Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 29
Akron, Ohio
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
vs
MAC Championship
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
Women’s Track and Field Wins 2020 MAC Indoor Championships
2/29/2020 8:59:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The Eagles defeat NIU by two points to win their MAC-record seventh indoor title
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team claimed first prize at the 2020 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships with a team score of 104 points Saturday, Feb. 29 inside Stile Athletics Field House.
The Eagles, who bested Northern Illinois's team score of 102 by just two points, set a MAC record with their seventh indoor title. The program has also won four of the last six indoor track and field crown, and five overall under head coach Sue Parks.
"This was a hard fought victory and I'm very proud of the team for battling for every point," said Parks. "We knew that this would have to be a total team effort and that all event areas would have to perform well for us to win. We had a number of injuries and setbacks this season but the girls refused to let it rattle them. A number of new faces stepped up and got the job done when we were counting on them. Northern Illinois was a very motivated team and it took a huge effort for us to beat them. I couldn't be happier for the girls. We're all very excited to bring the championship back to Eastern!"
The Eagles earned the top-two spots in the 60-meter dash, as Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) won the event with a time of 7.50 seconds, while senior co-captain Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) was right behind in second place with a time of 7.52. Meanwhile, freshman Hanna Hearn (Laurel, Miss.-brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Ind.)) ended the race in fifth spot as she crossed the finish line in 7.60.
Sophomore Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peter's) won the 60-meter hurdles final with a mark of 8.43 seconds, while redshirt freshman Brenna Cavanaugh (Bentleyville, Pa.-Bentworth) and sophomore Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) placed fifth and sixth in the title race with times of 8.69 and 8.70, respectively. Senior Kolby Ganther (Park City, Kan.-Northeast Magnet (Garden City C.C.)) was fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.46 ticks, while junior Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start) and sophomore Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer) placed seventh and eight in the 400-meter dash as they clocked in at 55.47 and 57.19, respectively. Additionally, sophomore Janay Hall (Fayetteville, N.C.-South View (N.C. State)) ranked sixth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:12:19.
From there, redshirt senior co-captain Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School) and redshirt junior Karlie Swanson (New South Wales, Australia-Bellingen (Boise State)) earned points in both the mile run and the 3,000-meter race. Smith finished fifth in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:54.94 and seventh in the 3,000-meter event with a time of 4:55.16, while Swanson placed fifth in the mile run at 4:52.64 and seventh in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:57.58. The 4x400-meter relay team scored two points in the meet's final event, which proved to be enough to hold off Northern Illinois and clinch sole possession of the indoor title.
In the field events, junior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) captured the high jump crown with a mark of 1.74 meters after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) indoor and outdoor titles last season, while junior Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) placed fifth in the pole vault with a height of 3.82 meters. In total, the Eagles earned points in every event with the exception of the shot put and triple jump.
Eastern will now wait and see if any student-athletes will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., March 13-14.
Women's First Team All-MAC
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Sara Foster, Akron (Pent)
MaQuila Norman, Ball St. (200)
Kaila Butler, BGSU (WT)
Ryen Draper, BGSU (4x4)
Jazz Gaiters, BGSU (4x4)
Savannah Nevels, BGSU (4x4)
Iyanna Ross, BGSU (4x4)
Nadia Williams, CMU (LJ)
Alyson Davis, EMU (60)
Quintella Johnson, EMU (HJ)
Alysse Wade, EMU (60mH)
Grace Tennant, Kent St. (SP)
Olivia Bechtel, MIA (400)
Ashley Tutt, NIU (3000, 5000)
Jehvania Whyte, NIU (TJ)
Rayna Horner, UT (DMR)
Semra Karaslan, UT (DMR)
Petronela Simiuc, UT (800, Mile, DMR)
Meltem Yashar, UT (DMR)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Varvara Lissichkina, Akron (800)
