Eastern Michigan Athletics

Saturday, February 27
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
All Day

Eastern Michigan University

vs

MAC Championships

2021 MAC Indoor MTF Champions

Men's Track & Field Captures 2021 MAC Indoor Championships

2/27/2021 4:00:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field

Women's team place fourth overall at conference meet

Complete Results

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After coming up empty-handed on the last two trips at the Indoor Mid-American Conference Championships, the men's team pulled out a well-deserved victory. The Eagles edged the University of Akron, 184-176, with both teams jockeying for the top spot over the two-day event. For Eastern, this is its 16th indoor MAC championship and second in four years.

"I'm very proud of the men," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "It was a close team race the entire meet and we had to fight for every point. Every time we had a setback, someone stepped up to make up those points. The distance runners were spectacular but it was truly a team effort. The guys really wanted this win." 

Contributing monumental points in the Eagles' championship triumph were the men's harriers. On the second day of competition, junior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) put on a clinic. The Iceland product won the 3000m run in a meet record 8:08.49 time. Additionally, Magnusson took home the gold in the mile with a time of 4:09.23. 

"Baldvin had a great weekend with three impressive wins," said Parks. "We're really excited to see what he can do on the national level."

Alongside Magnusson, sophomore Toby Gualter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College) and Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) helped EMU cushion its lead over its competitor. Gualter produced an 8:17.11 in the 3000m for second while Payne notched fourth place in 8:22.74. Overall, the trio of harriers earned 30 points for their team.

In the 800m, redshirt sophomore Ronald Brandal (Huron, Ohio-Huron) (1:55.47) and senior Owen Day (Ottawa, Ontario-International School of Dusseldorf) (1:55.76) finished second and third respectively.

A trio of sprinters in the 400m helped the Eagles secure more crucial points for the win as senior Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), and sophomores Richie Sadler (Greenville, S.C.-Greer (Coastal Carolina)) and Trent Barron (Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth) took spots No. 2-4. Richardson was runner-up with a 48.64 time, followed by Sadler in 49.43, and Barron in 50.29.

Freshman Kaleb Simpson (Bexley, Ohio-St. Charles Preparatory) and Richardson achieved top-four times in the 200m, crossing the finish line in 21.75 (second place) and 21.87 (fourth place), respectively. For Simpson, his 200m time is a career-high, beating out his previous best of 21.84 earlier in the season. Simpson also grabbed second place in the 60m dash in an electric 6.83-second clip while junior teammate Terrance Hinds III (Mineola, N.Y., Amityville Memorial) placed sixth in 6.99.

Also garnering quality points were junior hurdlers Payne Wylie (Elstow, Saskatchewan-Colonsay School) and Dante Lander (Dayton, Ohio-West Carrollton (Central Michigan)). Payne came in third with a time of 8.11, tying his personal-best. Meanwhile, Lander rounded-out the top-five in an 8.22 clip.

In the field, senior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) and freshman Ousman Kamara (Coatesville, Pa.-Coatesville) placed fourth and fifth in the high jump with heights of 2.05m and 2.00m, respectively. Redshirt senior Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (Arlington, Va.-Fishburne Military) came up big for the Eagles in the triple jump as he launched himself 15.46m for second place.

Senior Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) was runner-up in the shot put, producing a 16.91m mark, just .01m behind the champion.

Senior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) wrapped up the heptathlon with a fourth-place finish, placing second in the 60m hurdles (8.30, career-high), sixth in the pole vault (3.70m, tied for career-high), and third in the 1000m run (3:00.93). Overall, the Georgia native totaled 5122 points over two days and earned valuable points for his team.

In the last men's event of the day, the 4x400m relay team consisting of Richardson, Lander, Simpson, and Sadler achieved second in 3:18.82, the fastest time ran by EMU all season.

The women's team displayed a valiant effort both days to finish in fourth place with 77 points at the 2021 MAC Indoor Championships.

"It was a tough weekend for the women," said Coach Parks. "The desire was there but we had some setbacks early in the meet and we just couldn't seem to build momentum after that. There were still a number of positives from the weekend and it was great to finish the day strong with a 1-2 in the high jump. I know that the team will be very motivated to bounce back this outdoor season."

In the 60m dash, sophomore Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) finished runner-up, tying her career-high time of 7.50 seconds. Meanwhile, junior teammate Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) placed eighth in the 60m hurdles as she crossed the finish line in 8.90.

