Eastern Michigan Athletics

Baldvin Magnusson Sets New Icelandic National Record in 3000m
2/6/2021 10:09:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Iceland product records stunning 7:53.92 time
ALLENDALE, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University track & field program collected seven total event victories and a plethora of new personal-bests at the GVSU Snowdown Showdown, Feb. 5-6, inside the Kelly Family Sports Center. The meet featured a plethora of Midwest competition across all three NCAA divisions. From Division I, EMU was accompanied by Illinois-Chicago Indiana State, Northern Illinois, and Valparaiso. Among the Division II counterparts were Davenport, Ferris State, Indianapolis, and host Grand Valley State University. The sole Division III opponent making an appearance was Hope College.
Most notable of all EMU performances today was Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) in the 3000m. The Iceland native set the national Icelandic record in the event with an incredible 7:53.92 time. For Magnusson, his clip places him second all-time in the 3000m at Eastern after passing former Eagle Willy Fink's 7:56.04 set in 2016. Magnusson's mark now puts him just behind former NCAA national champion and EMU legend Boaz Cheboiywo (7:52.40).
"We took some big steps forward in a number of areas today," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "Balvin Magnusson ran an incredible 3000 (currently No. 8 in the NCAA) and Taige Bryant had a great performance in the weight thrown (currently No. 11 in the NCAA). Beyond those nationally ranked performances, we had a number of personal and seasonal bests. We still have work to do before the MAC meet in three weeks but we are seeing improvement in all event areas. We're looking forward to putting it all together during this last stretch of the indoor season."
The men's team grabbed four event titles and an astonishing fifteen career-highs. On the track, senior Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) notched a win in the 400m with a 48.61 clip. In the mile, redshirt sophomore Ronald Brandal (Huron, Ohio-Huron) recorded a career-high 1:52.84 time in the 800m, good for third. Meanwhile, classmate Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) produced an 8:13.64 clip for personal-best in the 3000m, as he finished seventh.
In the field, sophomore Richie Sadler (Greenville, S.C.-Greer (Coastal Carolina)) took first place in the triple jump with a 14.23m mark and recorded a career-high in the long jump as he leaped 6.73m.
Additionally, the throwers had another great showing. Graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) posted personal-bests in the weight throw (21.87m) and shot put (13.36m) for first and fourth (second flight), respectively. For Bryant, he moves back into the No. 2 spot all-time at EMU behind senior teammate Newlyn Stephenson's (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) 22.28, passing former Eagle Anthony Jones (21.84m). Sophomore Kappa Bedoui (Doha, Qatar-Aspire Academy) also notched personal-best in the weight throw with a heave of 21.45m. The Qatar native also moves up the all-time leader board, surpassing graduate student teammate Zach Harkey's (Huron, Ohio-Huron) 21.11m mark to take third overall in school history.
Senior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) represented the Eagle in the heptathlon scoring a career-high 5167 points. The Peach State native placed first in the long jump (6.86m), shot put (13.23m), high jump (2.04m), and 60m hurdles (8.50).
The women's team earned a trio of event victories and recorded three career-highs. Continuing her winning ways was junior Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peter's), winning the 60m hurdles in an 8.64 time for first place. For Wade, she has not lost a 60m hurdles event thus far in the indoor season. In the high jump, senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-St. Mary's (Texas Southern)) took first with a leap of 1.71m. Meanwhile, junior teammate Morgan Iverson (Hoschton, Ga.-Mill Creek) finished third in the event with a 1.63m mark, a career-high for the Georgia native.
Elsewhere in the field, graduate student Alisha St. Louis (D'abadie, Trinidad and Tobago-St. Francois Girls College (Johnson C. University)) captured the triple jump title with a bound of 11.69m. Senior thrower Ariel Floyd (Mount Clemens, Mich.-Chippewa Valley (Olivet College)) upped her game from last week with a personal-best weight throw of 19.05m, over half a meter more than her previous best of 18.39m. For Floyd, she moves into second place all-time behind current teammate Kadian Clarke (19.37m).
