Green and White Finish First Day with Two Event Titles

Day One Results

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team finished up the first day of the Penn State National today, Jan. 29 The day was highlighted by a pair of first-place finishes in both the distance medley and the weight throw.

The 60 meter dash saw three Eagles compete, with freshman Aitor Ekobo (Madrid, Spain - Jose Luis Lopez Aranguren Secondary School) leading the pack in 18^th with a time of 6.97. In the 5000m run, redshirt sophomore Abel Flores (Defiance, Ohio – Defiance) set a new personal record, clocking in at 14:47.28 to place ninth.

One of the highlights of the day come on an event shortly thereafter, as the foursome of graduate student Joshua Sabo (Akron, Ohio – Revere), seniors Mason Waynes (Kenosha, Wis. – Bradford) and Scott Bradley (Battle Creek, Mich. – Lakeview), and redshirt sophomore Mitch Lenneman (River Falls, Wis. – River Falls) claimed the distance medley title with a time of 9:57.18.

From there, redshirt senior Solomon Simmons (Murrieta, Calif. – Murrieta Valley) qualified for the semifinals of the 60m hurdles, finishing the prelims in eighth with a time of 8.21. In the semifinals, however, Simmons came up just short of making the finals finishing 12^th in 8.17. Continuing his impressive start to the season, junior Tyler Brown (Findlay, Ohio – Findlay) placed runner-up in the long jump with a mark of 7.45 meters/ 24 feet 5.50-inches. His mark was also a career best by nearly four-inches, and moved him into fifth all time in the EMU record book.

Redshirt junior Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio – Sandusky) turned in a great performance, claiming gold in the weight throw with a toss of 21.3 meters/ 69 feet 10.75-inches. Redshirt senior Keith Williams (Sherman, Ill. – Williamsville) also had a career day in the event, coming in sixth with a mark of 19.88 meters/ 65 feet 2.75-inches and setting a new career best by a meter. His toss also moved him into third all-time in program history.

The Green and White resume competition tomorrow, Jan. 30, at 10:55 a.m. with the men's 400m dash. The event is set to finish in the evening at 5:45 p.m. following the final event of competition.

EMU Individual Results (* denotes personal record, S denotes a semifinals qualifying mark, Q denotes a finals qualifying mark, # denotes program record)

Event Mark

60m Dash prelims
18. Aitor Ekobo 6.97*
29. Wayne Blanchard 7.02
30. Brandon Bolden 7.03

5000m Run
9. Abel Flores 14:47.28*
11. John Knox 14:57.74

Distance Medley
1. Joshua Sabo, Mason Waynes   9:57.18
   Scott Bradley, Mitch Lenneman

60m Hurdles prelims
8. Solomon Simmons                      8.21S
18. Bryce Lindsey                             8.35
19. Frank Douglas                            8.37

60m Hurdles semifinals
12. Solomon Simmons                    8.17

Long Jump
2. Tyler Brown 7.45m/24-05.50*
10. Nicholas Herbert                       6.93m/22-09.00*
17. Zach Waldron 6.71m/22-00.25

Weight Throw
1. Anthony Jones                             21.30m/69-10.75
6. Keith Williams                              19.88m/65-02.75*
14. Andrew Wentz                           16.89m/55-05.00

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Wayne Blanchard

Brandon Bolden

Scott Bradley

Tyler Brown

Frank Douglas

Aitor Ekobo

Abel Flores

Nick Herbert

Anthony Jones

John Knox

Mitch Lenneman

Bryce Lindsey

Joshua Sabo

Solomon Simmons

Zach Waldron

Mason Waynes

Andrew Wentz

Keith Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics