Track & Field Prepares for Akron Quad Meet

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — After 320 days without any meet or competition, the Eastern Michigan University track and field program is finally back in action. The Eagles will be kickstart their 2021 indoor slate on Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Akron Quad Meet inside the Stile Athletics Field House in Akron, Ohio.

"We are anxious to finally compete again after such a long break from track & field," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "It will be exciting to head to the same facility where we last competed in February. This is just a starting point for us and our goal is to get some marks in and work on improving each week."

As fate would have it, the Stile Athletics Field House was the site of EMU's final meet last year, as Akron hosted the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 28-29, 2020.

On the men's side, four Eagles combined to earn six individual titles as the team finished runner-up with 142 points at the conference meet, EMU fell short of Akron, which finished with 165.50 points.

Then-junior Owen Day (Ottawa, Ontario-International School of Dusseldorf) captured first place finishes in both the 800m (1:51.38) and the mile (4:06.86). Additionally, then-redshirt junior Devonte Findlay (Lauderhill, Fla.-Blanche Ely) placed first in the 60m hurdles with a blazing 7.89 clip. Then-sophomore Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) also earned a pair of titles, finishing first in the 3000m (8:18.44) and 5000m (14:25.25). Lastly, then-redshirt junior Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (Arlington, Va.-Fishburne Military) took home the gold in the long jump with a leap of 7.58 meters. All EMU title winners achieved First Team All-MAC honors.

Meanwhile, seven Eagles attained Second Team All-MAC status in then-junior Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) in the shotput, then-redshirt junior Zach Harkey (Huron, Ohio-Huron) in the weight throw, and then-junior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) in the high jump. All members of the 4x400 team made Second Team, including then-freshmen Frankie Grey (Brentwood, N.Y.-Brentwood), former Eagle Dorian Hooker II, and then-juniors Derek Jones (Erie, Pa.-Cathedral Preparatory) and Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School).

The women's team finished the 2020 season on an extremely high-note, edging second-place Northern Illinois at the MAC Indoor Championships for their fourth MAC indoor title in six seasons.

Then-freshman Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) was named the MAC's Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year after winning the 60m dash (7.50). Meanwhile, then-senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) leaped over the competition as she took home first prize in the high jump with a mark of 1.74m. Also earning First Team All-MAC honors was then-sophomore Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peter's) as she captured the 60m hurdles title with a 8.43 time.

At the conference meet, then-senior Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio-West Geauga) ran the 60m dash in 7:52, which landed her on the All-MAC Second Team.

Up next for the Eagles, they will return to the State of Michigan for the Mike Lints Alumni Open, Saturday, Jan. 23. The meet is hosted by Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.

For updates on all things Eastern Michigan cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, @EMUXC_TF, and Twitter, @EMUXC_TF.

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Players Mentioned

Alyson Davis

Owen Day

Chukwusom Enekwechi

Devonte Findlay

Frankie Grey

Zach Harkey

Dorian Hooker II

Quintella Johnson

Derek Jones

Skyler Lester

Baldvin Magnusson

Brittni Mason

Owen Richardson

Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed

Alysse Wade

Eastern Michigan Athletics