Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Kent, Ohio
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
MAC Championship
Photo by: Kent State Athletics
Women's Track and Field Takes Second at MAC Indoor Championships
2/23/2019 6:20:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Eagles unable to catch Chippewas, place second overall with 91 points
Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team concluded competition at the 2019 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, Feb. 23, inside Kent State Field House. The Eagles nabbed four top-10 program performances throughout the day en route to a second-place finish, falling by 23.5 points to MAC Champion Central Michigan University.
"We battled hard today, but we just did not have enough to compete with Central Michigan," Head Women's Track and Field Coach Sue Parks said of the day's competition. "They were the best team this indoor season and they had a great meet this weekend. But, I'm proud of our effort. We kept fighting until the end and we had some strong performances throughout the meet. We asked a lot of some of our top athletes, and they competed well in multiple events."
EMU topped the other 10 conference competitors by a minimum of seven points, securing its 14th-straight second-place or better finish at the MAC Championships. The University of Akron placed third with 81 points, followed by the University of Toledo and Western Michigan University with 69 and 62 points, respectively. Host Kent State University rounded out the top half of competitors with 56.50 points for a sixth-place finish.
Earning the two top individual Eagles' finishes in day two of the conference championship competition were senior captains Jessica Harris (Slidell, La.-Slidell) and Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community), earning silver in the 60m and 3000m runs, respectively. Harris finished the dash in just 7.48 seconds, matching her career-best effort in the event set at the 2018 GVSU Big Meet, which is also the 10th-best time recorded by an athlete donning the Green and White. Finishing just .01 seconds behind Slidell was junior Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers), securing two podium spots for the Eagles in the event. Johnston also earned a third-place finish in the 400m run in just 53.70, the second-fastest effort in the event recorded in EMU history.
Meyers had two top-five finishes throughout the day, securing her second-place effort in the 3000m with a time of 9:41.03. Just a few seconds behind her and snagging third-overall was redshirt junior Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School), crossing the finish line in 9:46.76. The duo also grabbed fourth and seventh place respectively in the Mile run, Meyers with a 4:48.81 performance and Smith finishing with a time of 4:56.47. Overall, the Zionsville, Ind. native earned the second most points of any female trackster throughout the weekend's competitions.
Rounding out EMU's top-five finishes were sophomores Michaela Nelms (Rocky Mount, N.C.-Nash Central) and Crystal Washington (Los Angeles, Calif.-Carson), who both earned fourth place on the conference's second day of competition. Nelms placed fourth-overall in the 400m with a time of 54.34, topping her previous career-best time by .06 seconds while also improving her fourth-place mark in the EMU record books by the same margin. Washington's triple jump leap of 12.32m not only earned her a fourth-place finish, but also marked the ninth-best jump in Eastern laurels.
While the Eagles did not finish the 4x400 Relay, EMU handily led through the fourth leg, when Nelms fell with an injury and was unable to complete the run.