Maritza Rodriguez, Ball St. (3000, 5000)
Kelsey Walter, Ball St. 15(SP)
Karlie Zumbro, Ball St. (Pent)
Selina Von Jackowski, UB (60mH)
Brittni Mason, EMU (60)
Lillie Franks, Kent St. (HJ)
Meagan Biddle, NIU (DMR)
NeShay Curtis, NIU (DMR, 4x4)
Nora Finegan, NIU (DMR)
Grace Harris, NIU (4x4)
Jahnetta jones, NIU (4x4)
Kaitlyn Lewis, NIU (4x4)
Brooke Lytle, NIU (DMR)
Diamond Riley, NIU (TJ)
Abby Moore, Ohio (WT)
Raynesha Lewis, UT (LJ)
Erin Dowd, WMU (400)
Women's Coach of the Year
Connie Teaberry, Northern Illinois
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Ashley Tutt, Northern Illinois
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Alyson Davis, Eastern Michigan
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Lillie Franks, Kent State
Team Results
1. Eastern Michigan 104
2. Northern Illinois 102
3. Ball State 77
4. Akron 72
5. Bowling Green 68
6. Toledo 60.5
7. Miami 60
8. Central Michigan 34
9. Kent State 33.50
10. Buffalo 24
11. Ohio 14
12. Western Michigan 14
EMU Individual Results
60m Dash Final
1. Alyson Davis 7.50
2. Brittni Mason 7.52
5. Hanna Hearn 7.60
60m Hurdles Final
1. Alysse Wade 8.43
5. Brenna Cavanaugh 8.69
6. Angel Gazaway 8.70
200m Dash Final
5. Kolby Ganther 24.46
400m Dash Final
7. Keypathwa Gibson 55.47
8. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia 57.19
800m Run Final
6. Janay Hall 2:12.19
Mile Run
5. Karlie Swanson 4:52.64
7. Emily Smith 4:55.16
3000m Run
5. Emily Smith 9:54.94
7. Karlie Swanson 9:57.58
12. Madison Distelrath 10:09.74
4x400m Relay
7. EMU A (Tiffany Cernej-Garcia, Mair Edwards, Keypathwa Gibson, Abbey Zastrow, Chevonne Wheeler, Arianna Short, Janay Hall, Daishon Spann) 3:47.86
Triple Jump
13. Nya Lakin 11.47
Shot Put
14. Kadian Clarke 13.23m
17. Miranda Cadwell 12.79m
High Jump
1. Quintella Johnson 1.74m
13. Daishon Spann 1.55m
13. Nina Ward 1.55m
Pole Vault
5. Graysen Simmons 3.82m
The Eagles, who bested Northern Illinois's team score of 102 by just two points, set a MAC record with their seventh indoor title. The program has also won four of the last six indoor track and field crown, and five overall under head coach Sue Parks.
"This was a hard fought victory and I'm very proud of the team for battling for every point," said Parks. "We knew that this would have to be a total team effort and that all event areas would have to perform well for us to win. We had a number of injuries and setbacks this season but the girls refused to let it rattle them. A number of new faces stepped up and got the job done when we were counting on them. Northern Illinois was a very motivated team and it took a huge effort for us to beat them. I couldn't be happier for the girls. We're all very excited to bring the championship back to Eastern!"
The Eagles earned the top-two spots in the 60-meter dash, as Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) won the event with a time of 7.50 seconds, while senior co-captain Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) was right behind in second place with a time of 7.52. Meanwhile, freshman Hanna Hearn (Laurel, Miss.-brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Ind.)) ended the race in fifth spot as she crossed the finish line in 7.60.
Sophomore Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peter's) won the 60-meter hurdles final with a mark of 8.43 seconds, while redshirt freshman Brenna Cavanaugh (Bentleyville, Pa.-Bentworth) and sophomore Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) placed fifth and sixth in the title race with times of 8.69 and 8.70, respectively. Senior Kolby Ganther (Park City, Kan.-Northeast Magnet (Garden City C.C.)) was fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.46 ticks, while junior Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start) and sophomore Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer) placed seventh and eight in the 400-meter dash as they clocked in at 55.47 and 57.19, respectively. Additionally, sophomore Janay Hall (Fayetteville, N.C.-South View (N.C. State)) ranked sixth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:12:19.
From there, redshirt senior co-captain Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School) and redshirt junior Karlie Swanson (New South Wales, Australia-Bellingen (Boise State)) earned points in both the mile run and the 3,000-meter race. Smith finished fifth in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:54.94 and seventh in the 3,000-meter event with a time of 4:55.16, while Swanson placed fifth in the mile run at 4:52.64 and seventh in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:57.58. The 4x400-meter relay team scored two points in the meet's final event, which proved to be enough to hold off Northern Illinois and clinch sole possession of the indoor title.
