Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Kent, Ohio
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
MAC Championship
Photo by: Kent State Athletics
Men’s Track and Field Falls Just Shy of Back-to-Back MAC Titles
2/23/2019 7:31:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
EMU finishes second with 153.5 points, just 2.5 short of first-place Akron
Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Led by two-time 2019 Individual Mid-American Conference champion senior Tyler Underwood (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), the Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team concluded its time at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, Feb. 23, inside Kent State Field House. The Eagles collected five individual titles and both relay titles throughout the weekend, good for a point total of 153.5, but fell just 2.5 points shy of securing back-to-back conference titles.
"Today was an excellent competitive effort by the team that just came up a little short," Head Men's Track and Field coach John Goodridge noted. "I am very proud of so many guys that competed so hard for their teammates and our great tradition of success here at EMU."
The University of Akron took home the 2019 league title with 156 points overall, followed by the Eagles and host Kent State University (106.5 points) in second and third, respectively. Rounding out the leaderboard was the University at Buffalo with 63 points and Central Michigan University with 46 points.
EMU picked up 10 All-Mid American Conference selections, as well as three specialty awards for the team's performance throughout the conference championships. Assistant coach Sterling Roberts was named Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, while sophomore Owen Day (Ottowa, Ontario-International School of Dusseldorf) was tabbed Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer. With Underwood's two individual titles, he deservedly was named the conference's Most Valuable Performer.
Underwood finished his MAC Indoor career with two individual championships, securing top finishes in both the 200m and 400m with career-best efforts. His 200m mark of 21.18 registered the fifth-fastest effort by an Eastern Michigan runner in the event, while his 400m time of 46.30 moved him up five spots in the EMU history books to the third-fastest performance by an Eagle in program history.
Sophomore Day continued his conference success, defending his mile individual title with a 4:12.86 effort. He also placed second in the 800m with a career-best performance, crossing the finish line in 1:52.33.
Sprinter junior Terrell Posada (Naples, Fla.-Naples) snagged the 60m dash title with a career-best dash of 6.78 seconds, tying the 10th-best time in program history. Senior Melika Ghali (Toronto, Canada-Jarvis Collegiate Institute) closed out his senior indoor campaign with an outstanding 3000m run of 8:26.99 to secure the Eagles their fifth individual title of the day.
The 4x400 Relay squad of Underwood, sophomores Treston White (Lockport, N.Y.-Lockport) and Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England), and freshman Charlie Young (Grand Haven, Mich.-Grand Haven) secured an EMU sweep of the conference's relay titles, finishing almost a second before second-place Central Michigan with a time of 3:11.95.
Also seeing success throughout the day's competition was sophomore multis athlete Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta), placing fifth in both the High Jump and Heptathlon. His final score in the seven-part event of 5,096 points recorded the sixth-best performance by an Eastern athlete in program history.
The Eagles now wait to see if any student-athletes qualified for the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships, held March 8-9 in Birmingham, Ala.
Team Standings
1. Akron - 156
2. Eastern Michigan - 153.5
3. Kent State - 106.5
4. Buffalo - 63
5. Central Michigan - 46
All-MAC Teams
Men's First Team All-MAC
Tevin Brown, Akron (5000)
Hesham Eldesouky, Akron (TJ)
Patrick Kimball, Akron (60H)
Jordan Latimer, Akron (LJ)
Matt Ludwig, Akron (PV)
Curtis Richardson, Akron (HJ)
Leon Atkins, Buffalo (800)
Kevin Weiler, Central Michigan (SP)
Solomon Costa, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Owen Day, Eastern Michigan (Mile, DMR)
Melika Ghali, Eastern Michigan (3000)
Derek Jones, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Terrell Posada, Eastern Michigan (60)
Owen Richardson, Eastern Michigan (4x4)
Tyler Underwood, Eastern Michigan (200, 400, 4x4)
Treston White, Eastern Michigan (DMR, 4x4)
Charlie Young, Eastern Michigan (4x4)
TJ Lawson, Kent State (Hep)
Jake Wickey, Kent State (WT)
Men's Second Team All-MAC
Nuh Andu, Akron (HJ)
Marc Migliozzi, Akron (Mile)
Jacob Ondash, Akron (DMR)
Nick Stricklen, Akron (DMR)
Andrew Wahl, Akron (DMR)
Jake Wickert, Akron (DMR)
Cole Wigal, Akron (PV)
Anthony Clark, Buffalo (60H)
Devon Patterson, Buffalo (SP)
