Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 27
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Indoor Championship
Women's Track and Field Heads to MAC Championships This Weekend
2/25/2015 3:29:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Eagles will compete in the conference meet in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University's women's track and field team is primed for the 2015 Mid-American Conference Women's Track and Field Indoor Championship, hosted by Central Michigan University. The meet will be a two-day event, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28.
Eastern was picked to reprise their third-place finish from 2014 at the conference meet according to the preseason coaches poll, behind Kent State and Akron. The Eagles are looking to move up higher within the conference, showcasing more depth across the board than in years past.
With 12 teams coming together in Mount Pleasant, it is time to take a look at how the teams stack up against one another. The following is a preview of each team, based on current conference standings along with a comparison to last year's championship.
Eastern Michigan
The Eagles have been on the hunt for a MAC title all season, with all members of the team making strides in 2015. Eastern finished third last season with 91.50 points, and returns eight top-eight performers while losing four. Last season, the Eagles had 15 top-eight performances, including two wins and three runner-up finishes. A pair of seniors will be looking to repeat their titles in Sarah Chauchard (Montpellier, France-University of Montpellier) and Victoria Voronko (Stavropol, Russia-School #42). Chauchard won the pentathlon last season in a MAC-breaking record of 4,153 points and finished the season as an All-American both indoors and outdoors. The senior has not competed in the pentathlon yet this year, but will look to build on her EMU record of 4,229 points. Chauchard will also be competing in the high jump, holding the sixth-highest jump in the conference at 1.70 meters/5 feet 7-inches.
Voronko will repeat her events from last season, competing in the mile, 3000m, and 5000m. The senior was named the meet's Most Valuable Performer after winning the 3000m and 5000m while finishing runner-up in the mile and running the anchor leg of the MAC record-breaking DMR lineup. This season, Voronko has had limited meets but still ranks in the top-10 of each event. She paces the MAC in the mile in 4:44.21, while her time in the 5000m (16:21.09, converted) ranks second and her 3000m mark is eighth in 9:38.20. The real difference in the EMU distance group this season is the depth of the athletes that can score for the team. Eastern holds four of the top-10 spots in the mile, with Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium-University of Leuven) in second (4:48.92) and Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich.-Davison) ranking third in 4:49.14, while Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich.-Chippewa Valley) is 10th in 4:52.51. All four athletes have cracked the top-10 on EMU's all-time list. Gallein and Cizmas will be joining Voronko in the mile, while Gallein and McDermitt will be featured in the 3000m and McDermitt will also compete in the 5000m. In the 3000m, McDermitt boasts the top time in the conference (9:22.72), and Gallein is ranked fourth in 9:30.40. McDermitt also holds the third-fastest time in the MAC in the 5000m, with a school record 16:27.69.
In addition to the distance events, Eastern is also well represented in the sprints. Aaliyah McKinney (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) enters the 60m dash as the fastest athlete in the MAC this season, having matched her personal record of 7.54 seconds on two occasions. Last year, McKinney claimed runner-up in the event, while Danielle Clark (Paramaribo, Suriname-Ewald P. Meyer Lyceum) also placed in the top-eight for the Eagles. This season, Clark has posted the sixth-fastest time in the MAC (7.60), while freshman Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa.-Hempfield Area) enters the mix as the eighth-fastest 60m runner in the MAC in 7.64 seconds. Jones leads the team in the 200m in 24.64 seconds, good for ninth in the MAC, while McKinney is ranked 10th in 24.68 seconds. In the 400m, freshman Chante Roberts (Lansing, Mich.-Waverly) has made an immediate impact on the team, clocking in at 56.01 seconds for the eighth-fastest time in the conference. Along with the four sprinters, the Eagles also have numerous athletes upon which they can rely for the 4x400m relay. This year's fastest time of 3:44.27, which ranks third in the MAC, was earned behind a lineup of McKinney, Jones, Morgan Yeadon (Indianapolis, Ind.-Pike), and Roberts.
