at the 2014 MAC Championships. Waynes just missed out on qualifying for the championship heat, taking ninth in 48.26 seconds. He holds a 3.57 GPA in marketing.
Already an EMU record holder with two years of eligibility remaining, Williams broke the school standard in the hammer throw on two occasions throughout the 2014 campaign. In the opening meet at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational, March 28-29, Williams threw 57.91 meters/190 feet to shatter the previous EMU mark. He then improved on his record once again at the MAC Championships, with a mark of 60.14 meters/197 feet 4-inches for a fourth-place finish among a highly formidable field of nationally-ranked throwers. The redshirt-sophomore, who holds a 3.83 GPA in nursing, finished his season at the NCAA East Regional where he threw 58.55 meters/192 feet 1-inch.
Three more Eagles were named to the honorable mention list. Solomon Ijah (Murrieta, Calif.-Murrieta Valley) took fourth in the decathlon at the MAC Championships with 7,050 points and holds a 3.32 GPA in finance. In addition to the grueling 10-event slate, he also competed in the 110m hurdles and javelin throw at the conference meet. His best decathlon performance of his career came at the Texas Relays, March 26-27, in which he scored 7,312 points and recorded his personal records in the 100m, long jump, and shot put. Levi Selvig (Flushing, Mich.-Flushing Community) joined Ijah on the podium for the MAC decathlon, taking sixth with a personal-best 6,823 points. In addition to the overall personal record, Selvig notched career marks in the pole vault, high jump, long jump, and shot put. Selvig holds a 3.52 GPA in geography. The final honoree is Andrew Wentz (Napoleon, Ohio-Napoleon). The sophomore, who maintains a 3.28 GPA in psychology, took 10th in the hammer throw at the MAC Championships. His best career performance came at the Billy Hayes Invitational, when he threw for a distance of 53.13 meters/174 feet 4-inches.
2014 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Academic All-MAC Team
Alex McCune, Akron
Kyle Cochrun, Akron
Daryl Baptiste, Akron
Bryan Jones, Akron
Austin Price, Buffalo
Jacob Sunday, Buffalo
Dylan Banagis, Central Michigan
Kyle Smith, Central Michigan
Grzegorz Kalinowski, Eastern Michigan
Jeff Elam, Eastern Michigan
Mason Waynes, Eastern Michigan
Willy Fink, Eastern Michigan
Keith Williams, Eastern Michigan
Scott Bradley, Eastern Michigan
Harry Dixon, Eastern Michigan
Daryl Smith, Eastern Michigan
Miles Dunlap, Kent State
Andrew Goodwin, Kent State
Jesse Oxley, Kent State
Wade Coffin, Miami
Rob Stein, Miami
Joe Stewart, Miami
Honorable Mention
Jake Hiltner, Akron
Brian Crimmins, Buffalo
Zach Ahart, Buffalo
Brian Cummiskey, Buffalo
Chris Reape, Buffalo
Tyler Scheving, Buffalo
Nate Ghena, Central Michigan
Tyler Hamilton, Central Michigan
Nathan Huff, Central Michigan
Anderson Lee, Central Michigan
Brandon McCleese, Central Michigan
Brandon Piligan, Central Michigan
Monte Scott, Central Michigan
Casey Voisin, Central Michigan
Shawn Welch, Central Michigan
Solomon Ijah, Eastern Michigan
Levi Selvig, Eastern Michigan
Andrew Wentz, Eastern Michigan
Tyler Jones, Kent State
Justin Bailey, Kent State
Marteze Roper, Kent State
Zack McBride, Miami
Adam Bodrick, Miami
Robert Balzano, Miami
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season only are considered.
The Green and White's eight selections are the most in the conference by a considerable margin, followed by the University of Akron (4), Kent State University and Miami University (3), and the University at Buffalo and Central Michigan University (2). The eight Eagles named to the Academic All-MAC team include: Scott Bradley (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), Harry Dixon (Nelson, New Zealand-Nayland College), Jeff Elam (Latrobe, Pa.-Greater Latrobe Senior), Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee), Grzegorz Kalinowski (Torun, Poland-Nicolaus Copernicus University), Daryl Smith (Windsor, Ontario-Vincent Massey S.S.), Mason Waynes (Kenosha, Wis.-Bradford), and Keith Williams (Sherman, Ill.-Williamsville).
Bradley garnered Second Team All-MAC honors after an exhilirating runner-up finish in the 800m run at the 2014 MAC Championships. The sophomore sprinted past a slew of MAC athletes in the final leg of the race to claim a 1-2 finish behind Kalinowski. Bradley set two personal records at the MAC Championships, ending with a career-best mark of 1:50.10 in the finals to cap off his season. He holds a 3.70 GPA in political science.
Named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Division I Track and Field/Cross Country Third Team on June 26, Dixon earned his spot at the NCAA East Regional, May 29-31, when he set a personal record of 14:12.91 in the 5000m. He had his most success in the 5000m run, taking second at the Tennessee Relays, April 12, and finishing fourth at the 2014 MAC Championships. He wrapped up his season in Jacksonville, Fla., where he finished the NCAA East Regional 5000m run in 15:40.65. Dixon holds a nearly flawless GPA of 3.99 in biology.
Elam adds the Academic All-MAC accolades to his First Team All-MAC and Second Team All-American honors for the 2014 outdoor campaign. The sophomore was a member of the 4x400m relay team that represented EMU at the NCAA Championships, June 11-14, taking 13th in the semifinals in 3:06.64. Elam also qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 4x100m relay and the 400m hurdles, the latter of which resulted in a personal record of 51.68 seconds in the preliminary heat. He made his mark on EMU history as being a part of the 4x100m relay team to break the 40-second barrier, setting the school standard at 39.98 seconds at the Drake Relays, April 26. Elam holds a 3.54 GPA in general business.
