Eastern Michigan Athletics
Track and Field Announces 2022-23 Captains
12/8/2022 10:40:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Eight student-athletes tabbed for leadership roles
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University track and field program has announced the eight student-athletes that will be taking lead as captain this season, Director of Track and Field Sue Parks announced today, Dec. 8.
This season, the men's team will be represented by graduate student Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy), and seniors Kyle Martin (Ypilanti, Mich.-Ann Arbor Huron), Almighty Williamson (Baltimore, Md.-Digital Harbor-Barton C.C.), and Eddie Zuercher (Rocky River, Ohio-Rocky River).
For the women, seniors Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Ann Arbor Pioneer), Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), Julia Pleskaczynska (Lublin, Poland-High School No III them. Union of Lublin-Boise State), and Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) will be donning the captain's "C."
"We are excited about the group that will lead our team for the 2022-2023 track & field season," said Parks. "We have very high goals for this season and I know that these individuals will set a great example for the entire team as we work towards success at both the MAC and NCAA level. All of these athletes are great representatives of our program and I know we are in very good hands with their leadership."
Stephenson had one of the best years ever by an Eastern Michigan thrower in 2021-22. He earned Second Team All-America honors in the weight throw behind an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11, after placing second at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships in the same event, Feb. 25. In addition, Stephenson set the Eastern Michigan record in weight throw with a 23.22m heave at the Michigan Invitational, Jan. 22, topping former Eagle Taige Bryant's mark of 21.03m set earlier that season.
Martin is in his second season as a captain for the Eagles after he competed in six meets one year ago. The Ypsilanti native placed sixth in the 60m dash (6.98) and seventh in the 200m dash (21.73) at the MAC Indoor Championships.
Williamson returns as the 110m and 60m hurdle MAC Champion. The Maryland native also ran the opening leg of Eastern's fastest 4x100m relay time of 40.43 at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, April 22-23, 2022.
Zuercher is also in his second season as a captain. His outdoor season one year ago culminated in a sixth-place finish in the steeplechase with a time of 9:48.83 at the MAC Championships. He also set career bests in the 1500m (3:57.70) at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, April 22-23, and in the 800m (1:57.11) at the Spartan Invite, April 1-2.
Cernej-Garcia was a vital part of the Eastern relay teams, running the first leg of the MAC Indoor Champion 4x400 team and the second leg of the third-place distance medley relay team at the MAC Indoor Championships. Individually, she took ninth in the 400m hurdles at the MAC Outdoor Championships, May 12-14.
Edwards is one of the most decorated returning Eastern runners, earning outdoor medals in the 400m (first - 54.21), 4x100m relay (first - 45.70) and 200m dash (second - 23.87) at the 2022 MAC Championships. Additionally, she ran one leg of the MAC Indoor Champion 4x400m relay and took the bronze medal in the 400m (55.19).
Pleskaczynska set new personal-best marks in multiple events one year ago, including the 800m (2:14.84), 5000m (17:19.76) and mile (4:59.68). She also ran the anchor leg of the bronze medal-winning distance medley team at the MAC Indoor Championships.
Wheeler was the top multis performer for Eastern last season, setting personal-bests in the heptathlon (4,285) and the long jump (5.33m).
For updates on all things Eastern Michigan cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram and Twitter, @EMUXC_TF, and Facebook, @EMUXCTF.
This season, the men's team will be represented by graduate student Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy), and seniors Kyle Martin (Ypilanti, Mich.-Ann Arbor Huron), Almighty Williamson (Baltimore, Md.-Digital Harbor-Barton C.C.), and Eddie Zuercher (Rocky River, Ohio-Rocky River).
For the women, seniors Tiffany Cernej-Garcia (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Ann Arbor Pioneer), Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), Julia Pleskaczynska (Lublin, Poland-High School No III them. Union of Lublin-Boise State), and Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child) will be donning the captain's "C."
"We are excited about the group that will lead our team for the 2022-2023 track & field season," said Parks. "We have very high goals for this season and I know that these individuals will set a great example for the entire team as we work towards success at both the MAC and NCAA level. All of these athletes are great representatives of our program and I know we are in very good hands with their leadership."
Stephenson had one of the best years ever by an Eastern Michigan thrower in 2021-22. He earned Second Team All-America honors in the weight throw behind an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11, after placing second at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships in the same event, Feb. 25. In addition, Stephenson set the Eastern Michigan record in weight throw with a 23.22m heave at the Michigan Invitational, Jan. 22, topping former Eagle Taige Bryant's mark of 21.03m set earlier that season.
Martin is in his second season as a captain for the Eagles after he competed in six meets one year ago. The Ypsilanti native placed sixth in the 60m dash (6.98) and seventh in the 200m dash (21.73) at the MAC Indoor Championships.
Williamson returns as the 110m and 60m hurdle MAC Champion. The Maryland native also ran the opening leg of Eastern's fastest 4x100m relay time of 40.43 at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, April 22-23, 2022.
Zuercher is also in his second season as a captain. His outdoor season one year ago culminated in a sixth-place finish in the steeplechase with a time of 9:48.83 at the MAC Championships. He also set career bests in the 1500m (3:57.70) at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, April 22-23, and in the 800m (1:57.11) at the Spartan Invite, April 1-2.
Cernej-Garcia was a vital part of the Eastern relay teams, running the first leg of the MAC Indoor Champion 4x400 team and the second leg of the third-place distance medley relay team at the MAC Indoor Championships. Individually, she took ninth in the 400m hurdles at the MAC Outdoor Championships, May 12-14.
Edwards is one of the most decorated returning Eastern runners, earning outdoor medals in the 400m (first - 54.21), 4x100m relay (first - 45.70) and 200m dash (second - 23.87) at the 2022 MAC Championships. Additionally, she ran one leg of the MAC Indoor Champion 4x400m relay and took the bronze medal in the 400m (55.19).
Pleskaczynska set new personal-best marks in multiple events one year ago, including the 800m (2:14.84), 5000m (17:19.76) and mile (4:59.68). She also ran the anchor leg of the bronze medal-winning distance medley team at the MAC Indoor Championships.
Wheeler was the top multis performer for Eastern last season, setting personal-bests in the heptathlon (4,285) and the long jump (5.33m).
For updates on all things Eastern Michigan cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram and Twitter, @EMUXC_TF, and Facebook, @EMUXCTF.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & FieldThank You from EMU Cross Country/Track & Field!
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - EMU Cross Country/Track & Field
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - Eastern Michigan Track & Field
Monday, December 01
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11