In addition to Chauchard, Eastern also has a strong presence in the field events. In the pole vault, the Eagles have three athletes that rank in the top-10 of the conference. Ellie Braidic (Pandora, Ohio-Pandora Gilboa) holds the second spot in the MAC as well as the second-highest vault in EMU history at 4.17 meters/13 feet 8.25-inches. Not far behind Braidic is Natalie Uy (Kettering, Ohio-Fairmont), who also leads the team in the 60m hurdles and will compete alongside Chauchard in the pentathlon, with a vault of 4.04 meters/13 feet 3-inches. Finally, Janina Pollatz (Grandview, Mich.-Grand Rapids Christian) recently entered the MAC top-10 with a six-inch personal record of 3.88 meters/12 feet 8.75-inches.
In the horizontal jumps, the Eagles are expected to be led by Latvian freshman Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia-Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) in both the long jump and the triple jump. Dreimane ranks third in the conference in the triple jump with the sixth-farthest jump in EMU history at 12.41 meters/40 feet 8.75-inches and her long jump of 5.83 meters/40 feet 8.75-inches is good for fourth in the conference. Representing the team in the weight throw, Adrienne Waisner (Napoleon, Ohio-Napoleon) will look to score for the team after throwing beyond 16 meters for the first time in her career last weekend.
Akron
The University of Akron finished second at last year's championships with 98.50 points, returning 12 top-eight finishers and losing six from last season's roster. The Zips had 21 top-eight finishes throughout the meet, with 11 top-four placements. Two members of the team will be looking to repeat their championship performances on the field, with Brittany Funk returning in the weight throw as well as Weronika Gaudyn in the triple jump. This year, Funk ranks second in the MAC behind teammate Alexis Cooks (21.68m/71-01.50) with a throw of 21.62 meters/70 feet 11.25-inches, while Gaudyn also ranks second in the conference in the triple jump at 12.55 meters/41 feet 2.25-inches.
The Zips have numerous other athletes that rank highly within the conference, including MAC-leading Claire Lucas with a pole vault of 4.21 meters/13 feet 9.75-inches and Skyler Willis with 3,877 points in the pentathlon. The sprints are paced by the duo of Rachel Christian and Daziah Green, with Christian holding the third and fifth-fastest marks in the conference for the 60m and 200m, respectively (7.57/24.55) and Green ranked ninth and sixth in the two events (7.67/24.59). In the 800m and mile, Natalie Zidd holds the second-best mid-distance mark in the MAC at 2:09.58 and is sixth in the mile at 4:50.89, but the Zips do not feature any athletes in the top-10 of the conference in the 3000m or 5000m.
On the field, Cooks also leads the team in the shot put with a throw of 16.40 meters/53 feet 9.75-inches, which ranks third in the MAC, and Daniella Johnson has the third mark in the conference in the long jump at 5.86 meters/19 feet 2.75-inches. The Zips have struggled with their relays, posting just the 10th-best time in the MAC in the 4x400m in 3:54.36.
Ball State
Ball State University finished 12th in the conference with 1.5 points, and do not return their one athlete that scored in the top-eight. However, the Cardinals have improved this season and currently have four individuals that rank in the top-10 in the MAC along with two relays. Christina Crawford leads the MAC in the long jump, having posted a mark of 6.08 meters/19 feet 11.50-inches, and she also leads the team in the 60m dash in 7.68 seconds, ranked 10th in the conference. Ball State has another competitor in the long jump, with Makelle Skelton ranked 10th at 5.75 meters/18 feet 10.50-inches while also appearing on the 4x400m relay team that has recorded a time of 3:54.22.
In the high jump, Rebecca Lomax sits at fourth in the conference at 1.76 meters/5 feet 9.25-inches, and is also the third-ranked pentathlete with 3,768 points. The final individual to rank in the top-10 of the conference in an event is Marie Lumpkin, whose weight throw of 18.36 meters/60 feet 3-inches is the sixth-farthest in the MAC.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green State University tied for eighth last year with 38 points, and returns five of its top-eight finishers while losing two from last year's roster. The Falcons notched eight top-eight finishes last season, half of which were in the top-four. Alicia Arnold paces the team in the sprints, ranking seventh and fourth in the MAC in the 60m and 200m, respectively (7.63/24.53), while she also sits at sixth in the conference in the long jump with a mark of 5.80 meters/19 feet 0.50-inches.
