Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, December 2
Allendale, Mich.
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
GVSU Holiday Open
Eagles Set to Open Season at Grand Valley
11/30/2016 3:31:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The Green and White will begin their year with the GVSU Holiday Open
Meet Information
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team will lift the lid on their season this Friday, Dec. 2, at the GVSU Holiday Open in Allendale, Mich. This will be the team's only meet in 2016, as the indoor season will pick back up in early January with the Simmons Harvey Invitational, Jan. 14.
"We're excited to begin our season and get some marks established," said Head Coach Sue Parks. "We won't have everyone competing at this point, but all event areas will be represented in this meet. The distance group will be at full strength and we'll look for them to use their cross country fitness to post some marks on the track. It will also be great to see some new Eagles in uniform for us for the first time."
The meet will be held in the Kelly Family Turf Building, and is slated to begin at 2:45 p.m. with the men's high jump, followed by the women's high jump. Field events will begin shortly after at 3 p.m. with the women's weight throw, while running events will also start at 3 p.m. with the 60m hurdles. For more information on the meet, please click here.
The Eagles, who won both the Indoor and Outdoor Mid-American Conference titles last season, return a number of very strong student-athletes this season. Take a look below and check out a short breakdown of each event group, including some of the top returners.
Sprints
This season, the sprints group will feature a number of strong returners, including sophomore Jessica Harris (Slidell, La. - Slidell), who was named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year following both the indoor and outdoor conference championships. Harris, who was named second team All-MAC for the indoor season, posted a career-best mark of 7.48 seconds in the 60m, which was also the 10th-best time program history. She also earned first team All-MAC honors in the outdoor season, securing the sixth-quickest 100m time in EMU history after crossing the finish line in 11.67 seconds at the Outdoor MAC Championships, May 14.
Junior Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa. - Hempfield Area) brings plenty of experience as well after being named first team All-MAC following the Outdoor MAC Championships. There, she played a key role in the team's 4x100m relay victory, which clocked in at 45.72 seconds. Jones currently holds personal-best marks of 7.64 in the 60m, 11.94 in the 100m, 23.96 in the 200m, and 54.83 in the 400m. The squad also brings back senior Khadesha James (Irvington, N.J. - Irvington), a first team All-MAC honoree from last season after running a leg of the distance medley relay at the conference championships. Finally, sophomores Sundasia Baker (Westville, N.J. - Deptford Twp.) and Jocelyn Sharpe (Westerville, Ohio - Westerville North) also provide added depth after gaining some experience last year.
Mid-Distance
Eastern brings back all three mid-distance runners from last season, all of whom gained even more experience throughout the cross country season. Junior Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville) had a breakout 2016, winning the 800m title at the Outdoor MAC Championships with a time of 2:10.19, which was the ninth-best in program history. Junior Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley) also qualified to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, where she posted the fourth-best 1500m time in EMU history, clocking in at 4:19.74. Fellow junior Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium - Sportschol KA2) had a strong season as well, posting the seventh-best indoor 800m time in EMU history at the indoor conference championships with a time of 2:10.75. The unit will also be bolstered by junior Claire Mesa (Rockford, Ill. - Rockford Lutheran), as well as some distance runners.
Distance
The Eagles recently capped off their best cross country season in program history, and the same student-athletes will look to keep that momentum on the track. Junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison) finished as a cross country All-American, and will likely lead the distance group this year. Last season, the Davison, Mich. native broke the program record in the indoor 5000m, clocking in at 15:58.18 and becoming the only Eagle to ever post a time below 16 minutes in the event. She also qualified to the Outdoor NCAA Championships, June 8-11, where she finished 17th in the 5000m with a time of 16:31.77. McDermitt currently holds top-five program times in the indoor 3000m and 5000m, as well as the outdoor 5000m and 10000m.
Senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83) was named the Most Valuable Performer following the Outdoor MAC Championships, as the senior won both the mile and the 5000m with times of 4:53.58 and 16:29.91, respectively. The Kazan, Russia native maintains the second-best indoor mile time in EMU history at 4:41.15, the third-best 3000m time at 9:16.91, and the second-best 5000m time at 16:24.72. The outdoor season records feature her name quite often as well, as she holds the sixth-best 1500m time at 4:21.22, the third-quickest 3000m steeplechse mark with a time of 10:35.20, and the best 5000m time at 15:58.61.
