Women's Track and Field Has Strong Outing In Season Opener

ALLENDALE, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team opened the 2017 season, Friday, Dec. 1, at the GVSU Holiday Open in Allendale, Mich. Overall, the Eagles had an impressive season opener, as the team saw multiple first-place finishes, as well as some performances that cracked the program's record books.

"Like most first meets, we had some strong performances along with some areas that need improvement," said Head Coach Sue Parks. "It was great to get out there and compete before the holidays and begin working towards our goals for the indoor season. We have six weeks until our next meet and that is a lot of time to make some good progress from this starting point."

Senior team captain Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa.-Hempfield Area) picked up right where she left off, claiming first-place in both the 60 and 300m dash with personal-best times of 7.55 and 39.17s, respectively. Redshirt senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia-Lyceum #83) also put together an incredible performance, capturing first in the 5000m with the program's best indoor time of 16:16.8, which also serves as a personal record. Senior Allyson Goff (White Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) crossed the 60m hurdles finish line in 8.72 to take first place in the event. Fellow senior Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia-Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) and freshman Michaela Nelms (Rocky Mount, N. C.-Nash Central) rounded out the Eagles who placed first in their events, as Dreimane took the long jump title and Nelms won the 400m in her first meet as a collegiate athlete.

The 60m dash saw four Eagles finish in the top-five in preliminaries and qualify for the finals heat. Junior Jessica Harris (Slidell, La.-Slidell) finished shortly behind Jones, as the two finished first and second with sophomore Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) coming in fifth.

Along with Nelms capturing her first event title in collegiate competition, sophomore Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Toledo Christian) also put up a solid performance in the 400m, as the Toledo, Ohio native claimed second in 56.34.

Junior Jocelyn Sharpe (Westerville, Ohio-Westerville North) stood strong as the lone EMU representative in the 600m. Sharpe finished third while also marking a new career-best time of 1:38.29, beating her old record by over three seconds. Another Eagle to post a new career-record, senior Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium-Sportschool KA2) turning in a 3000m time of 9:42.56, which also ranks ninth-best in program history.

Three Eagles qualified for the 60m hurdles finals, all of which placed within the finals' top-five. Following Goff's first-place performance was junior Ayanna O'Neal (Cincinnati, Ohio-Withrow), who came in third with a time of 8.76, and senior Tifani Byrd (Toms River, N.J.-Toms River North), who placed fourth in 8.83. Another strong group performance came from the 4x400 squad, as Nelms, Johnston, freshman Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start), and Jones claimed second-place, finishing in 3:44.29.

The Green and White will have a short break from competition, as EMU travels to Bowling Green, Ohio, Friday, Dec. 8, to compete in the BG Open.

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

60m Dash Prelims
2. Jasmine Jones        7.60Q
3. Jessica Harris         7.68Q
4. Brittni Mason      7.70Q
5. Michaela Nelms 7.71Q*

60m Dash Finals
1. Jasmine Jones        7.55*
2. Jessica Harris      7.60
5. Brittni Mason     7.69

200m Dash
27. Kristine Bourg            27.88*
30. Rebekah Carr            28.01
31. Gianna Salzbrunn    28.10*

300m Dash
1. Jasmine Jones            39.17*#
21. Elisa Hendriksen    45.89*

400m Dash
1. Michaela Nelms         56.17*
2. Micah Johnston      56.34
4. Keypathwa Gibson    57.98*

600m Run
3. Jocelyn Sharpe            1:38.29*

800m Run
12. Claire Mesa                2:19.10
15. Madison Distelrath    2:22.04*

Mile Run
6. Madison Distelrath       5:02.32*

3000m Run
7. Jenna Wyns                 9:42.56*

5000m Run
1. Alsu Bogdanova          16:16.81*
3. Natalie Cizmas            16:34.18
6. Sydney Meyers            16:45.99
18. Tarynn Cullings          17:45.41*

60m Hurdles Prelims
1. Allyson Goff                    8.63Q
3. Tifani Byrd                      8.91Q
4. Ayanna O'Neal                8.82Q

60m Hurdles Finals
1. Allyson Goff                   8.72
3. Ayanna O'Neal                8.76
4. Tifani Byrd                       8.83

4x400 Relay
2. Nelms, Johnston, Gibson, Jones    3:44.29

High Jump
2. Dace Dreimane                1.63m/5-04.25
7. Emily Westers                1.58m/5-02.25*

Pole Vault
8. Graysen Simmons            J3.35m/10-11.75*
8. Rebekah Carr              3.20m/10-06.00

Long Jump
1. Dace Dreimane               5.49m/18-00.25
6. Crystal Washington 5.27m/17-03.50*
12. Gianna Salzbrunn    5.02m/16-05.75
13. Kristine Bourg 4.93m/16-02.25*

Triple Jump
4. Crystal Washington   11.75m/38-06.75*

Shot Put
12. Kadian Clarke                12.14m/39-10.00*
21. Savanah Luthman    10.68m/35-00.50*
27. Jaycie Harris                   9.42m/30-11.00
30. Alana Sims                     8.32m/27-03.75

Weight Throw
20. Savanah Luthman          13.55m/44-05.50*
23. Kadian Clarke                 12.94m/42-05.50*
26. Jaycie Harris                   12.46m/40-10.50*
30. Alana Sims                      10.83m/35-06.50*

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alsu Bogdanova

Kristine Bourg

Tifani Byrd

Rebekah Carr

Natalie Cizmas

Kadian Clarke

Tarynn Cullings

Madison Distelrath

Dace Dreimane

Keypathwa Gibson

Allyson Goff

Jaycie Harris

Jessica Harris

Elisa Hendriksen

Micah Johnston

Jasmine Jones

Savanah Luthman

Brittni Mason

Claire Mesa

Sydney Meyers

Michaela Nelms

Ayanna O'Neal

Gianna Salzbrunn

Jocelyn Sharpe

Graysen Simmons

Crystal Washington

Emily Westers

Jenna Wyns

Eastern Michigan Athletics