The Falcons are highlighted by their throws, with Brooke Pleger holding the third-best weight throw in the MAC at 20.79 meters/68 feet 2.50-inches and Makenzie Wheat posting the fourth-farthest shot put in the conference at 15.87 meters/52 feet 1-inch. Last year, Pleger finished fourth in the weight throw and Wheat placed sixth in the shot put, so the pair has shown improvement since last season.
Buffalo
The University at Buffalo finished fourth behind the Eagles last season, but there was a wide distance between the two teams as the Bulls compiled 58 points. Buffalo returns six athletes that placed in the top-eight while losing three, and all two of their six top-eight events were third-place finishes or higher. The only returning individual MAC champion for the team is Camaria Long, who will be defending her crown in the 200m. Long currently holds the second-fastest 200m mark in the conference at 24.22 seconds, and also ranks third in the 60m dash in 7.57 seconds.
The Bulls will also look to score in the mid-distance, as Meghan Manley has posted the third-fastest 800m time in 2:09.94, followed by Corinne Birchard in 2:10.63 for fifth. Buffalo also has a handful of conference contenders in the high jump, long jump, and pole vault. In the high jump, Emma Siuciak has posted the third-best clearance at 1.78 meters/5 feet 10-inches, while Tyra Forbes has a mark of 5.83 meters/19 feet 1.50-inches, good for fourth in the MAC. Kelly Truppo leads the team in the pole vault, with a 4.00-meter/13-foot 1.50-inch clearance for sixth in the conference.
Central Michigan
Host school Central Michigan University finished fifth at last year's championships with 52 points. The Chippewas return six top-eight scorers from a season ago while losing six, including their only MAC champion in Shawntoreah Turk, who won the 400m in 2014. Of the 12 top-eight finishes that CMU garnered, half of their finishes were in the top four. The highest-placed returning scorer for the Chips is Kelly Schubert in the 5000m, but senior Abbey Kelto has been leading the team in the distance events this year. Kelto ranks third in the MAC in the 3000m with a time of 9:27.44 and sixth in the 5000m in 16:41.27.
Central Michigan has also posted the second-fastest DMR of the year in the conference, with a time of 11:43.12 thanks to Michaela Bundy, Lexi Mielke, Kelsey Ross, and Schubert. In the field events, Saya Wilkerson ranks sixth in the MAC in the triple jump (11.81m/38-09.00), and Devene Brown has the fifth-farthest throw in the shot put (15.26m/50-0.75).
Kent State
Kent State University enters the weekend's meet as the reigning MAC champions after taking the championship with 127.50 points last season. The Golden Flashes return 12 top-eight athletes, while losing six. Kent State had 23 top-eight finishes last season, 13 of which were in the top-four, including four MAC titles. Kent State returns two of its MAC champions, Dior Delophont in the high jump and Danniel Thomas in the shot put. Delophont currently ranks second in the high jump in the conference this year, with a height of 1.84 meters/6 feet 0.50-inches, and will also compete in the long jump and triple jump. Her mark of 12.61 meters/41 feet 4.50-inches in the triple jump tops the MAC, while her long jump distance of 5.77 meters/18 feet 11.25-inches is good for ninth. Thomas has also fallen to second in current MAC standings, with a season-best throw of 16.83 meters/55 feet 2.75-inches. She is joined in the throws by Jackie Leppelmeier, who ranks eighth in the MAC in the shot put (14.89m/48-10.25) and fourth in the weight throw (19.90m/65-03.50).
On the track, Kent State's sprinters are led by sophomore Jorian Ordway. Ordway holds the third-fastest 200m time in 24.46 seconds, while her time of 55.31 seconds in the 400m dash leads the conference. Another Golden Flash leads the conference on the track, as Lauren Burnett has the fastest 800m time of 2015, clocking in at 2:09.49. The two runners appear on the MAC-leading 4x400m relay team that has posted a time of 3:42.17 this year, along with Tyler Williams and Taylor Farquhar.