The group also features redshirt senior Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium - University of Leuven), one of the top 3000m steeplechase runners in program history. Last season, Gallein qualified to the NCAA Championships in the event after finishing third at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 9:58.61. A number of Eagles will also provide plenty of depth, including sophomore Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind. - Zionsville Community), who had a strong cross country season.
Hurdles
The hurdles group features four student-athletes with collegiate experience. Sophomore Ayanna O'Neal (Cincinnati, Ohio - Withrow) finished fifth in the 100m hurdles finals at the Outdoor MAC Championships with a time of 14.08 seconds. Senior Dayna Hurd (Carson, Calif. - Carson) provides veteran experience in the hurdles, as she competed in a total of 14 meets last year. Hurd took sixth in the 400m hurdles at the Outdoor MAC Championships, clocking in at 1:02.57. Junior Tifani Byrd (Toms River, N.J. - Toms River North) took part in eight indoor meets last season, posting a career-best time of 8.60 seconds in the 60m hurdles prelims at the conference championships. Junior Allyson Goff (White Lake, Mich. - Walled Lake Northern) may also make an impact after spending the last two seasons at Georgia State.
Jumps
Junior Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia - Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) had another strong season last year, qualifying to the NCAA East Regional in the triple jump and the long jump. There, she set an EMU record in the triple jump, posting a mark of 12.91 meters/ 42 feet 4.25-inches, which was good for 19th. Dreimane also took home a pair of top-five finishes at the Outdoor MAC Championships in the triple jump and the long jump with marks of 12.71 meters/ 41 feet 8.5-inches and 6.06 meters/ 19 feet 10.75-inches, respectively.
Seniors Kristina Coyne (Pittsburgh, Pa. - Chartiers Valley) and Janina Pollatz (Grandville, Mich. - Grand Rapids Christian) return as well. Coyne competed in both the high jump and the triple jump throughout the indoor season, setting a career-best in the high jump at the Indoor MAC Championships with a mark of 1.69 meters/ 5 feet 6.5-inches. She also posted personal-best marks of 1.65 meters/ 5 feet 5-inches in the high jump and 11.57 meters/ 37 feet 11.5-inches in the triple jump during the outdoor season. Pollatz finished fifth in the long jump at the Indoor MAC Championships with a mark of 5.82 meters/ 19 feet 1-inch, which was a career-best.
Pole Vault
Pollatz also was successful in the pole vault last year, qualifying to the NCAA East Regional in the event. The Grandville, Mich. native holds the fifth-best outdoor pole vault mark in program history, as she vaulted 4.10 meters/ 13 feet 5.25-inches at the Jesse Owens Classic, April 22-23. The indoor season records also feature Pollatz, as she holds the seventh-best mark of 3.92 meters/ 12 feet 10.25-inches. Senior Natalie Uy (Kettering, Ohio - Fairmont) is also capable of putting up big marks. as her name can be found in the record book as well. Uy maintains the fifth-best indoor mark at 4.04 meters/ 13 feet 3-inches, while she also is tied for sixth-best in outdoor at 4.05 meters/ 13 feet 3.5-inches.
Throws
EMU's throws group also features some strong returners. Some of the top discus throwers in program history will look to top their marks this season. Sophomore Jada Taylor (Neptune, N.J. - Neptune) will look to best her impressive discus mark of 43.98 meters/ 144 feet 3.5-inches, while senior Megan Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio - Woodmoore) will certainly be an asset in the event as well. The duo also hold some of the best indoor weight throw marks in EMU history, with Taylor holding sixth with a mark of 15.35 meters/ 50 feet 4.5-inches, and Pendleton two spots behind in eighth with a throw of 14.58 meters/ 47 feet 10-inches. Coyne will also participate in the javelin throw, as she posted the 10th-best javelin mark in the EMU record books at the Jesse Owens Classic with a throw of 38.17 meters/ 125 feet 3-inches.
Multis
Finally, Uy will also bring some experience to the multis group, as she holds a personal-best pentathlon mark of 3311 points. Sophomore Rebekah Carr (Celina, Ohio - Celina) took part in multis last year as a freshman on multiple occasions. Carr maintains career-best marks of 2874 in the pentathlon, which was set at the Eubanks Open, Jan. 15, and 3624 in the heptathlon, set at the Drake Relays, April 28.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team will lift the lid on their season this Friday, Dec. 2, at the GVSU Holiday Open in Allendale, Mich. This will be the team's only meet in 2016, as the indoor season will pick back up in early January with the Simmons Harvey Invitational, Jan. 14.
