Eagles Complete Day Two in California

Mt SAC Relays Results
Beach Invitational Results

NORWALK, Calif./LONG BEACH, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team wrapped up their second day of competition yesterday, April 15, out on the west coast. Participating in the Mt SAC Relays and the Beach Invitational, the Eagles set many personal-bests on the day, including a few that ranked in the top-10 of the EMU record books.

The sprints group did extremely well at the Mt SAC Relays, with every competitor in the 100m dash setting a new personal-bests. Leading the way was freshman Jessica Harris (Slidell, La. – Slidell), who clocked in at 11.73, which is also the ninth quickest time in program history. Just behind her, senior Aaliyah McKinney (South Bend, Ind. – John Adams) crossed the finish line in 11.75, while fellow senior Morgan Yeadon (Indianapolis, Ind. – Pike) posted a time of 12.03. In the 200m dash, McKinney led the way, finishing the race in 24.18. Yeadon also posted another career-best in the event with a time of 24.35, while sophomore Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa. – Hempfield Area) nabbed a personal-best time of 24.36 Rounding out the sprints was junior Khadesha James (Irvington, N.J. – Irvington) in the 400m dash, where she clocked in at 57.06, which was also a career-best.

The mid-distance group was also very successful, as all four runners posted career-bests as well. In the 800m, sophomore Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium – Sportschol KA2) posted a career-best time of 2:14.66. Running in the 1500m open, sophomore Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. – Chippewa Valley) nabbed a 13^th place finish with a personal-best time of 4:24.83. Not only was her time a career-high by 14 seconds, but it was also the seventh quickest all time in EMU history. Freshman Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind. – Zionsville Community) also had a great race, nabbing a career-best time of 4:31.48. Finally, junior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia – Lyceum #83) took part in the 1500m elite race, claiming 17^th with a time of 4:22.63, which was the sixth best in the EMU record books.

In the distance events, the Eagles had a trio of runners take part in the 5000m. Running in the open race, sophomore Danielle Bentzley (Birmingham, Mich. – Seaholm) crossed the finish line in 17:15.17, which was a new personal-best. In the elite race, sophomore Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. – Davison) led the way in 24^th with a time of 16:14.89. Also taking part was senior Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium – University of Leuven), who ran a 16:39.15, putting her fifth all-time in EMU laurels.

Moving to the hurdles, Eastern had two participants in the 100m hurdles open. Freshman Ayanna O'Neal (Cincinnati, Ohio – Withrow) was the Eagles' top finisher, posting a time of 14.50. In the 400m hurdles, senior Maya Carter (Racine, Wis. – Case) posted a time of 1:05.93 to place 33^rd. EMU had a fantastic race in the 4x100m relay open, as the group of Harris, McKinney, Yeadon, and Jones crossed the finish line in 45.69 to take fourth. Their time was also the eighth best in program history.

The Green and White also took part in two sections of the pole vault. In section A, senior Ellie Braidic (Pandora, Ohio – Pandora-Gilboa) finished 6^th with a vault of 3.90 meters/ 12 feet 9.5-inches to place sixth. On the other hand, junior Natalie Uy (Kettering, Ohio – Fairmont) participated in section B, taking fifth with the same mark of 3.90 meters/ 12 feet 9.5-inches.

Over at the Beach Invitational, the Eagles participated in two events. In the hammer throw, junior Megan Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio – Woodmoore) posted a mark of 46.50 meters/ 152 feet 7-inches. Fellow junior Kristina Coyne (Pittsburgh, Pa. – Chartiers Valley) competed in the javelin throw, finishing with a throw of 36.63 meters/ 120 feet 2-inches.

The Eagles continue competition at both the Mt SAC Relays, as well as the Beach Invitational, today, April 16.

EMU Individual Results (* denotes a personal best)
Event                                                 Mark
Mt SAC Relays Results
100m Dash Open
27. Jessica Harris                             11.73*
28. Aaliyah McKinney                       11.75*
48. Morgan Yeadon                          12.03*

200m Dash Open
36. Aaliyah McKinney                       24.18
39. Morgan Yeadon                          24.35*
40. Jasmine Jones                            24.36*

400m Dash Open
43. Khadesha James                        57.06*

800m Run Open
44. Jenna Wyns                                2:14.66*

1500m Run Open
13. Natalie Cizmas                           4:24.83*
32. Sydney Meyers                          4:31.48*

1500m Run Elite
17. Alsu Bogdanova                         4:22.63*

5000m Run Open
37. Danielle Bentzley                        17:15.17*

5000m Run Elite
24. Jordann McDermitt                    16:14.89
44. Sofie Gallein                              16:39.15*

100m Hurdles Open
24. Ayanna O'Neal                          14.50
27. Maya Carter                               14.58

400m Hurdles Open
33. Maya Carter                               1:05.93
Dayna Hurd                                       DQ

4x100m Relay Open
4. Harris, McKinney                         45.69
Yeadon, Jones

Pole Vault Open A
6. Ellie Braidic                                   3.90m/ 12-09.50

Pole Vault Open B
5. Natalie Uy                                    3.90m/ 12-09.50
Janina Pollatz                                   NH

Beach Invitational Results
Hammer Throw
59, Megan Pendleton                     46.50m/ 152-07

Javelin Throw
33. Kristina Coyne                           36.63m/120-02

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Danielle Bentzley

Alsu Bogdanova

Ellie Braidic

Maya Carter

Natalie Cizmas

Kristina Coyne

Sofie Gallein

Jessica Harris

Dayna Hurd

Khadesha James

Jasmine Jones

Jordann McDermitt

Aaliyah McKinney

Sydney Meyers

Ayanna O'Neal

Megan Pendleton

Janina Pollatz

Natalie Uy

Jenna Wyns

Morgan Yeadon

Eastern Michigan Athletics