Miami
Miami University tied for eighth last season with 38 points, and returns five top-eight finishers while losing four from the roster. In nine top-eight placements, the RedHawks finished second or third in three of them, not returning either of the athletes that scored in the top-three. After finishing seventh in the shot put last season, Amelia Strickler has found herself at the top of the conference in the event with a season-best throw of 16.91 meters/55 feet 5.75-inches.
Miami also has the second-fastest hurdler in the conference in Alexus Jimson-Miller in 8.48 seconds. Miami's strengths lie in the 800m and mile, as Megan Beaver has the ninth-fastest time in the conference in 2:12.01 and Laura Bess, who took fifth in the mile last year, ranks seventh in 4:51.30.
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois University placed 10th last year with 37 points, and returns six top-eight scorers and loses three. The Huskies placed in the top-eight in 11 events, four of which were in the top-four. The highest returning placer for NIU is Latesha Bigby, who finished third in the 60m hurdles. This year, Bigby ranks third in the MAC in 8.50 seconds, while teammate Claudette Day tops the conference in the event in 8.34 seconds. The Huskies also have a solid competitor in the sprints in A'Iesha Irvin-Muhammad, who ranks in the top-10 in the 60m, 200m, and 400m. The sophomore is ranked first in the 200m in 24.14 seconds, and is also third in the 60m (7.57) and ninth in the 400m (56.05).
Day has also been a top competitor for the Huskies on the field. The sophomore leads the team in the high jump, ranking fifth in the conference (1.71m/5-07.25), ranks sixth in the long jump (5.80m/19-0.50), and is second in the MAC in the pentathlon with 3,871 points. In the relays, the Huskies have posted a 4x400m time and a DMR mark that both rank fifth in the conference (3:47.27/11:59.88).
Ohio
Ohio University finished 11th last year with 24 points, and loses six of the top-eight finishers while returning just one. Donyelle Brown took sixth in the weight throw last year, and currently sits at 10th in the MAC (17.18m/56-04.50) behind teammate Janiece Rose, whose throw of 17.44 meters/47 feet 2.75-inches sits at eighth in the conference. The only other top-10 ranking that Ohio has in the MAC is in the DMR, standing at seventh in 12:33.15 behind the lineup of Hannah Wishart, Anna Michael, Amanda Sacha, and Peyton Adkins.
Toledo
The University of Toledo placed sixth at last year's championships with 49 points. The Rockets return five of their top-eight scorers, while losing eight from the roster. Toledo finished in the top-eight in 11 event, including five top-four finishes. One MAC champion returns to the team, with Megan Wright defending her title in the mile run. This year, Wright has fallen to 12th in the conference with a time of 4:52.98, as the team is paced by Julia Pusateri in 4:50.37, good for fifth in the MAC. Pusateri also holds the sixth-fastest 800m mark in the MAC in 2:11.67. In the 3000m and 5000m, the Rockets will be led by Mackenzie Chojnacky and Brooke Tullis. Chojnacky is at the top of the conference in the 5000m with a time of 16:17.16, while her mark of 9:25.83 in the 3000m puts her at second behind EMU's McDermitt. Tullis also ranks well among conference competitors, sitting at fourth in the 5000m (16:39.44) and fifth in the 3000m (9:30.67).
Toledo has also recorded the fastest DMR time of the conference this year, with Cassandra Vince, Michelle Davis, Theresa Warsecke, and Chojnacky combining for a time of 11:35.90. The Rockets have one field event competitor in the top-10 of the conference, as Alexa Jarrett's pole vault of 3.95 meters/12 feet 11.50-inches is good for ninth.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan University finished seventh last year with 48 points, and lost five athletes while returning just two from the top-eight. The Broncos had eight top-eight finishes, with half of them coming from top-four performances. Western's highest scoring returning individual is Kathryn Pickett, who finished third in the pentathlon and fifth in the long jump last season. This year, Pickett is ranked fifth in the pentathlon with a score of 3,705 points, but her long jump mark of 5.97 meters/19 feet 7-inches is second in the MAC. Additionally, she ranks seventh in the 60m hurdles in 8.71 seconds.
A helpful addition to the Bronco squad is freshman Maria McDaniel, who was one of four MAC harriers to individually qualify to the NCAA Cross Country National Championships in the fall. McDaniel ranks sixth in the conference in the 3000m with a time of 9:30.71, which she set in a close race against Voronko at the CMU Tri Meet, Jan. 30, and she also has the ninth-fastest mile time in the MAC at 4:52.45.