"We're excited to begin our season and get some marks established," said Head Coach Sue Parks. "We won't have everyone competing at this point, but all event areas will be represented in this meet. The distance group will be at full strength and we'll look for them to use their cross country fitness to post some marks on the track. It will also be great to see some new Eagles in uniform for us for the first time."
The meet will be held in the Kelly Family Turf Building, and is slated to begin at 2:45 p.m. with the men's high jump, followed by the women's high jump. Field events will begin shortly after at 3 p.m. with the women's weight throw, while running events will also start at 3 p.m. with the 60m hurdles. For more information on the meet, please click here.
The Eagles, who won both the Indoor and Outdoor Mid-American Conference titles last season, return a number of very strong student-athletes this season. Take a look below and check out a short breakdown of each event group, including some of the top returners.
Sprints
This season, the sprints group will feature a number of strong returners, including sophomore Jessica Harris (Slidell, La. - Slidell), who was named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year following both the indoor and outdoor conference championships. Harris, who was named second team All-MAC for the indoor season, posted a career-best mark of 7.48 seconds in the 60m, which was also the 10th-best time program history. She also earned first team All-MAC honors in the outdoor season, securing the sixth-quickest 100m time in EMU history after crossing the finish line in 11.67 seconds at the Outdoor MAC Championships, May 14.
Junior Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa. - Hempfield Area) brings plenty of experience as well after being named first team All-MAC following the Outdoor MAC Championships. There, she played a key role in the team's 4x100m relay victory, which clocked in at 45.72 seconds. Jones currently holds personal-best marks of 7.64 in the 60m, 11.94 in the 100m, 23.96 in the 200m, and 54.83 in the 400m. The squad also brings back senior Khadesha James (Irvington, N.J. - Irvington), a first team All-MAC honoree from last season after running a leg of the distance medley relay at the conference championships. Finally, sophomores Sundasia Baker (Westville, N.J. - Deptford Twp.) and Jocelyn Sharpe (Westerville, Ohio - Westerville North) also provide added depth after gaining some experience last year.
Mid-Distance
Eastern brings back all three mid-distance runners from last season, all of whom gained even more experience throughout the cross country season. Junior Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville) had a breakout 2016, winning the 800m title at the Outdoor MAC Championships with a time of 2:10.19, which was the ninth-best in program history. Junior Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley) also qualified to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, where she posted the fourth-best 1500m time in EMU history, clocking in at 4:19.74. Fellow junior Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium - Sportschol KA2) had a strong season as well, posting the seventh-best indoor 800m time in EMU history at the indoor conference championships with a time of 2:10.75. The unit will also be bolstered by junior Claire Mesa (Rockford, Ill. - Rockford Lutheran), as well as some distance runners.
Distance
The Eagles recently capped off their best cross country season in program history, and the same student-athletes will look to keep that momentum on the track. Junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison) finished as a cross country All-American, and will likely lead the distance group this year. Last season, the Davison, Mich. native broke the program record in the indoor 5000m, clocking in at 15:58.18 and becoming the only Eagle to ever post a time below 16 minutes in the event. She also qualified to the Outdoor NCAA Championships, June 8-11, where she finished 17th in the 5000m with a time of 16:31.77. McDermitt currently holds top-five program times in the indoor 3000m and 5000m, as well as the outdoor 5000m and 10000m.
Senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83) was named the Most Valuable Performer following the Outdoor MAC Championships, as the senior won both the mile and the 5000m with times of 4:53.58 and 16:29.91, respectively. The Kazan, Russia native maintains the second-best indoor mile time in EMU history at 4:41.15, the third-best 3000m time at 9:16.91, and the second-best 5000m time at 16:24.72. The outdoor season records feature her name quite often as well, as she holds the sixth-best 1500m time at 4:21.22, the third-quickest 3000m steeplechse mark with a time of 10:35.20, and the best 5000m time at 15:58.61.
