Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 24
Ypsilanti, Mich.
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
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MAC Championships
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Set to Defend MAC Indoor Title in Bowen Field House
2/22/2017 11:05:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The Green and White look to secure the sixth indoor title in program history
MAC Championships Information
NCAA DI Indoor Qualifying List
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team wrapped up the regular season last week, and now will focus on the upcoming Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 24-25, held in Bowen Field House. After winning the conference championship last season, the Eagles look to defend their title at home to secure the second leg of the triple crown.
Last week, the Green and White sent a small number of participants to the GVSU Tune-Up, Friday, Feb. 17, in Allendale, Mich. The meet gave the Eagles one final opportunity to get some experience under their belts before the postseason.
Junior Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa. - Hempfield Area) had a strong day in the 60m dash, taking second in the prelims with a time of 7.74 seconds to earn a finals berth. Jones then won the event in the finals, finishing atop the podium with a time of 7.62 seconds. In the 200m dash, Emiesha Burrell (Ecorse, Mich. - Anderson) took home the bronze, clocking in at 26.00 seconds, which was a career-best, while junior Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville) snagged third in the 400m dash in 57.96 seconds.
In the mile, senior Anna Aldrich (Fremont, Ind. – Fremont) turned in the best mile of her career, finishing in second-place with a personal-best time of 5:01.10. Junior Tifani Byrd (Toms River, N.J. – Toms River North) also secured a finals berth in the 60m hurdles, clocking in at 8.76 seconds in the prelims to finish second. Byrd matched her prelims finish in the finals, ultimately taking second with a finals mark of 8.78 seconds.
Additionally, sophomore Rebekah Carr (Celina, Ohio – Celina) snagged second in the pole vault, finsihing with a vault of 3.45 meters/ 11 feet 3.75-inches. Finally, in the high jump, junior Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia - Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) turned in a third-place finish, completing a jump of 1.60 meters/ 5 feet 3-inches.
At last year's MAC Championships, the Eagles secured their fifth title in program history with a total of 127 points, edging out Akron by just one point. Senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83) was named the Most Valuable Performer, winning the mile and the 5000m, while also taking third in the 3000m. Junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison) also secured an event victory, winning the 3000m run by edging out a pair of teammates for the gold.
Eastern also claimed top honors in the distance medley relay, crossing the finish line four seconds quicker than second-place Miami. Additionally, sophomore Jessica Harris (Slidell, La. - Slidell) was named the MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year after finishing second in the 60m dash finals with a time of 7.50 seconds. Finally, Head Coach Sue Parks was also named MAC Coach of the Year, while six Eagles earned All-MAC first team honors and one earned second team honors.
With the regular season now complete, the Eagles have a strong total of five individuals ranked in the top-50 of six different events in the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying List according to the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). Beginning in the 800m, junior Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley) holds the No. 47 spot, while she also sits at No. 49 in the mile. In the 3000m, McDermitt and Bogdanova each hold top-25 spots, as McDermitt ranks No. 19 while Bogdanova is No. 25.
EMU also has three runners in the top-50 of the 5000m, as McDermitt still holds an impressive No. 4 ranking. Additionally, Cizmas comes in at No. 33, while Bogdanova holds on to No. 50. Moving to field events, senior Janina Pollatz (Grandville, Mich. - Grand Rapids Christian) sits at No. 37 in the pole vault, while Dreimane holds the No. 40 spot in the triple jump.
The MAC Indoor Championships are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. with both the pentathlon 60m hurdles and the women's shot put. Running events will begin later in the afternoon at 2 p.m. with the women's 60m hurdles trials. Action resumes on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon 60m hurdles, followed shortly by the men's weight throw at 10:15 a.m. Running events pick back up at 1:30 p.m. with the women's mile run. For a complete schedule of events, please click here.
NCAA DI Indoor Qualifying List
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team wrapped up the regular season last week, and now will focus on the upcoming Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 24-25, held in Bowen Field House. After winning the conference championship last season, the Eagles look to defend their title at home to secure the second leg of the triple crown.
Last week, the Green and White sent a small number of participants to the GVSU Tune-Up, Friday, Feb. 17, in Allendale, Mich. The meet gave the Eagles one final opportunity to get some experience under their belts before the postseason.
Junior Jasmine Jones (Greensburg, Pa. - Hempfield Area) had a strong day in the 60m dash, taking second in the prelims with a time of 7.74 seconds to earn a finals berth. Jones then won the event in the finals, finishing atop the podium with a time of 7.62 seconds. In the 200m dash, Emiesha Burrell (Ecorse, Mich. - Anderson) took home the bronze, clocking in at 26.00 seconds, which was a career-best, while junior Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville) snagged third in the 400m dash in 57.96 seconds.
In the mile, senior Anna Aldrich (Fremont, Ind. – Fremont) turned in the best mile of her career, finishing in second-place with a personal-best time of 5:01.10. Junior Tifani Byrd (Toms River, N.J. – Toms River North) also secured a finals berth in the 60m hurdles, clocking in at 8.76 seconds in the prelims to finish second. Byrd matched her prelims finish in the finals, ultimately taking second with a finals mark of 8.78 seconds.
Additionally, sophomore Rebekah Carr (Celina, Ohio – Celina) snagged second in the pole vault, finsihing with a vault of 3.45 meters/ 11 feet 3.75-inches. Finally, in the high jump, junior Dace Dreimane (Ventspils, Latvia - Ventspils Gymnasium No. 1) turned in a third-place finish, completing a jump of 1.60 meters/ 5 feet 3-inches.
At last year's MAC Championships, the Eagles secured their fifth title in program history with a total of 127 points, edging out Akron by just one point. Senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83) was named the Most Valuable Performer, winning the mile and the 5000m, while also taking third in the 3000m. Junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison) also secured an event victory, winning the 3000m run by edging out a pair of teammates for the gold.
Eastern also claimed top honors in the distance medley relay, crossing the finish line four seconds quicker than second-place Miami. Additionally, sophomore Jessica Harris (Slidell, La. - Slidell) was named the MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year after finishing second in the 60m dash finals with a time of 7.50 seconds. Finally, Head Coach Sue Parks was also named MAC Coach of the Year, while six Eagles earned All-MAC first team honors and one earned second team honors.
With the regular season now complete, the Eagles have a strong total of five individuals ranked in the top-50 of six different events in the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying List according to the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). Beginning in the 800m, junior Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley) holds the No. 47 spot, while she also sits at No. 49 in the mile. In the 3000m, McDermitt and Bogdanova each hold top-25 spots, as McDermitt ranks No. 19 while Bogdanova is No. 25.
EMU also has three runners in the top-50 of the 5000m, as McDermitt still holds an impressive No. 4 ranking. Additionally, Cizmas comes in at No. 33, while Bogdanova holds on to No. 50. Moving to field events, senior Janina Pollatz (Grandville, Mich. - Grand Rapids Christian) sits at No. 37 in the pole vault, while Dreimane holds the No. 40 spot in the triple jump.
The MAC Indoor Championships are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. with both the pentathlon 60m hurdles and the women's shot put. Running events will begin later in the afternoon at 2 p.m. with the women's 60m hurdles trials. Action resumes on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon 60m hurdles, followed shortly by the men's weight throw at 10:15 a.m. Running events pick back up at 1:30 p.m. with the women's mile run. For a complete schedule of events, please click here.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis/Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Pole Vault
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