Eastern was picked to reprise their third-place finish from 2014 at the conference meet according to the preseason coaches poll, behind Kent State and Akron. The Eagles are looking to move up higher within the conference, showcasing more depth across the board than in years past.
With 12 teams coming together in Mount Pleasant, it is time to take a look at how the teams stack up against one another. The following is a preview of each team, based on current conference standings along with a comparison to last year's championship.
Eastern Michigan
The Eagles have been on the hunt for a MAC title all season, with all members of the team making strides in 2015. Eastern finished third last season with 91.50 points, and returns eight top-eight performers while losing four. Last season, the Eagles had 15 top-eight performances, including two wins and three runner-up finishes. A pair of seniors will be looking to repeat their titles in Sarah Chauchard (Montpellier, France-University of Montpellier) and Victoria Voronko (Stavropol, Russia-School #42). Chauchard won the pentathlon last season in a MAC-breaking record of 4,153 points and finished the season as an All-American both indoors and outdoors. The senior has not competed in the pentathlon yet this year, but will look to build on her EMU record of 4,229 points. Chauchard will also be competing in the high jump, holding the sixth-highest jump in the conference at 1.70 meters/5 feet 7-inches.
Voronko will repeat her events from last season, competing in the mile, 3000m, and 5000m. The senior was named the meet's Most Valuable Performer after winning the 3000m and 5000m while finishing runner-up in the mile and running the anchor leg of the MAC record-breaking DMR lineup. This season, Voronko has had limited meets but still ranks in the top-10 of each event. She paces the MAC in the mile in 4:44.21, while her time in the 5000m (16:21.09, converted) ranks second and her 3000m mark is eighth in 9:38.20. The real difference in the EMU distance group this season is the depth of the athletes that can score for the team. Eastern holds four of the top-10 spots in the mile, with Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium-University of Leuven) in second (4:48.92) and Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich.-Davison) ranking third in 4:49.14, while Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich.-Chippewa Valley) is 10th in 4:52.51. All four athletes have cracked the top-10 on EMU's all-time list. Gallein and Cizmas will be joining Voronko in the mile, while Gallein and McDermitt will be featured in the 3000m and McDermitt will also compete in the 5000m. In the 3000m, McDermitt boasts the top time in the conference (9:22.72), and Gallein is ranked fourth in 9:30.40. McDermitt also holds the third-fastest time in the MAC in the 5000m, with a school record 16:27.69.
In addition to the distance events, Eastern is also well represented in the sprints. Aaliyah McKinney (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) enters the 60m dash as the fastest athlete in the MAC this season, having matched her personal record of 7.54 seconds on two occasions. Last year, McKinney claimed runner-up in the event, while Danielle Clark (Paramaribo, Suriname-Ewald P. Meyer Lyceum) also placed in the top-eight for the Eagles. This season, Clark has posted the sixth-fastest time in the MAC (7.60), while freshman Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa.-Hempfield Area) enters the mix as the eighth-fastest 60m runner in the MAC in 7.64 seconds. Jones leads the team in the 200m in 24.64 seconds, good for ninth in the MAC, while McKinney is ranked 10th in 24.68 seconds. In the 400m, freshman Chante Roberts (Lansing, Mich.-Waverly) has made an immediate impact on the team, clocking in at 56.01 seconds for the eighth-fastest time in the conference. Along with the four sprinters, the Eagles also have numerous athletes upon which they can rely for the 4x400m relay. This year's fastest time of 3:44.27, which ranks third in the MAC, was earned behind a lineup of McKinney, Jones, Morgan Yeadon (Indianapolis, Ind.-Pike), and Roberts.