Lastly, senior pole vaulter Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) registered a career-high clearance of 3.86m, good for fifth place. The Ohio native now holds the eighth-highest clearance in school history, passing former Eagle Meghan Power's 3.84m mark from 2012.
Juniors Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) and Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) represented the Green and White in the pentathlon. Ward grabbed wins in the 60m hurdles (9.48), high jump (1.64m), and long jump (5.86m) while Wheeler won the 800m (2:22.45). Overall, Ward finished second with 3319 points and Wheeler took home the bronze with 3171.
Up next, the Eagles will return to Allendale, Mich. once again for the GVSU Big Meet Friday, Feb. 12-13. The events will take place inside the Kelly Family Sports Center, start time is TBA at this time.
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.
GVSU Snowdown Showdown Meet Results
Feb. 5-6, 2021 | Allendale, Mich.
* = Career-High, DNF = Did Not Finish
Men's Team Results
60m Dash
2. Roland Miles 6.82
4. Terrance Hinds III 6.95
60m Hurdles
5. Dante Lander 8.22
9. Payne Wylie 8.30
200m Dash
Section 2
2. Terrance Hinds III 22.38*
Section 3
4. Kyle Martin 23.24*
400m
Section 1
1. Owen Richardson 48.61
2. Trent Barron 49.96
Section 2
1. Kaleb Simpson 49.02*
Section 3
3. Nate Alwood 51.13*
800m
Section 1
3. Ronald Brandal 1:52.84*
6. Owen Day 1:55.65
8. Derek Jones 1:59.25
Section 2
4. Linus Vennemann 1:57.54
Mile
Section 1
4. Linus Vennemann 4:15.53*
5. Solomon Costa 4:15.91*
10. Eddie Zuercher 4:23.28
Section 2
1. Joe Ingram 4:22.59
3000m
Section 1
2. Baldvin Magnusson 7:53.92*
7. Andy Payne 8:13.64*
8. Toby Gualter 8:16.26
Eddie Zuercher DNF
Section 2
1. Chris Devaney 8:27.26
2. Noah Perrin 8:27.87*
4. Solomon Costa 8:44.00
6. Muaad Abdulaziz 8:46.15
10. Ian Cook 8:52.82
11. Ethan Kincell 8:54.35
4x400 Relay
Section 1
3. EMU A (Dante Lander, Owen Richardson, Kaleb Simpson, Derek Jones) 3:19.51
Section 2
EMU B (Payne Wylie, Trent Barron, Nate Alwood, Frankie Grey) DNF
High Jump
8. Ousman Kamara 1.96m
Long Jump
4. Richie Sadler 6.73m*
9. Dahndray Holmes 5.70m
Triple Jump
1. Richie Sadler 14.23m
5. Dahndray Holmes 12.43m
Weight Throw
Flight 1
1. Omar Ibrahim 16.31m
Flight 2
1. Taige Bryant 21.87m*
2. Kappa Bedoui 21.45m*
10. Chukwusom Enekwechi 16.14m
Newlyn Stephenson FOUL
Shot Put
Flight 1
2. Newlyn Stephenson 14.07m
4. Taige Bryant 13.36m*
Flight 2
1. Chukwusom Enekwechi 17.15m
8. Omar Ibrahim 14.94m
10. Brian Jones 12.78m
Heptathlon - 60m Dash
2. Skyler Lester 7.10
Heptathlon- Long Jump
1. Skyler Lester 6.86m
Heptathlon- Shot Put
1. Skyler Lester 13.23m
Heptathlon- High Jump
1. Skyler Lester 2.04m
Heptathlon- 60H
1. Skyler Lester 8.50
Heptathlon- Pole Vault
4. Skyler Lester 3.55m
Heptathlon- 1000m
4. Skyler Lester 3:00.19
Heptathlon- Final Results
2. Skyler Lester 5167*
Women's Team Results
60m Dash
8. Keypathwa Gibson 7.86
60m Hurdles
1. Alysse Wade 8.64
4. Brenna Cavanaugh 8.91
7. Morgan Iverson 9.18
200m Dash
2. Mair Edwards 24.88
400m
Section 1
3. Mair Edwards 56.92
Section 2
1. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia 57.21
2. Micah Johnston 57.24
800m
Section 2
4. Lexi Seifert 2:25.31
Section 3
6. Lindsay Bush 2:26.85
Mile
Section 1
8. Lexi Seifert 5:17.46
Section 2
2. Madison Distelrath 5:29.28
3000m
Section 1
5. Karlie Swanson 9:50.01
Section 2
4. Kaitlyn St. Bernard 10:48.39
4x400 Relay
3. EMU A (Morgan Iverson, Micah Johnston, Keypathwa Gibson, Tiffany Cernej-Garcia) 3:51.36
High Jump
1. Quintella Johnson 1.71m
3. Morgan Iverson 1.63m*
Long Jump
Flight 1
2. Nya Lakin 4.99m
Flight 2
6. Alisha St. Louis 5.32m
8. Brenna Cavanaugh 5.14m
12. Antonia Woods 4.81m
Triple Jump
1. Alisha St. Louis 11.69m
5. Nya Lakin 10.81m
Weight Throw
2. Ariel Floyd 19.05m*
3. Kadian Clarke 18.30m
9. Savanah Luthman 16.52m
11. Miranda Cadwell 16.05m
Shot Put
Flight 1
9. Elise Gregory 10.01m
Flight 2
3. Kadian Clarke 13.65m
7. Miranda Cadwell 12.96m
Pole Vault
5. Graysen Simmons 3.86m*
T-14. Maura Lane 3.56m
T-14. Nicole Bow 3.56m
Pentathlon - 60H
Section 1
1. Nina Ward 9.48
Section 2
2. Chevonne Wheeler 9.60
Pentathlon - High Jump
1. Nina Ward 1.64m
7. Chevonne Wheeler 1.40m
Pentathlon - Shot Put
3. Chevonne Wheeler 10.54m
4. Nina Ward 9.37m
Pentathlon - Long Jump
1. Nina Ward 5.86m
6. Chevonne Wheeler 4.83m
Pentathlon - 800m
1. Chevonne Wheeler 2:22.45
5. Nina Ward 2:53.41
Pentathlon - Final Results
2. Nina Ward 3319
3. Chevonne Wheeler 3171
Most notable of all EMU performances today was Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) in the 3000m. The Iceland native set the national Icelandic record in the event with an incredible 7:53.92 time. For Magnusson, his clip places him second all-time in the 3000m at Eastern after passing former Eagle Willy Fink's 7:56.04 set in 2016. Magnusson's mark now puts him just behind former NCAA national champion and EMU legend Boaz Cheboiywo (7:52.40).
"We took some big steps forward in a number of areas today," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "Balvin Magnusson ran an incredible 3000 (currently No. 8 in the NCAA) and Taige Bryant had a great performance in the weight thrown (currently No. 11 in the NCAA). Beyond those nationally ranked performances, we had a number of personal and seasonal bests. We still have work to do before the MAC meet in three weeks but we are seeing improvement in all event areas. We're looking forward to putting it all together during this last stretch of the indoor season."
The men's team grabbed four event titles and an astonishing fifteen career-highs. On the track, senior Owen Richardson (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) notched a win in the 400m with a 48.61 clip. In the mile, redshirt sophomore Ronald Brandal (Huron, Ohio-Huron) recorded a career-high 1:52.84 time in the 800m, good for third. Meanwhile, classmate Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) produced an 8:13.64 clip for personal-best in the 3000m, as he finished seventh.
In the field, sophomore Richie Sadler (Greenville, S.C.-Greer (Coastal Carolina)) took first place in the triple jump with a 14.23m mark and recorded a career-high in the long jump as he leaped 6.73m.
Additionally, the throwers had another great showing. Graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) posted personal-bests in the weight throw (21.87m) and shot put (13.36m) for first and fourth (second flight), respectively. For Bryant, he moves back into the No. 2 spot all-time at EMU behind senior teammate Newlyn Stephenson's (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) 22.28, passing former Eagle Anthony Jones (21.84m). Sophomore Kappa Bedoui (Doha, Qatar-Aspire Academy) also notched personal-best in the weight throw with a heave of 21.45m. The Qatar native also moves up the all-time leader board, surpassing graduate student teammate Zach Harkey's (Huron, Ohio-Huron) 21.11m mark to take third overall in school history.
Senior Skyler Lester (Marietta, Ga.-Marietta) represented the Eagle in the heptathlon scoring a career-high 5167 points. The Peach State native placed first in the long jump (6.86m), shot put (13.23m), high jump (2.04m), and 60m hurdles (8.50).
The women's team earned a trio of event victories and recorded three career-highs. Continuing her winning ways was junior Alysse Wade (Mansfield, Ohio-St. Peter's), winning the 60m hurdles in an 8.64 time for first place. For Wade, she has not lost a 60m hurdles event thus far in the indoor season. In the high jump, senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-St. Mary's (Texas Southern)) took first with a leap of 1.71m. Meanwhile, junior teammate Morgan Iverson (Hoschton, Ga.-Mill Creek) finished third in the event with a 1.63m mark, a career-high for the Georgia native.
Elsewhere in the field, graduate student Alisha St. Louis (D'abadie, Trinidad and Tobago-St. Francois Girls College (Johnson C. University)) captured the triple jump title with a bound of 11.69m. Senior thrower Ariel Floyd (Mount Clemens, Mich.-Chippewa Valley (Olivet College)) upped her game from last week with a personal-best weight throw of 19.05m, over half a meter more than her previous best of 18.39m. For Floyd, she moves into second place all-time behind current teammate Kadian Clarke (19.37m).
Lastly, senior pole vaulter Graysen Simmons (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) registered a career-high clearance of 3.86m, good for fifth place. The Ohio native now holds the eighth-highest clearance in school history, passing former Eagle Meghan Power's 3.84m mark from 2012.
Juniors Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) and Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) represented the Green and White in the pentathlon. Ward grabbed wins in the 60m hurdles (9.48), high jump (1.64m), and long jump (5.86m) while Wheeler won the 800m (2:22.45). Overall, Ward finished second with 3319 points and Wheeler took home the bronze with 3171.
Up next, the Eagles will return to Allendale, Mich. once again for the GVSU Big Meet Friday, Feb. 12-13. The events will take place inside the Kelly Family Sports Center, start time is TBA at this time.
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.
GVSU Snowdown Showdown Meet Results
Feb. 5-6, 2021 | Allendale, Mich.
* = Career-High, DNF = Did Not Finish
Men's Team Results
60m Dash
2. Roland Miles 6.82
4. Terrance Hinds III 6.95
60m Hurdles
5. Dante Lander 8.22
9. Payne Wylie 8.30
200m Dash
Section 2
2. Terrance Hinds III 22.38*
Section 3