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. Central Michigan - 114.50
2. Eastern Michigan - 91
3. Akron - 84
4. Toledo - 69
5. Western Michigan - 62
6. Kent State - 56.50
7. Northern Illinois - 48
8. Ball State - 43
9. Bowling Green - 32
10. Miami - 29
11. Buffalo - 11
11. Ohio - 11
All-MAC Teams
First Team All-MAC
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron (Mile, 3000, DMR)
Iman Batiste, Akron (DMR)
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Lindsey Scranton, Akron (DMR)
Victoria Stachowski, Akron (DMR)
Regan Lewis, Ball State (HJ)
Jazmin Smith, Ball State (60H)
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green (WT, SP)
Gabriella Beauvais, Central Michigan (400)
Nadia Williams, Central Michigan (LJ)
Nicole Yeargin, Kent State (200)
Jehvania Whyte, Northern Illinois (TJ)
Atalia Lima, Toledo (Pent)
Athena Welsh, Toledo (5000)
Shanice Williams, Toledo (60)
Sarah Anderson, Western Michigan (800, 4x4)
Taneidra Cain, Western Michigan (4x4)
Erin Dowd, Western Michigan (4x4)
Ayiana Gaines, Western Michigan (4x4)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Maike Anstett, Akron (HJ)
Samantha Cuneo, Central Michigan (400)
Erin Howard, Central Michigan (SP)
Megan O'Neil, Central Michigan (5000)
Rebekah Petty, Central Michigan (PV)
Janelle Perry, Central Michigan (60H, LJ)
Keypathwa Gibson, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Jessica Harris, Eastern Michigan (60)
Morgan Iverson, Eastern Michigan (Pent)
Sydney Meyers, Eastern Michigan (3000, DMR)
Jocelyn Sharpe, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Emily Smith, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Rachel Banks, Kent State (800)
Olivia Bechtel, Miami (4x4)
Sarah Bruns, Miami (4x4)
Emily Hooker, Miami (4x4)
Kalliopi Kountouri, Miami (4x4)
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois (TJ)
Gaza Odunaiya, Ohio (WT)
Specialty Awards
Women's Coach of the Year:
Jenny Swieton, Central Michigan
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year:
Bryant Wilson, Central Michigan
Women's Most Valuable Performer:
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer:
Gabriella Beauvais, Central Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer:
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year:
Taylor Tillman, Northern Illinois
Women's Freshman Co-Field Performer of the Year:
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois
Morgan Iverson, Eastern Michigan
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes a personal-best, # denotes a program record)
Triple Jump
4. Crystal Washington- 12.32m*
15. Correena Saintilmond- 11.32m*
Shot Put
15. Kadian Clarke- 12.88m
Mile
4. Sydney Meyers- 4:48.81
7. Emily Smith- 4:56.47
11. Madison Distelrath- 5:01.20
60m Hurdles
8. Angel Gazaway- 8.72
400m
3. Micah Johnston- 53.70*
4. Michaela Nelms- 54.34*
High Jump
Angel Gazaway- NH
60m
2. Jessica Harris- 7.48
3. Brittni Mason- 7.49*
200m
7. Micah Johnston- 24.41
3000m
2. Sydney Meyers- 9:41.03
3. Emily Smith- 9:46.76
4x400 Relay
Edwards, Johnston, Gibson, Nelms- DNF
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team concluded competition at the 2019 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, Feb. 23, inside Kent State Field House. The Eagles nabbed four top-10 program performances throughout the day en route to a second-place finish, falling by 23.5 points to MAC Champion Central Michigan University.
"We battled hard today, but we just did not have enough to compete with Central Michigan," Head Women's Track and Field Coach Sue Parks said of the day's competition. "They were the best team this indoor season and they had a great meet this weekend. But, I'm proud of our effort. We kept fighting until the end and we had some strong performances throughout the meet. We asked a lot of some of our top athletes, and they competed well in multiple events."
EMU topped the other 10 conference competitors by a minimum of seven points, securing its 14th-straight second-place or better finish at the MAC Championships. The University of Akron placed third with 81 points, followed by the University of Toledo and Western Michigan University with 69 and 62 points, respectively. Host Kent State University rounded out the top half of competitors with 56.50 points for a sixth-place finish.
Earning the two top individual Eagles' finishes in day two of the conference championship competition were senior captains Jessica Harris (Slidell, La.-Slidell) and Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community), earning silver in the 60m and 3000m runs, respectively. Harris finished the dash in just 7.48 seconds, matching her career-best effort in the event set at the 2018 GVSU Big Meet, which is also the 10th-best time recorded by an athlete donning the Green and White. Finishing just .01 seconds behind Slidell was junior Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers), securing two podium spots for the Eagles in the event. Johnston also earned a third-place finish in the 400m run in just 53.70, the second-fastest effort in the event recorded in EMU history.
Meyers had two top-five finishes throughout the day, securing her second-place effort in the 3000m with a time of 9:41.03. Just a few seconds behind her and snagging third-overall was redshirt junior Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School), crossing the finish line in 9:46.76. The duo also grabbed fourth and seventh place respectively in the Mile run, Meyers with a 4:48.81 performance and Smith finishing with a time of 4:56.47. Overall, the Zionsville, Ind. native earned the second most points of any female trackster throughout the weekend's competitions.