The group also features redshirt senior Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium - University of Leuven), one of the top 3000m steeplechase runners in program history. Last season, Gallein qualified to the NCAA Championships in the event after finishing third at the NCAA East Regional with a time of 9:58.61. A number of Eagles will also provide plenty of depth, including sophomore Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind. - Zionsville Community), who had a strong cross country season.
Hurdles
The hurdles group features four student-athletes with collegiate experience. Sophomore Ayanna O'Neal (Cincinnati, Ohio - Withrow) finished fifth in the 100m hurdles finals at the Outdoor MAC Championships with a time of 14.08 seconds. Senior Dayna Hurd (Carson, Calif. - Carson) provides veteran experience in the hurdles, as she competed in a total of 14 meets last year. Hurd took sixth in the 400m hurdles at the Outdoor MAC Championships, clocking in at 1:02.57. Junior Tifani Byrd (Toms River, N.J. - Toms River North) took part in eight indoor meets last season, posting a career-best time of 8.60 seconds in the 60m hurdles prelims at the conference championships. Junior Allyson Goff (White Lake, Mich. - Walled Lake Northern) may also make an impact after spending the last two seasons at Georgia State.
Jumps
Junior Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia - Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) had another strong season last year, qualifying to the NCAA East Regional in the triple jump and the long jump. There, she set an EMU record in the triple jump, posting a mark of 12.91 meters/ 42 feet 4.25-inches, which was good for 19th. Dreimane also took home a pair of top-five finishes at the Outdoor MAC Championships in the triple jump and the long jump with marks of 12.71 meters/ 41 feet 8.5-inches and 6.06 meters/ 19 feet 10.75-inches, respectively.
Seniors Kristina Coyne (Pittsburgh, Pa. - Chartiers Valley) and Janina Pollatz (Grandville, Mich. - Grand Rapids Christian) return as well. Coyne competed in both the high jump and the triple jump throughout the indoor season, setting a career-best in the high jump at the Indoor MAC Championships with a mark of 1.69 meters/ 5 feet 6.5-inches. She also posted personal-best marks of 1.65 meters/ 5 feet 5-inches in the high jump and 11.57 meters/ 37 feet 11.5-inches in the triple jump during the outdoor season. Pollatz finished fifth in the long jump at the Indoor MAC Championships with a mark of 5.82 meters/ 19 feet 1-inch, which was a career-best.
Pole Vault
Pollatz also was successful in the pole vault last year, qualifying to the NCAA East Regional in the event. The Grandville, Mich. native holds the fifth-best outdoor pole vault mark in program history, as she vaulted 4.10 meters/ 13 feet 5.25-inches at the Jesse Owens Classic, April 22-23. The indoor season records also feature Pollatz, as she holds the seventh-best mark of 3.92 meters/ 12 feet 10.25-inches. Senior Natalie Uy (Kettering, Ohio - Fairmont) is also capable of putting up big marks. as her name can be found in the record book as well. Uy maintains the fifth-best indoor mark at 4.04 meters/ 13 feet 3-inches, while she also is tied for sixth-best in outdoor at 4.05 meters/ 13 feet 3.5-inches.
Throws
EMU's throws group also features some strong returners. Some of the top discus throwers in program history will look to top their marks this season. Sophomore Jada Taylor (Neptune, N.J. - Neptune) will look to best her impressive discus mark of 43.98 meters/ 144 feet 3.5-inches, while senior Megan Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio - Woodmoore) will certainly be an asset in the event as well. The duo also hold some of the best indoor weight throw marks in EMU history, with Taylor holding sixth with a mark of 15.35 meters/ 50 feet 4.5-inches, and Pendleton two spots behind in eighth with a throw of 14.58 meters/ 47 feet 10-inches. Coyne will also participate in the javelin throw, as she posted the 10th-best javelin mark in the EMU record books at the Jesse Owens Classic with a throw of 38.17 meters/ 125 feet 3-inches.
Multis
Finally, Uy will also bring some experience to the multis group, as she holds a personal-best pentathlon mark of 3311 points. Sophomore Rebekah Carr (Celina, Ohio - Celina) took part in multis last year as a freshman on multiple occasions. Carr maintains career-best marks of 2874 in the pentathlon, which was set at the Eubanks Open, Jan. 15, and 3624 in the heptathlon, set at the Drake Relays, April 28.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis/Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis/Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & FieldThank You from EMU Cross Country/Track & Field!
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