In the field events, junior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) captured the high jump crown with a mark of 1.74 meters after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) indoor and outdoor titles last season, while junior Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) placed fifth in the pole vault with a height of 3.82 meters. In total, the Eagles earned points in every event with the exception of the shot put and triple jump.
Eastern will now wait and see if any student-athletes will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., March 13-14.
Women's First Team All-MAC
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Sara Foster, Akron (Pent)
MaQuila Norman, Ball St. (200)
Kaila Butler, BGSU (WT)
Ryen Draper, BGSU (4x4)
Jazz Gaiters, BGSU (4x4)
Savannah Nevels, BGSU (4x4)
Iyanna Ross, BGSU (4x4)
Nadia Williams, CMU (LJ)
Alyson Davis, EMU (60)
Quintella Johnson, EMU (HJ)
Alysse Wade, EMU (60mH)
Grace Tennant, Kent St. (SP)
Olivia Bechtel, MIA (400)
Ashley Tutt, NIU (3000, 5000)
Jehvania Whyte, NIU (TJ)
Rayna Horner, UT (DMR)
Semra Karaslan, UT (DMR)
Petronela Simiuc, UT (800, Mile, DMR)
Meltem Yashar, UT (DMR)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Varvara Lissichkina, Akron (800)
Maritza Rodriguez, Ball St. (3000, 5000)
Kelsey Walter, Ball St. 15(SP)
Karlie Zumbro, Ball St. (Pent)
Selina Von Jackowski, UB (60mH)
Brittni Mason, EMU (60)
Lillie Franks, Kent St. (HJ)
Meagan Biddle, NIU (DMR)
NeShay Curtis, NIU (DMR, 4x4)
Nora Finegan, NIU (DMR)
Grace Harris, NIU (4x4)
Jahnetta jones, NIU (4x4)
Kaitlyn Lewis, NIU (4x4)
Brooke Lytle, NIU (DMR)
Diamond Riley, NIU (TJ)
Abby Moore, Ohio (WT)
Raynesha Lewis, UT (LJ)
Erin Dowd, WMU (400)
Women's Coach of the Year
Connie Teaberry, Northern Illinois
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Ashley Tutt, Northern Illinois
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Alyson Davis, Eastern Michigan
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Lillie Franks, Kent State
Team Results
1. Eastern Michigan 104
2. Northern Illinois 102
3. Ball State 77
4. Akron 72
5. Bowling Green 68
6. Toledo 60.5
7. Miami 60
8. Central Michigan 34
9. Kent State 33.50
10. Buffalo 24
11. Ohio 14
12. Western Michigan 14
EMU Individual Results
60m Dash Final
1. Alyson Davis 7.50
2. Brittni Mason 7.52
5. Hanna Hearn 7.60
60m Hurdles Final
1. Alysse Wade 8.43
5. Brenna Cavanaugh 8.69
6. Angel Gazaway 8.70
200m Dash Final
5. Kolby Ganther 24.46
400m Dash Final
7. Keypathwa Gibson 55.47
8. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia 57.19
800m Run Final
6. Janay Hall 2:12.19
Mile Run
5. Karlie Swanson 4:52.64
7. Emily Smith 4:55.16
3000m Run
5. Emily Smith 9:54.94
7. Karlie Swanson 9:57.58
12. Madison Distelrath 10:09.74
4x400m Relay
7. EMU A (Tiffany Cernej-Garcia, Mair Edwards, Keypathwa Gibson, Abbey Zastrow, Chevonne Wheeler, Arianna Short, Janay Hall, Daishon Spann) 3:47.86
Triple Jump
13. Nya Lakin 11.47
Shot Put
14. Kadian Clarke 13.23m
17. Miranda Cadwell 12.79m
High Jump
1. Quintella Johnson 1.74m
13. Daishon Spann 1.55m
13. Nina Ward 1.55m
Pole Vault
5. Graysen Simmons 3.82m
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ 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
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
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