Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Track & Field Set for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
7/23/2021 4:00:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Two members of the Eagle family will showcase their talents on the world stage
OLYMPIC SCHEDULE & RESULTS
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University track & field program will see two members of the Eagle family at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Former Eagle Donald Scott and Volunteer Coach Tori Franklin are set to compete for Team USA in the triple jump.
"It's been incredible to follow Donald's journey since he arrived at Eastern," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "His work ethic and competitive spirit have taken him a long way since his freshman year in college. We are very proud that he is heading to Tokyo to represent Team USA and EMU. Tori is new to our program but she's really thrived under Coach Roberts' system and we're excited to see what she can do in Tokyo and beyond. She is a great role model for our women."
Scott, a 2015 graduate, is the second EMU jumper to compete at the Summer Olympic Games and the first alumnus to compete in the triple jump. Former Eagle Jamie Nieto qualified for the 2004 and 2012 Olympics in the high jump where he placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Apopka, Fla. native had a strong showing during the qualifying round of the U.S. Olympic Trials, leaping 16.81m for the runner-up position and a spot in the final, June 19. On the final day of the triple jump, he recorded a bound of 16.98m to help place him in the final round, June 21. Scott's best jump came one attempt later as he notched a second-place finish with a leap of 17.18m to ensure his spot on Team USA at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The five-time USATF champion will take on the best of the best in the triple jump Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 9 a.m. local time. The final will take place Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m.
Franklin also dominated in the triple jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials, placing second overall with a leap of 14.36m. In the qualifying round, the Westmont, Ill. native reached a distance of 13.84m for third to put her through to the final round, June 18. In the final, Franklin improved upon that mark multiple times, reaching 14.20m in her third jump of the afternoon, June 20. The former Spartan moved on to the final three jumps, where she executed a bound of 14.36m for second, punching her ticket to Tokyo.
The 2020 USATF Indoor triple jump champion will compete in the qualifying round Friday, July 30, at 7:05 p.m. The final round will be held Sunday, Aug. 1, at 8:20 p.m.
"It's such a pleasure to work with Donald and Tori," said Associate Head Coach Sterling Roberts. "Donald and I have been working together for nearly a decade now, and Tori's only been here for four months, but they work together like they've been training together for a long time. They feed off of each other and support each other, and now, they're going to Tokyo together! It's really fun to get to work with them every day, and I'm very proud of everything they've accomplished so far. But even more than that, I'm very excited for what their future holds, both at the Games and also down the line."
Overall, EMU has had a track representative at the summer Olympic Games since Hayes Jones in 1960. The Eagles have had 19 representatives in 61 years, 16 men and three women.
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.
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Athletes
1960 - Hayes Jones
1964 - Hayes Jones
1968 - Dave Ellis
1972 - Hasely Crawford, Tony Nelson
1976 - Hasely Crawford, Deby Lansky LaPlante
1980 - Hasely Crawford
1984 - Earl Jones, Hasely Crawford
1988 - Tommy Asinga
1992 - Tommy Asinga
1996 - Paul McMullen, Tommy Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, Clement Chukwu
2000 - Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, Sevatheda Fynes
2004 - Jamie Nieto
2008 - Sasha Springer-Jones
2012 - Eric Alejandro, Jamie Nieto
2016 - Eric Alejandro
2021 - Donald Scott
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Medals
1960 - Hayes Jones - USA - 110H - Bronze
1964 - Hayes Jones - USA - 110H - Gold
1976 - Hasely Crawford - Trinidad and Tobago - 100m - Gold
1984 - Earl Jones - USA - 800m - Bronze
1996 - Sevatheda Fynes - 4x100 Relay - Bahamas - Silver
2000 - Clement Chukwu - 4x400 Relay - Nigeria - Silver
2000 - Nduka Awazie - 4x400 Relay - Nigeria - Silver
2000 - Sevatheda Fynes - 4x100 Relay - Bahamas - Gold
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University track & field program will see two members of the Eagle family at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Former Eagle Donald Scott and Volunteer Coach Tori Franklin are set to compete for Team USA in the triple jump.