4. Kyle Martin 23.24*
400m
Section 1
1. Owen Richardson 48.61
2. Trent Barron 49.96
Section 2
1. Kaleb Simpson 49.02*
Section 3
3. Nate Alwood 51.13*
800m
Section 1
3. Ronald Brandal 1:52.84*
6. Owen Day 1:55.65
8. Derek Jones 1:59.25
Section 2
4. Linus Vennemann 1:57.54
Mile
Section 1
4. Linus Vennemann 4:15.53*
5. Solomon Costa 4:15.91*
10. Eddie Zuercher 4:23.28
Section 2
1. Joe Ingram 4:22.59
3000m
Section 1
2. Baldvin Magnusson 7:53.92*
7. Andy Payne 8:13.64*
8. Toby Gualter 8:16.26
Eddie Zuercher DNF
Section 2
1. Chris Devaney 8:27.26
2. Noah Perrin 8:27.87*
4. Solomon Costa 8:44.00
6. Muaad Abdulaziz 8:46.15
10. Ian Cook 8:52.82
11. Ethan Kincell 8:54.35
4x400 Relay
Section 1
3. EMU A (Dante Lander, Owen Richardson, Kaleb Simpson, Derek Jones) 3:19.51
Section 2
EMU B (Payne Wylie, Trent Barron, Nate Alwood, Frankie Grey) DNF
High Jump
8. Ousman Kamara 1.96m
Long Jump
4. Richie Sadler 6.73m*
9. Dahndray Holmes 5.70m
Triple Jump
1. Richie Sadler 14.23m
5. Dahndray Holmes 12.43m
Weight Throw
Flight 1
1. Omar Ibrahim 16.31m
Flight 2
1. Taige Bryant 21.87m*
2. Kappa Bedoui 21.45m*
10. Chukwusom Enekwechi 16.14m
Newlyn Stephenson FOUL
Shot Put
Flight 1
2. Newlyn Stephenson 14.07m
4. Taige Bryant 13.36m*
Flight 2
1. Chukwusom Enekwechi 17.15m
8. Omar Ibrahim 14.94m
10. Brian Jones 12.78m
Heptathlon - 60m Dash
2. Skyler Lester 7.10
Heptathlon- Long Jump
1. Skyler Lester 6.86m
Heptathlon- Shot Put
1. Skyler Lester 13.23m
Heptathlon- High Jump
1. Skyler Lester 2.04m
Heptathlon- 60H
1. Skyler Lester 8.50
Heptathlon- Pole Vault
4. Skyler Lester 3.55m
Heptathlon- 1000m
4. Skyler Lester 3:00.19
Heptathlon- Final Results
2. Skyler Lester 5167*
Women's Team Results
60m Dash
8. Keypathwa Gibson 7.86
60m Hurdles
1. Alysse Wade 8.64
4. Brenna Cavanaugh 8.91
7. Morgan Iverson 9.18
200m Dash
2. Mair Edwards 24.88
400m
Section 1
3. Mair Edwards 56.92
Section 2
1. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia 57.21
2. Micah Johnston 57.24
800m
Section 2
4. Lexi Seifert 2:25.31
Section 3
6. Lindsay Bush 2:26.85
Mile
Section 1
8. Lexi Seifert 5:17.46
Section 2
2. Madison Distelrath 5:29.28
3000m
Section 1
5. Karlie Swanson 9:50.01
Section 2
4. Kaitlyn St. Bernard 10:48.39
4x400 Relay
3. EMU A (Morgan Iverson, Micah Johnston, Keypathwa Gibson, Tiffany Cernej-Garcia) 3:51.36
High Jump
1. Quintella Johnson 1.71m
3. Morgan Iverson 1.63m*
Long Jump
Flight 1
2. Nya Lakin 4.99m
Flight 2
6. Alisha St. Louis 5.32m
8. Brenna Cavanaugh 5.14m
12. Antonia Woods 4.81m
Triple Jump
1. Alisha St. Louis 11.69m
5. Nya Lakin 10.81m
Weight Throw
2. Ariel Floyd 19.05m*
3. Kadian Clarke 18.30m
9. Savanah Luthman 16.52m
11. Miranda Cadwell 16.05m
Shot Put
Flight 1
9. Elise Gregory 10.01m
Flight 2
3. Kadian Clarke 13.65m
7. Miranda Cadwell 12.96m
Pole Vault
5. Graysen Simmons 3.86m*
T-14. Maura Lane 3.56m
T-14. Nicole Bow 3.56m
Pentathlon - 60H
Section 1
1. Nina Ward 9.48
Section 2
2. Chevonne Wheeler 9.60
Pentathlon - High Jump
1. Nina Ward 1.64m
7. Chevonne Wheeler 1.40m
Pentathlon - Shot Put
3. Chevonne Wheeler 10.54m
4. Nina Ward 9.37m
Pentathlon - Long Jump
1. Nina Ward 5.86m
6. Chevonne Wheeler 4.83m
Pentathlon - 800m
1. Chevonne Wheeler 2:22.45
5. Nina Ward 2:53.41
Pentathlon - Final Results
2. Nina Ward 3319
3. Chevonne Wheeler 3171
Players Mentioned
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