Eagles Begin Gina Relays with Strong Opening Day

Gina Relays Day Two Results

HILLSDALE, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After having the distance squad compete yesterday in Philadelphia, the Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team kicked off the Gina Relays today, April 28, in Hillsdale, Mich. The Eagles had a strong opening day of competition at the meet, totaling seven personal-bests.

"Abel Flores' 10k personal-best was certainly the highlight of the day, as he continues to get closer and closer to breaking the 30-minute barrier," remarked Head Coach John Goodridge. "He has trained consistently well and continues to improve each year."

At the Gina Relays, the Green and White had a pair of mid-distance runners finish within the top-10 of the 800m run open. Redshirt sophomore Nick McFarland (Hillsborough, N.J. – Hillsborough) led the way, turning in a seventh-place finish with a career-best time of 1:55.14. Just two spots behind him, freshman Dan Kuhn (Erie, Pa. – Harbor Creek) crossed the finish line in ninth after posting a personal-best time of 1:55.31.

In the 10k run, redshirt junior Abel Flores (Defiance, Ohio – Defiance) had a career day. The redshirt junior clocked in with a personal-best time of 30:10.09, which was good for third-place. Also taking part in the event was fellow redshirt junior Mitch Lenneman (River Falls, Wis. – River Falls), who claimed 18^th in 31:25.79.

The Eagles claimed seventh in the 4x800m relay, as Kuhn, freshman Roderic Wilson (Atlanta, Ga. – Blanche Ely), redshirt junior Caleb Hess (Owosso, Mich. – Owosso), and junior Tom Jozwiak (Southgate, Mich. – Thomas J. Anderson) clocked in at 8:01.76. Two Eagles also finished within the top-10 of the 400m hurdles. Freshman Devonte Findlay (Lauderhill, Fla. – Blanche Ely) clocked in at 55.36 seconds to claim fourth, while sophomore Elijah Barber (Columbus, Ohio – Eastmoor Academy) nabbed eighth in 56.93 seconds.

Two Eagles also placed in the top-five of the pole vault championship. Freshman Colin Etchen (Edgerton, Ohio – Edgerton) secured the bronze, posting a mark of 4.75 meters/ 15 feet 7-inches, while sophomore Alex Jacobs (Dublin, Ohio – Dublin Jerome) took fifth with a personal-best vault of 4.60 meters/ 15 feet 1-inch. A pair of EMU throwers also finished within the top-five of the shot put. Redshirt sophomore Zach Purcilly (Troy, Mich. – Avondale) took home the silver with a throw of 15.39 meters/ 50 feet 6-inches, while freshman Jannik Schmitt (Plymouth, Mich. – Salem) finished fourth with a personal-best mark of 15.20 meters/ 49 feet 10.50-inches.

Finally, redshirt freshman Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla. – Edmond Memorial) secured a career-best mark in the hammer throw open, as he posted a launch of 48.09 meters/ 157 feet 9-inches to claim eighth. Redshirt sophomore Austin Hazek (Medina, Ohio – Medina) finished within the top-10 as well, snagging 10^th with a mark of 45.45 meters/ 149 feet 1-inch.

The Green and White wrap up both the Penn Relays and the Gina Relays tomorrow, April 29. Both of the meets are slated to get rolling once again at 9 a.m. in Philadelphia and 10 a.m. in Hillsdale.

EMU Individual Results (* denotes a personal-best)
Gina Relays
800m Run Open
7. Nick McFarland 1:55.14*
9. Dan Kuhn 1:55.31*
11. Tom Jozwiak 1:55.92
26. Roderic Wilson 1:57.58

10k Run Championship
3. Abel Flores 30:10.09*
18. Mitch Lenneman 31:25.79*

4x800m Relay Championship
7. Kuhn, Wilson, Hess, Jozwiak 8:01.76

400m Hurdles Open
4. Devonte Findlay 55.36
8. Elijah Barber 56.93

Pole Vault Championship
3. Colin Etchen 4.75m/ 15-07.00
5. Alex Jacobs 4.60m/ 15-01.00*

Shot Put Open
2. Zach Purcilly 15.39m/ 50-06.00
4. Jannik Schmitt 15.20m/ 49-10.50*

Hammer Throw Open
8. Taige Bryant 48.09m/ 157-09*
10. Austin Hazek 45.45m/ 149-01
Zach Harkey FOUL

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elijah Barber

Taige Bryant

Colin Etchen

Devonte Findlay

Abel Flores

Zach Harkey

Austin Hazek

Caleb Hess

Alex Jacobs

Tom Jozwiak

Dan Kuhn

Mitch Lenneman

Nick McFarland

Zach Purcilly

Jannik Schmitt

Roderic Wilson

Eastern Michigan Athletics