Fink earned First Team All-MAC honors after an astounding performance in the 10,000m run at the MAC Championships. The redshirt-freshman was crowned MAC champion in his collegiate debut in the event, finishing in 30:20.34. Fink also took runner-up in the 5000m run and finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase at the conference meet before ending his season at the NCAA East Regional, where he competed in the 5000m, crossing the line at 14:58.55. He maintains a 3.84 GPA in biology.
A senior with a 3.74 GPA in general business, Kalinowski was able to end his senior campaign on the national stage, garnering Second Team All-American honors after finishing ninth in the semifinal heat of the 1500m in 3:43.18. The Polish native's breakthrough performance in the 1500m came at the Billy Hayes Invitational, May 3, when he ran the fourth-fastest time in EMU history at 3:41.80. At the 2014 MAC Championships, he suffered a setback in the event and claimed runner-up, but bounced back with a personal record in the 800m for the MAC title in 1:48.44. For his performance at the conference meet, Kalinowski was named to the All-MAC first team.
Smith was a Second Team All-MAC honoree after finishing runner-up in the 3000m steeplechase and fifth in the 1500m run at the 2014 MAC Championships. He had success in both events throughout the season, notching a personal record in the 1500m with a win in the open section of the Billy Hayes Invitational in 3:49.94. He recorded another victory in the collegiate section of the 3000m steeplechase at the Penn Relays, April 24, which he completed in 9:05.43. Smith boasts a 3.46 GPA in biology.
Waynes joins Elam as a member of the Second Team All-American 4x400m relay team. The sophomore steadily improved individually in the 400m as well, taking third at the Billy Hayes Invitational and the Toledo Invitational, May 9, before setting a career record at the 2014 MAC Championships. Waynes just missed out on qualifying for the championship heat, taking ninth in 48.26 seconds. He holds a 3.57 GPA in marketing.
Already an EMU record holder with two years of eligibility remaining, Williams broke the school standard in the hammer throw on two occasions throughout the 2014 campaign. In the opening meet at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational, March 28-29, Williams threw 57.91 meters/190 feet to shatter the previous EMU mark. He then improved on his record once again at the MAC Championships, with a mark of 60.14 meters/197 feet 4-inches for a fourth-place finish among a highly formidable field of nationally-ranked throwers. The redshirt-sophomore, who holds a 3.83 GPA in nursing, finished his season at the NCAA East Regional where he threw 58.55 meters/192 feet 1-inch.
Three more Eagles were named to the honorable mention list. Solomon Ijah (Murrieta, Calif.-Murrieta Valley) took fourth in the decathlon at the MAC Championships with 7,050 points and holds a 3.32 GPA in finance. In addition to the grueling 10-event slate, he also competed in the 110m hurdles and javelin throw at the conference meet. His best decathlon performance of his career came at the Texas Relays, March 26-27, in which he scored 7,312 points and recorded his personal records in the 100m, long jump, and shot put. Levi Selvig (Flushing, Mich.-Flushing Community) joined Ijah on the podium for the MAC decathlon, taking sixth with a personal-best 6,823 points. In addition to the overall personal record, Selvig notched career marks in the pole vault, high jump, long jump, and shot put. Selvig holds a 3.52 GPA in geography. The final honoree is Andrew Wentz (Napoleon, Ohio-Napoleon). The sophomore, who maintains a 3.28 GPA in psychology, took 10th in the hammer throw at the MAC Championships. His best career performance came at the Billy Hayes Invitational, when he threw for a distance of 53.13 meters/174 feet 4-inches.
2014 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Academic All-MAC Team
Alex McCune, Akron
Kyle Cochrun, Akron
Daryl Baptiste, Akron
Bryan Jones, Akron
Austin Price, Buffalo
Jacob Sunday, Buffalo
Dylan Banagis, Central Michigan
Kyle Smith, Central Michigan
Grzegorz Kalinowski, Eastern Michigan
Jeff Elam, Eastern Michigan
Mason Waynes, Eastern Michigan
Willy Fink, Eastern Michigan
Keith Williams, Eastern Michigan
Scott Bradley, Eastern Michigan
Harry Dixon, Eastern Michigan
Daryl Smith, Eastern Michigan
Miles Dunlap, Kent State
Andrew Goodwin, Kent State
Jesse Oxley, Kent State
Wade Coffin, Miami
Rob Stein, Miami
Joe Stewart, Miami
Honorable Mention
Jake Hiltner, Akron
Brian Crimmins, Buffalo
Zach Ahart, Buffalo
Brian Cummiskey, Buffalo
Chris Reape, Buffalo
Tyler Scheving, Buffalo
Nate Ghena, Central Michigan
Tyler Hamilton, Central Michigan
Nathan Huff, Central Michigan
Anderson Lee, Central Michigan
Brandon McCleese, Central Michigan
Brandon Piligan, Central Michigan
Monte Scott, Central Michigan
Casey Voisin, Central Michigan
Shawn Welch, Central Michigan
Solomon Ijah, Eastern Michigan
Levi Selvig, Eastern Michigan
Andrew Wentz, Eastern Michigan
Tyler Jones, Kent State
Justin Bailey, Kent State
Marteze Roper, Kent State
Zack McBride, Miami
Adam Bodrick, Miami
Robert Balzano, Miami
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