Samuel Wray, Buffalo (WT)
Jackson Blanchard, Central Michigan (4x4)
Jack Dodge, Central Michigan (400, 4x4)
Gavin Jaime, Central Michigan (4x4)
Roshawn Morton, Central Michigan (4x4)
Austin Wicker, Eastern Michigan (5000)
Samory Fraga, Kent State (LJ)
Brandon Harris, Kent State (60)
Jake Malley, Kent State (Hep)
Craig Stevens Jr., Kent State (TJ)
Specialty Awards
Men's Coach of the Year:
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year:
Sterling Roberts, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Valuable Performer:
Tyler Underwood, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer:
Owen Day, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer:
Matt Ludwig, Akron
Men's Freshman Track Performer of the Year:
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year:
Noah Andu, Akron
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes a personal-best, # denotes a program record, q denotes qualifying mark)
Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
3. Skyler Lester- 8.52 (855)
Heptathlon Pole Vault
T8. Skyler Lester- 3.40m (457)
Heptathlon 1000m
6. Skyler Lester- 2:57.40
Heptathlon Finals
5. Skyler Lester- 5,096*
High Jump
5. Skyler Lester- J2.00m
T6. Cameron Hart 1.95m
Mile
1. Owen Day- 4:12.86
3. Melika Ghali- 4:13.69
6. Solomon Costa- 4:17.64
60m Hurdles
3. Ivan Suazo- 8.08
4. Payne Wylie- 8.15
5. Frank Douglas- 8.18
400m
1. Tyler Underwood- 46.30*
4. Owen Richardson- 47.54
Pole Vault
5. Alex Jacobs- J4.91m
Colin Etchen- NH
60m
1. Terrell Posada- 6.78*
5. Sean Beckom II- 6.99
Triple Jump
4. Nick Herbert- 15.45m*
7. Micah Peters- 14.85m*
Shot Put
7. Zach Purcilly- 16.68m
9. Zach Harkey- 14.87m
10. Mike Hierholzer- 14.75m
800m
2. Owen Day- 1:52.33*
5. Roderic Wilson- 1:53.61
8. Hayelom Fitsum- 1:54.58
200m
1. Tyler Underwood- 21.18*
2. Terrell Posada- 21.21*
5. Owen Richardson- 21.33*
3000m
1. Melika Ghali- 8:26.99
3. Austin Wicker- 8:28.30
11. Baldvin Magnusson- 8:48.43
4x400m Relay
1. Young, Underwood, White, Richardson- 3:11.95
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Led by two-time 2019 Individual Mid-American Conference champion senior Tyler Underwood (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), the Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team concluded its time at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, Feb. 23, inside Kent State Field House. The Eagles collected five individual titles and both relay titles throughout the weekend, good for a point total of 153.5, but fell just 2.5 points shy of securing back-to-back conference titles.
"Today was an excellent competitive effort by the team that just came up a little short," Head Men's Track and Field coach John Goodridge noted. "I am very proud of so many guys that competed so hard for their teammates and our great tradition of success here at EMU."
The University of Akron took home the 2019 league title with 156 points overall, followed by the Eagles and host Kent State University (106.5 points) in second and third, respectively. Rounding out the leaderboard was the University at Buffalo with 63 points and Central Michigan University with 46 points.
EMU picked up 10 All-Mid American Conference selections, as well as three specialty awards for the team's performance throughout the conference championships. Assistant coach Sterling Roberts was named Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, while sophomore Owen Day (Ottowa, Ontario-International School of Dusseldorf) was tabbed Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer. With Underwood's two individual titles, he deservedly was named the conference's Most Valuable Performer.
Underwood finished his MAC Indoor career with two individual championships, securing top finishes in both the 200m and 400m with career-best efforts. His 200m mark of 21.18 registered the fifth-fastest effort by an Eastern Michigan runner in the event, while his 400m time of 46.30 moved him up five spots in the EMU history books to the third-fastest performance by an Eagle in program history.
Sophomore Day continued his conference success, defending his mile individual title with a 4:12.86 effort. He also placed second in the 800m with a career-best performance, crossing the finish line in 1:52.33.
Sprinter junior Terrell Posada (Naples, Fla.-Naples) snagged the 60m dash title with a career-best dash of 6.78 seconds, tying the 10th-best time in program history. Senior Melika Ghali (Toronto, Canada-Jarvis Collegiate Institute) closed out his senior indoor campaign with an outstanding 3000m run of 8:26.99 to secure the Eagles their fifth individual title of the day.
The 4x400 Relay squad of Underwood, sophomores Treston White (Lockport, N.Y.-Lockport) and Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England), and freshman Charlie Young (Grand Haven, Mich.-Grand Haven) secured an EMU sweep of the conference's relay titles, finishing almost a second before second-place Central Michigan with a time of 3:11.95.
