Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, May 11
Muncie, Ind.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
MAC Championships
Eagles Take Third at MAC Championships
5/12/2019 12:02:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
EMU tallies 70 points on the final day of competition to finish third
Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team totaled 70 points on the final day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, May 11, moving up eight places to finish third in the team championship competition.
"Our finish was not what we hoped for but I thought that we battled hard throughout the meet," said Head Coach Sue Parks. "We had a number of spectacular performances but we also missed a number of scoring opportunities. Overall, we just did not have enough to contend with the top teams in this meet. Although we wanted more, it's been a solid year with first, second, and third place finishes in the three conference championships (cross country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field). I'm proud of the team and I'm looking forward to sending a strong group to the NCAA East Regionals."
The University of Akron took home the 2019 title with 120 points. Finishing in second was Central Michigan University, tallying 117.5 points. With the Eagles finishing third, Kent State University earned fourth with 75.5 points, Northern Illinois University finished fifth with 71, and Miami University rounded out the top half of the rankings with 70 points. Bowling Green State University finished seventh with 69 points, followed by Western Michigan University with 63.5 points, Ball State University with 57 points, University of Toledo with 49 points, Ohio University with 27 points, and the University at Buffalo with 22.5 points.
EMU totaled one individual and one relay title on the day, as senior captain Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community) earned the top finish in the 5000m, marking the fourth straight year an Eagle has won the distance title. Meyers recorded a time of 16:45.28 to earn First Team All-MAC Honors. Additionally, the Zionsville, Ind. native finished fourth in the 1500m for the second straight season, running to a time of 4:30.24. The Eagles' 4x100-meter relay took home gold with the University Track and MAC Championship record time of 45.04 as senior Jessica Harris (Slidell, La.-Slidell) and juniors Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Toledo Christian), Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) and Kolby Ganther (Park City, Kan.-Northeast Magnet) also marked the third-fastest time ever ran by a squad donning the Green and White. All five athletes earned First Team All-MAC honors for their efforts.
All four 4x100-meter relay athletes also saw individual success, as Johnston earned a silver medal in the 400m with a time of 53.55 and a seventh-place finish in the 200m with a mark of 24.21. Furthermore, Johnston's silver-medal 400m time is the seventh-best performance in program history. Her teammates Harris, Mason, and Ganther finished third, sixth and eighth, respectively, in the 100m with times of 11.56, 11.80, and 11.85.
Senior captain Allyson Goff (White Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern (Georgia State)) earned Second Team All-MAC honors with her second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 13.60 and marking the fifth-best effort in program history.
In other hurdles events, freshman Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer) finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles finals with a time of 60.00, the seventh-fastest performance in EMU history.
Rounding out the Eagles' top-five finishes was sophomore Crystal Washington (Los Angeles, Calif.-Carson), finishing fourth in the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 12.04m.
EMU now awaits the release of the regional rankings to see if any Eagles qualified for the upcoming NCAA East Regionals May 23-25 in Jacksonville, Fla. Lists of regional qualifiers are expected to be released by mid-next week. To keep up-to-date with all things EMU Women's Track and Field, follow the team on twitter @EMUWXC_TF or visit the team's web page of EMUEagles.com.