Rounding out EMU's top-five finishes were sophomores Michaela Nelms (Rocky Mount, N.C.-Nash Central) and Crystal Washington (Los Angeles, Calif.-Carson), who both earned fourth place on the conference's second day of competition. Nelms placed fourth-overall in the 400m with a time of 54.34, topping her previous career-best time by .06 seconds while also improving her fourth-place mark in the EMU record books by the same margin. Washington's triple jump leap of 12.32m not only earned her a fourth-place finish, but also marked the ninth-best jump in Eastern laurels.
While the Eagles did not finish the 4x400 Relay, EMU handily led through the fourth leg, when Nelms fell with an injury and was unable to complete the run.
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. Central Michigan - 114.50
2. Eastern Michigan - 91
3. Akron - 84
4. Toledo - 69
5. Western Michigan - 62
6. Kent State - 56.50
7. Northern Illinois - 48
8. Ball State - 43
9. Bowling Green - 32
10. Miami - 29
11. Buffalo - 11
11. Ohio - 11
All-MAC Teams
First Team All-MAC
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron (Mile, 3000, DMR)
Iman Batiste, Akron (DMR)
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Lindsey Scranton, Akron (DMR)
Victoria Stachowski, Akron (DMR)
Regan Lewis, Ball State (HJ)
Jazmin Smith, Ball State (60H)
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green (WT, SP)
Gabriella Beauvais, Central Michigan (400)
Nadia Williams, Central Michigan (LJ)
Nicole Yeargin, Kent State (200)
Jehvania Whyte, Northern Illinois (TJ)
Atalia Lima, Toledo (Pent)
Athena Welsh, Toledo (5000)
Shanice Williams, Toledo (60)
Sarah Anderson, Western Michigan (800, 4x4)
Taneidra Cain, Western Michigan (4x4)
Erin Dowd, Western Michigan (4x4)
Ayiana Gaines, Western Michigan (4x4)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Maike Anstett, Akron (HJ)
Samantha Cuneo, Central Michigan (400)
Erin Howard, Central Michigan (SP)
Megan O'Neil, Central Michigan (5000)
Rebekah Petty, Central Michigan (PV)
Janelle Perry, Central Michigan (60H, LJ)
Keypathwa Gibson, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Jessica Harris, Eastern Michigan (60)
Morgan Iverson, Eastern Michigan (Pent)
Sydney Meyers, Eastern Michigan (3000, DMR)
Jocelyn Sharpe, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Emily Smith, Eastern Michigan (DMR)
Rachel Banks, Kent State (800)
Olivia Bechtel, Miami (4x4)
Sarah Bruns, Miami (4x4)
Emily Hooker, Miami (4x4)
Kalliopi Kountouri, Miami (4x4)
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois (TJ)
Gaza Odunaiya, Ohio (WT)
Specialty Awards
Women's Coach of the Year:
Jenny Swieton, Central Michigan
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year:
Bryant Wilson, Central Michigan
Women's Most Valuable Performer:
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer:
Gabriella Beauvais, Central Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer:
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year:
Taylor Tillman, Northern Illinois
Women's Freshman Co-Field Performer of the Year:
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois
Morgan Iverson, Eastern Michigan
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes a personal-best, # denotes a program record)
Triple Jump
4. Crystal Washington- 12.32m*
15. Correena Saintilmond- 11.32m*
Shot Put
15. Kadian Clarke- 12.88m
Mile
4. Sydney Meyers- 4:48.81
7. Emily Smith- 4:56.47
11. Madison Distelrath- 5:01.20
60m Hurdles
8. Angel Gazaway- 8.72
400m
3. Micah Johnston- 53.70*
4. Michaela Nelms- 54.34*
High Jump
Angel Gazaway- NH
60m
2. Jessica Harris- 7.48
3. Brittni Mason- 7.49*
200m
7. Micah Johnston- 24.41
3000m
2. Sydney Meyers- 9:41.03
3. Emily Smith- 9:46.76
4x400 Relay
Edwards, Johnston, Gibson, Nelms- DNF
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
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