In addition to Chauchard, Eastern also has a strong presence in the field events. In the pole vault, the Eagles have three athletes that rank in the top-10 of the conference. Ellie Braidic (Pandora, Ohio-Pandora Gilboa) holds the second spot in the MAC as well as the second-highest vault in EMU history at 4.17 meters/13 feet 8.25-inches. Not far behind Braidic is Natalie Uy (Kettering, Ohio-Fairmont), who also leads the team in the 60m hurdles and will compete alongside Chauchard in the pentathlon, with a vault of 4.04 meters/13 feet 3-inches. Finally, Janina Pollatz (Grandview, Mich.-Grand Rapids Christian) recently entered the MAC top-10 with a six-inch personal record of 3.88 meters/12 feet 8.75-inches.
In the horizontal jumps, the Eagles are expected to be led by Latvian freshman Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia-Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) in both the long jump and the triple jump. Dreimane ranks third in the conference in the triple jump with the sixth-farthest jump in EMU history at 12.41 meters/40 feet 8.75-inches and her long jump of 5.83 meters/40 feet 8.75-inches is good for fourth in the conference. Representing the team in the weight throw, Adrienne Waisner (Napoleon, Ohio-Napoleon) will look to score for the team after throwing beyond 16 meters for the first time in her career last weekend.
Akron
The University of Akron finished second at last year's championships with 98.50 points, returning 12 top-eight finishers and losing six from last season's roster. The Zips had 21 top-eight finishes throughout the meet, with 11 top-four placements. Two members of the team will be looking to repeat their championship performances on the field, with Brittany Funk returning in the weight throw as well as Weronika Gaudyn in the triple jump. This year, Funk ranks second in the MAC behind teammate Alexis Cooks (21.68m/71-01.50) with a throw of 21.62 meters/70 feet 11.25-inches, while Gaudyn also ranks second in the conference in the triple jump at 12.55 meters/41 feet 2.25-inches.
The Zips have numerous other athletes that rank highly within the conference, including MAC-leading Claire Lucas with a pole vault of 4.21 meters/13 feet 9.75-inches and Skyler Willis with 3,877 points in the pentathlon. The sprints are paced by the duo of Rachel Christian and Daziah Green, with Christian holding the third and fifth-fastest marks in the conference for the 60m and 200m, respectively (7.57/24.55) and Green ranked ninth and sixth in the two events (7.67/24.59). In the 800m and mile, Natalie Zidd holds the second-best mid-distance mark in the MAC at 2:09.58 and is sixth in the mile at 4:50.89, but the Zips do not feature any athletes in the top-10 of the conference in the 3000m or 5000m.
On the field, Cooks also leads the team in the shot put with a throw of 16.40 meters/53 feet 9.75-inches, which ranks third in the MAC, and Daniella Johnson has the third mark in the conference in the long jump at 5.86 meters/19 feet 2.75-inches. The Zips have struggled with their relays, posting just the 10th-best time in the MAC in the 4x400m in 3:54.36.
Ball State
Ball State University finished 12th in the conference with 1.5 points, and do not return their one athlete that scored in the top-eight. However, the Cardinals have improved this season and currently have four individuals that rank in the top-10 in the MAC along with two relays. Christina Crawford leads the MAC in the long jump, having posted a mark of 6.08 meters/19 feet 11.50-inches, and she also leads the team in the 60m dash in 7.68 seconds, ranked 10th in the conference. Ball State has another competitor in the long jump, with Makelle Skelton ranked 10th at 5.75 meters/18 feet 10.50-inches while also appearing on the 4x400m relay team that has recorded a time of 3:54.22.
In the high jump, Rebecca Lomax sits at fourth in the conference at 1.76 meters/5 feet 9.25-inches, and is also the third-ranked pentathlete with 3,768 points. The final individual to rank in the top-10 of the conference in an event is Marie Lumpkin, whose weight throw of 18.36 meters/60 feet 3-inches is the sixth-farthest in the MAC.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green State University tied for eighth last year with 38 points, and returns five of its top-eight finishers while losing two from last year's roster. The Falcons notched eight top-eight finishes last season, half of which were in the top-four. Alicia Arnold paces the team in the sprints, ranking seventh and fourth in the MAC in the 60m and 200m, respectively (7.63/24.53), while she also sits at sixth in the conference in the long jump with a mark of 5.80 meters/19 feet 0.50-inches.