Also seeing success throughout the day's competition was sophomore multis athlete Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta), placing fifth in both the High Jump and Heptathlon. His final score in the seven-part event of 5,096 points recorded the sixth-best performance by an Eastern athlete in program history.
The Eagles now wait to see if any student-athletes qualified for the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships, held March 8-9 in Birmingham, Ala.
Team Standings
1. Akron - 156
2. Eastern Michigan - 153.5
3. Kent State - 106.5
4. Buffalo - 63
5. Central Michigan - 46
All-MAC Teams
Men's First Team All-MAC
Tevin Brown, Akron (5000)
Hesham Eldesouky, Akron (TJ)
Patrick Kimball, Akron (60H)
Jordan Latimer, Akron (LJ)
Matt Ludwig, Akron (PV)
Curtis Richardson, Akron (HJ)
Leon Atkins, Buffalo (800)
Kevin Weiler, Central Michigan (SP)
Solomon Costa, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Owen Day, Eastern Michigan (Mile, DMR)
Melika Ghali, Eastern Michigan (3000)
Derek Jones, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Terrell Posada, Eastern Michigan (60)
Owen Richardson, Eastern Michigan (4x4)
Tyler Underwood, Eastern Michigan (200, 400, 4x4)
Treston White, Eastern Michigan (DMR, 4x4)
Charlie Young, Eastern Michigan (4x4)
TJ Lawson, Kent State (Hep)
Jake Wickey, Kent State (WT)
Men's Second Team All-MAC
Nuh Andu, Akron (HJ)
Marc Migliozzi, Akron (Mile)
Jacob Ondash, Akron (DMR)
Nick Stricklen, Akron (DMR)
Andrew Wahl, Akron (DMR)
Jake Wickert, Akron (DMR)
Cole Wigal, Akron (PV)
Anthony Clark, Buffalo (60H)
Devon Patterson, Buffalo (SP)
Samuel Wray, Buffalo (WT)
Jackson Blanchard, Central Michigan (4x4)
Jack Dodge, Central Michigan (400, 4x4)
Gavin Jaime, Central Michigan (4x4)
Roshawn Morton, Central Michigan (4x4)
Austin Wicker, Eastern Michigan (5000)
Samory Fraga, Kent State (LJ)
Brandon Harris, Kent State (60)
Jake Malley, Kent State (Hep)
Craig Stevens Jr., Kent State (TJ)
Specialty Awards
Men's Coach of the Year:
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year:
Sterling Roberts, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Valuable Performer:
Tyler Underwood, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer:
Owen Day, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer:
Matt Ludwig, Akron
Men's Freshman Track Performer of the Year:
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year:
Noah Andu, Akron
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes a personal-best, # denotes a program record, q denotes qualifying mark)
Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
3. Skyler Lester- 8.52 (855)
Heptathlon Pole Vault
T8. Skyler Lester- 3.40m (457)
Heptathlon 1000m
6. Skyler Lester- 2:57.40
Heptathlon Finals
5. Skyler Lester- 5,096*
High Jump
5. Skyler Lester- J2.00m
T6. Cameron Hart 1.95m
Mile
1. Owen Day- 4:12.86
3. Melika Ghali- 4:13.69
6. Solomon Costa- 4:17.64
60m Hurdles
3. Ivan Suazo- 8.08
4. Payne Wylie- 8.15
5. Frank Douglas- 8.18
400m
1. Tyler Underwood- 46.30*
4. Owen Richardson- 47.54
Pole Vault
5. Alex Jacobs- J4.91m
Colin Etchen- NH
60m
1. Terrell Posada- 6.78*
5. Sean Beckom II- 6.99
Triple Jump
4. Nick Herbert- 15.45m*
7. Micah Peters- 14.85m*
Shot Put
7. Zach Purcilly- 16.68m
9. Zach Harkey- 14.87m
10. Mike Hierholzer- 14.75m
800m
2. Owen Day- 1:52.33*
5. Roderic Wilson- 1:53.61
8. Hayelom Fitsum- 1:54.58
200m
1. Tyler Underwood- 21.18*
2. Terrell Posada- 21.21*
5. Owen Richardson- 21.33*
3000m
1. Melika Ghali- 8:26.99
3. Austin Wicker- 8:28.30
11. Baldvin Magnusson- 8:48.43
4x400m Relay
1. Young, Underwood, White, Richardson- 3:11.95
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & FieldTrack & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
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