"It's been incredible to follow Donald's journey since he arrived at Eastern," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "His work ethic and competitive spirit have taken him a long way since his freshman year in college. We are very proud that he is heading to Tokyo to represent Team USA and EMU. Tori is new to our program but she's really thrived under Coach Roberts' system and we're excited to see what she can do in Tokyo and beyond. She is a great role model for our women."
Scott, a 2015 graduate, is the second EMU jumper to compete at the Summer Olympic Games and the first alumnus to compete in the triple jump. Former Eagle Jamie Nieto qualified for the 2004 and 2012 Olympics in the high jump where he placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Apopka, Fla. native had a strong showing during the qualifying round of the U.S. Olympic Trials, leaping 16.81m for the runner-up position and a spot in the final, June 19. On the final day of the triple jump, he recorded a bound of 16.98m to help place him in the final round, June 21. Scott's best jump came one attempt later as he notched a second-place finish with a leap of 17.18m to ensure his spot on Team USA at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The five-time USATF champion will take on the best of the best in the triple jump Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 9 a.m. local time. The final will take place Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m.
Franklin also dominated in the triple jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials, placing second overall with a leap of 14.36m. In the qualifying round, the Westmont, Ill. native reached a distance of 13.84m for third to put her through to the final round, June 18. In the final, Franklin improved upon that mark multiple times, reaching 14.20m in her third jump of the afternoon, June 20. The former Spartan moved on to the final three jumps, where she executed a bound of 14.36m for second, punching her ticket to Tokyo.
The 2020 USATF Indoor triple jump champion will compete in the qualifying round Friday, July 30, at 7:05 p.m. The final round will be held Sunday, Aug. 1, at 8:20 p.m.
"It's such a pleasure to work with Donald and Tori," said Associate Head Coach Sterling Roberts. "Donald and I have been working together for nearly a decade now, and Tori's only been here for four months, but they work together like they've been training together for a long time. They feed off of each other and support each other, and now, they're going to Tokyo together! It's really fun to get to work with them every day, and I'm very proud of everything they've accomplished so far. But even more than that, I'm very excited for what their future holds, both at the Games and also down the line."
Overall, EMU has had a track representative at the summer Olympic Games since Hayes Jones in 1960. The Eagles have had 19 representatives in 61 years, 16 men and three women.
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.
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Athletes
1960 - Hayes Jones
1964 - Hayes Jones
1968 - Dave Ellis
1972 - Hasely Crawford, Tony Nelson
1976 - Hasely Crawford, Deby Lansky LaPlante
1980 - Hasely Crawford
1984 - Earl Jones, Hasely Crawford
1988 - Tommy Asinga
1992 - Tommy Asinga
1996 - Paul McMullen, Tommy Asinga, Greg Rhymer, Sevatheda Fynes, Clement Chukwu
2000 - Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie, Fabian Rollins, Sevatheda Fynes
2004 - Jamie Nieto
2008 - Sasha Springer-Jones
2012 - Eric Alejandro, Jamie Nieto
2016 - Eric Alejandro
2021 - Donald Scott
EMU's Track and Field Olympic Medals
1960 - Hayes Jones - USA - 110H - Bronze
1964 - Hayes Jones - USA - 110H - Gold
1976 - Hasely Crawford - Trinidad and Tobago - 100m - Gold
1984 - Earl Jones - USA - 800m - Bronze
1996 - Sevatheda Fynes - 4x100 Relay - Bahamas - Silver
2000 - Clement Chukwu - 4x400 Relay - Nigeria - Silver
2000 - Nduka Awazie - 4x400 Relay - Nigeria - Silver
2000 - Sevatheda Fynes - 4x100 Relay - Bahamas - Gold
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