The Falcons are highlighted by their throws, with Brooke Pleger holding the third-best weight throw in the MAC at 20.79 meters/68 feet 2.50-inches and Makenzie Wheat posting the fourth-farthest shot put in the conference at 15.87 meters/52 feet 1-inch. Last year, Pleger finished fourth in the weight throw and Wheat placed sixth in the shot put, so the pair has shown improvement since last season.
Buffalo
The University at Buffalo finished fourth behind the Eagles last season, but there was a wide distance between the two teams as the Bulls compiled 58 points. Buffalo returns six athletes that placed in the top-eight while losing three, and all two of their six top-eight events were third-place finishes or higher. The only returning individual MAC champion for the team is Camaria Long, who will be defending her crown in the 200m. Long currently holds the second-fastest 200m mark in the conference at 24.22 seconds, and also ranks third in the 60m dash in 7.57 seconds.
The Bulls will also look to score in the mid-distance, as Meghan Manley has posted the third-fastest 800m time in 2:09.94, followed by Corinne Birchard in 2:10.63 for fifth. Buffalo also has a handful of conference contenders in the high jump, long jump, and pole vault. In the high jump, Emma Siuciak has posted the third-best clearance at 1.78 meters/5 feet 10-inches, while Tyra Forbes has a mark of 5.83 meters/19 feet 1.50-inches, good for fourth in the MAC. Kelly Truppo leads the team in the pole vault, with a 4.00-meter/13-foot 1.50-inch clearance for sixth in the conference.
Central Michigan
Host school Central Michigan University finished fifth at last year's championships with 52 points. The Chippewas return six top-eight scorers from a season ago while losing six, including their only MAC champion in Shawntoreah Turk, who won the 400m in 2014. Of the 12 top-eight finishes that CMU garnered, half of their finishes were in the top four. The highest-placed returning scorer for the Chips is Kelly Schubert in the 5000m, but senior Abbey Kelto has been leading the team in the distance events this year. Kelto ranks third in the MAC in the 3000m with a time of 9:27.44 and sixth in the 5000m in 16:41.27.
Central Michigan has also posted the second-fastest DMR of the year in the conference, with a time of 11:43.12 thanks to Michaela Bundy, Lexi Mielke, Kelsey Ross, and Schubert. In the field events, Saya Wilkerson ranks sixth in the MAC in the triple jump (11.81m/38-09.00), and Devene Brown has the fifth-farthest throw in the shot put (15.26m/50-0.75).
Kent State
Kent State University enters the weekend's meet as the reigning MAC champions after taking the championship with 127.50 points last season. The Golden Flashes return 12 top-eight athletes, while losing six. Kent State had 23 top-eight finishes last season, 13 of which were in the top-four, including four MAC titles. Kent State returns two of its MAC champions, Dior Delophont in the high jump and Danniel Thomas in the shot put. Delophont currently ranks second in the high jump in the conference this year, with a height of 1.84 meters/6 feet 0.50-inches, and will also compete in the long jump and triple jump. Her mark of 12.61 meters/41 feet 4.50-inches in the triple jump tops the MAC, while her long jump distance of 5.77 meters/18 feet 11.25-inches is good for ninth. Thomas has also fallen to second in current MAC standings, with a season-best throw of 16.83 meters/55 feet 2.75-inches. She is joined in the throws by Jackie Leppelmeier, who ranks eighth in the MAC in the shot put (14.89m/48-10.25) and fourth in the weight throw (19.90m/65-03.50).
On the track, Kent State's sprinters are led by sophomore Jorian Ordway. Ordway holds the third-fastest 200m time in 24.46 seconds, while her time of 55.31 seconds in the 400m dash leads the conference. Another Golden Flash leads the conference on the track, as Lauren Burnett has the fastest 800m time of 2015, clocking in at 2:09.49. The two runners appear on the MAC-leading 4x400m relay team that has posted a time of 3:42.17 this year, along with Tyler Williams and Taylor Farquhar.
Miami
Miami University tied for eighth last season with 38 points, and returns five top-eight finishers while losing four from the roster. In nine top-eight placements, the RedHawks finished second or third in three of them, not returning either of the athletes that scored in the top-three. After finishing seventh in the shot put last season, Amelia Strickler has found herself at the top of the conference in the event with a season-best throw of 16.91 meters/55 feet 5.75-inches.