Redshirt senior Micah Johnston (Toledo, Ohio-Toledo Christian) took fourth in the 200m with a time of 24.95 while junior Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) grabbed the seventh spot in 25.08. Johnston and Edwards returned to the track for the 400m dash, accompanied by junior teammate Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer). In the event, Johnston (57.30) placed fifth, Edwards (57.52) took seventh, and Cernej-Garcia (57.56) finished eighth.

Redshirt senior Karlie Swanson (Coffs Harbour, Australia-Bellingen (Boise State)) ran a 4:55.13 mile for sixth place, earning three points for the Green and White. The Australia native also notched a top-10 finish in the 3000m run, grabbing the ninth spot in 9:50.72.

Senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) and junior teammate Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) were the top competitors in the high jump, tying for first place at a height of 1.69m, resulting in a jump-off. Johnson won the jump-off with a mark of 1.71m to hold on to her MAC high jump crown while Ward's 1.69m mark is a career-best.

Meanwhile, senior Kadian Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) finished sixth in the shot put with a 14.74m toss to earn three points for the Eagles. Additionally, sophomore Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) registered a personal-best in the event with a distance of 13.58m.

In the last event of the night, the 4x400m crew of senior Keypathwa Gibson (Toledo, Ohio-Roy C. Start), junior Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child), Johnston, and Cernej-Garcia took fourth with a 3:50.90 time. The group earned five points for the Green and White to move into fourth overall in the team standings.

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.

MAC Indoor Championships Results (Day Two)
Feb. 27, 2021 | Mount Pleasant, Mich.
* = Career-High, # = Meet Record, DNS=Did not Score
 
MAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
MAC Men's Indoor Freshman Track Athlete of the Year: Kaleb Simpson, Eastern Michigan
MAC Men's Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year:
Hunter Garretson, Akron
MAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Co-Most Valuable Performers: Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan and Amir Willis, Akron

Men's First Team All-MAC
Amir Willis, Akron (60, 200, 4x400)
Zarik Brown, Akron (400, 4x400)
Blake Lucius, Akron (800)
Patrick Kimball, Akron (60H)
Malcom Briley, Akron (4x400)
Charles Sanders, Akron (4x400)
Hunter Garretson, Akron (PV)
Hesham Eldesouky, Akron (LJ, TJ)
Brandon Hochbein, Akron (Hep.)
Brandon Burke, UB (HJ)
Jonathan Surdej, UB (SP)
Trent Barron, EMU (400, DMR)
Solomon Costa, EMU (DMR)

Owen Day, EMU (DMR)
Chris Devaney, EMU (5000)
Baldvin Magnusson, EMU (Mile, 3000, DMR)

Jake Wickey, KSU (WT)
 
Men's Second Team All-MAC
Nuh Andu, Akron (HJ)
Dimitrije Novakovic, Akron (LJ)
Benjamin Cardamone, UB (3000)
Patrick Hazlitt, UB (DMR)
Jaron Meyer, UB (DMR)
Christopher Nowak, UB (DMR)
Thomas Flannery, UB (DMR)
Ronald Brandal, EMU (800, Mile)
Chukwusom Enekwechi, EMU (SP)
Toby Gualter, EMU (3000, 5000)
Dante Lander, EMU (60H, 4x400)
Owen Richardson, EMU (400,4x400)
Richie Sadler, EMU (400, 4x400, TJ)
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed, EMU (LJ, TJ)
Kaleb Simpson, EMU  (60, 200, 4x400)
Newlyn Stephenson, EMU (WT)

Drew Johnson, KSU (Mile)
Alex Shields, KSU (60H)
Kristian Kneffler, KSU (PV)
Jacob Mally, KSU (Hep.)

MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: Connie Teaberry, Northern Illinois
MAC Women's Indoor Freshman Track Athlete of the Year: Beth Arentz, Akron
MAC Women's Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Leah Pasqualetti, Kent State
MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Most Valuable Performer: Jacqueline Pokuaah, Akron

Women's First Team All-MAC
Kyra Keurentjes, Akron (800)
Jacqueline Pokuaah, Akron (60H, LJ, TJ)
Savannah Nevels, BGSU (200, 4x400)
Iyanna Ross, BGSU (400, 4x400)
Ryen Draper, BGSU (4x400)
Chasatea Brown, BGSU (4x4)
Katerina Shuble, BGSU (DMR)
Jazzlynn Gaiters, BGSU (DMR)
Trinity Fowler, BGSU (DMR)
Kailee Perry, BGSU (DMR)
Quiara Wheeler, CMU (WT)
Quintella Johnson, EMU (HJ)
Leah Pasqualetti, KSU (PV)
Gabrielle Bailey, KSU (SP)
Sarah Bruns, Miami (Pent.)
Ashley Tutt, NIU (Mile, 3000, 5000)
Kimone Hines, NIU (60)
 
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Sara Foster, Akron, (Pent.)
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Zaresha Neal, BGSU (SP)
Jemeila Hunter, BGSU (200)
Kaylah Britt, UB (TJ)
Hayley Manners, CMU (LJ)
Marissa Dunn, CMU (WT)
Alyson Davis, EMU (60)
Nina Ward, EMU (HJ)
Emily Akin, Miami (Mile)
Katie Vitou, Miami (5000)
Kennedy Crawford, NIU (400, 4x400)
Victoria Robinson, NIU (800)
Scout Regular, NIU (60H)
Jahnetta Jones, NIU (4x400)
Janae Dean, NIU (4x400)
Kaitlyn Lewis, NIU (4x400)
Emily Vining, TOL (DMR)
Rayna Horner, TOL (DMR)
Madeline Vining, TOL (DMR)
Semra Karaslan, TOL (3000, DMR)
 
Men's Team Standings
1. Eastern Michigan 184
2. Akron 176
3. Kent State 94
4. Buffalo 67

Men's Team Results
60m Dash

2. Kaleb Simpson 6.83
6. Terrance Hinds III 6.99
-- Roland Miles DNS
 
60m Hurdles
3. Payne Wylie 8.11
5. Dante Lander 8.22
 
200m Dash
2. Kaleb Simpson 21.75*
4. Owen Richardson 21.87

400m Dash
2. Owen Richardson 48.64
3. Richie Sadler 49.43
4. Trent Barron 50.29

800m Run
2. Ronald Brandal 1:55.47
3. Owen Day 1:55.76
7. Derek Jones 1:57.35

Mile
1. Baldvin Magnusson 4:09.23
8. Ronald Brandal 4:19.57
11. Joe Ingram 4:29.18
 
4x400m Relay
2. EMU A (Owen Richardson, Dante Lander, Kaleb Simpson, and Richie Sadler) 3:18.82

3000m Run
1. Baldvin Magnusson 8:08.49
3. Toby Gualter 8:17.11
4. Andy Payne 8:22.74

High Jump
4. Skyler Lester 2.05m
5. Ousman Kamara 2.00m

Triple Jump
2. Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed 15.46m
7. Richie Sadler 14.14m
-- Dahndray Holmes DNS

Heptathlon Final
4.. Skyler Lester 5122

Women's Team Standings
1. Northern Illinois 127
2. Akron 104
3. Bowling Green 86
4. Eastern Michigan 77
5. Central Michigan 60
6. Kent State 54
7. Miami (Ohio) 53.5
8. Ball State 30.5
T-9. Toledo 21.5
T-9. Buffalo 21.5
11. Western Michigan 16
12. Ohio 12

Women's Team Results
60m Dash
2. Alyson Davis 7.50*

60m Hurdles
8. Angel Gazaway 8.90

200m Dash
4. Micah Johnston 24.95
7. Mair Edwards 25.08

400m Dash
5. Micah Johnston 57.30
7. Mair Edwards 57.52
8. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia 57.56

Mile Run
6. Karlie Swanson 4:55.13
18. Lexi Seifert 5:10.80

4x400m Relay
4. EMU A (Keypathwa Gibson, Chevonne Wheeler, Micah Johnston, Tiffany Cernej-Garcia) 3:50.90

3000m Run
9. Karlie Swanson 9:50.72
25. Sofia Ivanko 10:35.34

High Jump
1. Quintella Johnson 1.71m
2. Nina Ward 1.69m*

Triple Jump
10. Alisha St. Louis 11.65m
13. Nya Lakin 11.25m

Shot Put
6. Kadian Clarke 14.74m
10. Miranda Cadwell 13.58m*

Players Mentioned

Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Triple Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Ben Reese
Friday, October 10
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Patrice Beasley
Friday, October 10