MAC Specialty Awards
Women's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Bryant Wilson, Central Michigan
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Bryeana Byrdsong, Ball State
Women's Field Freshman of the Year
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State
Women's Track Freshman of the Year
Sara Foster, Akron
Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer
Olivia Bechtel, Miami
Most Outstanding Women's Field Performer
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green
First Team All-MAC
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron (1500, Steeple)
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Sara Foster, Akron (Hep)
Dara Perry, Akron (100H)
Abigale Wilson, Akron (Discus)
Bryeana Byrdsong, BSU (100)
Kalia Butler, BGSU (HT)
Aliyah Gustafson, BGSU (SP)
Megan O'Neil, CMU (10000)
Calli Stemple, CMU (HJ)
Nadia Williams, CMU (LJ)
Kolby Ganther, EMU (4x100)
Jessica Harris, EMU (4x100)
Micah Johnston, EMU (4x100)
Brittni Mason, EMU (4x100)
Sydney Meyers, EMU (5000)
Nicole Yeargin, KSU (200)
Faith Baxter, MIA (4x400)
Olivia Bechtel, MIA (400, 4x400)
Danielle Collier, MIA (Javelin)
Kalliopi Kountouri, MIA (4x400)
Emily Hooker, MIA (4x400)
Jehvania Whyte, NIU (TJ)
Sarah Anderson, WMU (800)
Erin Dowd, WMU (400H)
Second Team All-MAC
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Haley Hess, Akron (Steeplechase)
Ivy McKee, BSU (4x100)
Jasmine Harris, BSU (4x100)
Peyton Stewart, BSU (4x100)
Rachel Walny, BGSU (10000)
Crystal Henderson, UB (TJ)
Gabriella Beauvais, CMU (4x400)
Samantha Cuneo, CMU (4x400)
Simonae Dismuke, CMU (4x400)
Janelle Perry, CMU (LJ)
Jayden Williams, CMU (4x400)
Allyson Goff, EMU (100H)
Micah Johnston, EMU (400)
Gabrielle Bailey, KSU (Discus)
Rachel Banks, KSU (800)
Talia Falco, KSU (HJ)
Neshay Curtis, NIU (400H)
Gaza Odunaiya, Ohio (HT)
Tajah Haley, Ohio (Javelin)
Petronela Simiuc, UT (1500)
Allison Hufnagel, WMU (Hep)
Madison Meredith, WMU (100)
Team Standings
1. Akron- 120
2. Central Michigan- 117.5
3. Eastern Michigan- 77
4. Kent State- 75.5
5. Northern Illinois- 71
6. Miami- 70
7. Bowling Green- 69
8. Western Michigan- 63.5
9. Ball State- 57
10. Toledo- 49
11. Ohio- 27
12. Buffalo- 22.5
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes personal-best, # denotes school record)
Triple Jump
4. Crystal Washington- 12.04m
High Jump
15. Nina Ward- 1.56m
4x100-meter relay
1. EMU A (Ganther, Mason, Harris, Johnston)- 45.04
1500m
4. Syndey Meyers- 4:30.24
100-meter hurdles
2. Allyson Goff- 13.60*
6. Angel Gazaway- 13.78*
9. Alysse Marie Wade- 14.65
400m
2. Micah Johnston- 53.55*
100m
3. Jessica Harris- 11.56w*
6. Brittni Mason- 11.80w
8. Kolby Ganther- 11.85w*
400-meter hurdles
5. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia- 60.00*
200m
7. Micah Johnston- 24.21
5000m
1. Sydney Meyers- 16:45.28
4x400-meter relay
5. EMU A- 3:44.21
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team totaled 70 points on the final day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday, May 11, moving up eight places to finish third in the team championship competition.
"Our finish was not what we hoped for but I thought that we battled hard throughout the meet," said Head Coach Sue Parks. "We had a number of spectacular performances but we also missed a number of scoring opportunities. Overall, we just did not have enough to contend with the top teams in this meet. Although we wanted more, it's been a solid year with first, second, and third place finishes in the three conference championships (cross country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field). I'm proud of the team and I'm looking forward to sending a strong group to the NCAA East Regionals."
The University of Akron took home the 2019 title with 120 points. Finishing in second was Central Michigan University, tallying 117.5 points. With the Eagles finishing third, Kent State University earned fourth with 75.5 points, Northern Illinois University finished fifth with 71, and Miami University rounded out the top half of the rankings with 70 points. Bowling Green State University finished seventh with 69 points, followed by Western Michigan University with 63.5 points, Ball State University with 57 points, University of Toledo with 49 points, Ohio University with 27 points, and the University at Buffalo with 22.5 points.
EMU totaled one individual and one relay title on the day, as senior captain Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community) earned the top finish in the 5000m, marking the fourth straight year an Eagle has won the distance title. Meyers recorded a time of 16:45.28 to earn First Team All-MAC Honors. Additionally, the Zionsville, Ind. native finished fourth in the 1500m for the second straight season, running to a time of 4:30.24. The Eagles' 4x100-meter relay took home gold with the University Track and MAC Championship record time of 45.04 as senior Jessica Harris (Slidell, La.-Slidell) and juniors Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Toledo Christian), Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) and Kolby Ganther (Park City, Kan.-Northeast Magnet) also marked the third-fastest time ever ran by a squad donning the Green and White. All five athletes earned First Team All-MAC honors for their efforts.
All four 4x100-meter relay athletes also saw individual success, as Johnston earned a silver medal in the 400m with a time of 53.55 and a seventh-place finish in the 200m with a mark of 24.21. Furthermore, Johnston's silver-medal 400m time is the seventh-best performance in program history. Her teammates Harris, Mason, and Ganther finished third, sixth and eighth, respectively, in the 100m with times of 11.56, 11.80, and 11.85.