Miami also has the second-fastest hurdler in the conference in Alexus Jimson-Miller in 8.48 seconds. Miami's strengths lie in the 800m and mile, as Megan Beaver has the ninth-fastest time in the conference in 2:12.01 and Laura Bess, who took fifth in the mile last year, ranks seventh in 4:51.30.
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois University placed 10th last year with 37 points, and returns six top-eight scorers and loses three. The Huskies placed in the top-eight in 11 events, four of which were in the top-four. The highest returning placer for NIU is Latesha Bigby, who finished third in the 60m hurdles. This year, Bigby ranks third in the MAC in 8.50 seconds, while teammate Claudette Day tops the conference in the event in 8.34 seconds. The Huskies also have a solid competitor in the sprints in A'Iesha Irvin-Muhammad, who ranks in the top-10 in the 60m, 200m, and 400m. The sophomore is ranked first in the 200m in 24.14 seconds, and is also third in the 60m (7.57) and ninth in the 400m (56.05).
Day has also been a top competitor for the Huskies on the field. The sophomore leads the team in the high jump, ranking fifth in the conference (1.71m/5-07.25), ranks sixth in the long jump (5.80m/19-0.50), and is second in the MAC in the pentathlon with 3,871 points. In the relays, the Huskies have posted a 4x400m time and a DMR mark that both rank fifth in the conference (3:47.27/11:59.88).
Ohio
Ohio University finished 11th last year with 24 points, and loses six of the top-eight finishers while returning just one. Donyelle Brown took sixth in the weight throw last year, and currently sits at 10th in the MAC (17.18m/56-04.50) behind teammate Janiece Rose, whose throw of 17.44 meters/47 feet 2.75-inches sits at eighth in the conference. The only other top-10 ranking that Ohio has in the MAC is in the DMR, standing at seventh in 12:33.15 behind the lineup of Hannah Wishart, Anna Michael, Amanda Sacha, and Peyton Adkins.
Toledo
The University of Toledo placed sixth at last year's championships with 49 points. The Rockets return five of their top-eight scorers, while losing eight from the roster. Toledo finished in the top-eight in 11 event, including five top-four finishes. One MAC champion returns to the team, with Megan Wright defending her title in the mile run. This year, Wright has fallen to 12th in the conference with a time of 4:52.98, as the team is paced by Julia Pusateri in 4:50.37, good for fifth in the MAC. Pusateri also holds the sixth-fastest 800m mark in the MAC in 2:11.67. In the 3000m and 5000m, the Rockets will be led by Mackenzie Chojnacky and Brooke Tullis. Chojnacky is at the top of the conference in the 5000m with a time of 16:17.16, while her mark of 9:25.83 in the 3000m puts her at second behind EMU's McDermitt. Tullis also ranks well among conference competitors, sitting at fourth in the 5000m (16:39.44) and fifth in the 3000m (9:30.67).
Toledo has also recorded the fastest DMR time of the conference this year, with Cassandra Vince, Michelle Davis, Theresa Warsecke, and Chojnacky combining for a time of 11:35.90. The Rockets have one field event competitor in the top-10 of the conference, as Alexa Jarrett's pole vault of 3.95 meters/12 feet 11.50-inches is good for ninth.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan University finished seventh last year with 48 points, and lost five athletes while returning just two from the top-eight. The Broncos had eight top-eight finishes, with half of them coming from top-four performances. Western's highest scoring returning individual is Kathryn Pickett, who finished third in the pentathlon and fifth in the long jump last season. This year, Pickett is ranked fifth in the pentathlon with a score of 3,705 points, but her long jump mark of 5.97 meters/19 feet 7-inches is second in the MAC. Additionally, she ranks seventh in the 60m hurdles in 8.71 seconds.
A helpful addition to the Bronco squad is freshman Maria McDaniel, who was one of four MAC harriers to individually qualify to the NCAA Cross Country National Championships in the fall. McDaniel ranks sixth in the conference in the 3000m with a time of 9:30.71, which she set in a close race against Voronko at the CMU Tri Meet, Jan. 30, and she also has the ninth-fastest mile time in the MAC at 4:52.45.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
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