Senior captain Allyson Goff (White Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern (Georgia State)) earned Second Team All-MAC honors with her second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 13.60 and marking the fifth-best effort in program history.
In other hurdles events, freshman Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer) finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles finals with a time of 60.00, the seventh-fastest performance in EMU history.
Rounding out the Eagles' top-five finishes was sophomore Crystal Washington (Los Angeles, Calif.-Carson), finishing fourth in the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 12.04m.
EMU now awaits the release of the regional rankings to see if any Eagles qualified for the upcoming NCAA East Regionals May 23-25 in Jacksonville, Fla. Lists of regional qualifiers are expected to be released by mid-next week. To keep up-to-date with all things EMU Women's Track and Field, follow the team on twitter @EMUWXC_TF or visit the team's web page of EMUEagles.com.
MAC Specialty Awards
Women's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Bryant Wilson, Central Michigan
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Bryeana Byrdsong, Ball State
Women's Field Freshman of the Year
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State
Women's Track Freshman of the Year
Sara Foster, Akron
Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer
Olivia Bechtel, Miami
Most Outstanding Women's Field Performer
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green
First Team All-MAC
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron (1500, Steeple)
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Sara Foster, Akron (Hep)
Dara Perry, Akron (100H)
Abigale Wilson, Akron (Discus)
Bryeana Byrdsong, BSU (100)
Kalia Butler, BGSU (HT)
Aliyah Gustafson, BGSU (SP)
Megan O'Neil, CMU (10000)
Calli Stemple, CMU (HJ)
Nadia Williams, CMU (LJ)
Kolby Ganther, EMU (4x100)
Jessica Harris, EMU (4x100)
Micah Johnston, EMU (4x100)
Brittni Mason, EMU (4x100)
Sydney Meyers, EMU (5000)
Nicole Yeargin, KSU (200)
Faith Baxter, MIA (4x400)
Olivia Bechtel, MIA (400, 4x400)
Danielle Collier, MIA (Javelin)
Kalliopi Kountouri, MIA (4x400)
Emily Hooker, MIA (4x400)
Jehvania Whyte, NIU (TJ)
Sarah Anderson, WMU (800)
Erin Dowd, WMU (400H)
Second Team All-MAC
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Haley Hess, Akron (Steeplechase)
Ivy McKee, BSU (4x100)
Jasmine Harris, BSU (4x100)
Peyton Stewart, BSU (4x100)
Rachel Walny, BGSU (10000)
Crystal Henderson, UB (TJ)
Gabriella Beauvais, CMU (4x400)
Samantha Cuneo, CMU (4x400)
Simonae Dismuke, CMU (4x400)
Janelle Perry, CMU (LJ)
Jayden Williams, CMU (4x400)
Allyson Goff, EMU (100H)
Micah Johnston, EMU (400)
Gabrielle Bailey, KSU (Discus)
Rachel Banks, KSU (800)
Talia Falco, KSU (HJ)
Neshay Curtis, NIU (400H)
Gaza Odunaiya, Ohio (HT)
Tajah Haley, Ohio (Javelin)
Petronela Simiuc, UT (1500)
Allison Hufnagel, WMU (Hep)
Madison Meredith, WMU (100)
Team Standings
1. Akron- 120
2. Central Michigan- 117.5
3. Eastern Michigan- 77
4. Kent State- 75.5
5. Northern Illinois- 71
6. Miami- 70
7. Bowling Green- 69
8. Western Michigan- 63.5
9. Ball State- 57
10. Toledo- 49
11. Ohio- 27
12. Buffalo- 22.5
EMU Individual Results
(* denotes personal-best, # denotes school record)
Triple Jump
4. Crystal Washington- 12.04m
High Jump
15. Nina Ward- 1.56m
4x100-meter relay
1. EMU A (Ganther, Mason, Harris, Johnston)- 45.04
1500m
4. Syndey Meyers- 4:30.24
100-meter hurdles
2. Allyson Goff- 13.60*
6. Angel Gazaway- 13.78*
9. Alysse Marie Wade- 14.65
400m
2. Micah Johnston- 53.55*
100m
3. Jessica Harris- 11.56w*
6. Brittni Mason- 11.80w
8. Kolby Ganther- 11.85w*
400-meter hurdles
5. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia- 60.00*
200m
7. Micah Johnston- 24.21
5000m
1. Sydney Meyers- 16:45.28
4x400-meter relay
5. EMU A- 3:44.21
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & FieldThank You from EMU Cross Country/Track & Field!
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