Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Track & Field Prepares for MAC Indoor Championships
2/23/2022 9:35:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
The conference showdown is set for Feb. 25-26
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- After a productive regular season, the Eastern Michigan University track & field program is set to compete at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 25-26, in Kent, Ohio. The league showdown will be hosted by Kent State University.
Friday's action will commence with the men's heptathlon at 10:45 a.m. and finish with the women's distance medley relay at 7:15 p.m. The men's heptathlon picks up the following morning at 11:30 a.m., while the competition comes to a close with the women's 4x400 relay at 4:40 p.m.
"We've had strong performances in all event areas throughout the season and we're excited about putting together a total team performance at the MAC meet," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "We're expecting a great competition and I feel that our athletes are ready to rise to the challenge."
Coming into this year's meet, sophomore Kaleb Simpson (Bexley, Ohio-St. Charles Preparatory) owns the second-fastest time in both the 60m (6.81) and 200m (21.35) in the MAC this season. Classmate Kilani Harvey (Orlando, Fla.-Jones (Highland C.C.)) is also runner-up in the 60 with a career-high time of 7.55.
Fellow sprinter Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) has put together a strong season as she currently paces the conference in the 400 (54.64) and sits fifth in the 200 (24.49). In the distance events, junior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) leads the MAC in the mile (3:58.08), 3000 (7:47.51), and 5000 (13:41.39).
The EMU hurdlers have produced a dominant season thus far as sophomore Almighty Williamson (Baltimore, Md.-Digital Harbor (Barton C.C.)) and junior Payne Wylie (Elstow, Saskatchewan-Colonsay School) are 1-2 with season-best times of 7.87 and 7.90, respectively.
In jumps, senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) owns the second-best clearance in the MAC at 1.75m. Meanwhile, classmate Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (Windhoek, Namibia-Fishburne Military (Va.) (Bethany College)) sits third in both the long jump (7.28m) and triple jump (15.19m).
The Eastern throwers have also had a very strong season. In the shot put, senior Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) ranks first in the league with a toss of 18.72m. Classmate Kadian Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) owns the best weight throw mark of the season at 21.54m and is fifth in the shot put at 15.50m.
Junior Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) tops the league in the weight throw with a school-record 23.22m toss. Graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) is third in the event at 23.01m.
Last year, the men's team captured the MAC indoor title, topping Akron 184-176, Feb. 27, 2021. Magnusson was named Co-MVP of the meet after winning the mile (4:09.23), 3000 (8:08.49), and DMR (10:00.10).
Also on the track, Simpson was dubbed the Freshman Track Athlete of the Year after placing second in the 60m dash (6.83), 200 (21.75), and 4x400 (3:18.82). Meanwhile, sophomore Chris Devaney (New Plymouth, New Zealand) led an EMU sweep in the 5000 with a meet record time of 14:17.81, earning him the title of Most Outstanding Track Performer.
Parks picked up Coach of the Year honors while Assistant Coach Mark Rinker was tabbed as the Assistant Coach of the Year.
The women's team finished fourth overall with 77 points at the league's last indoor meet. Johnson captured the high jump crown for the second year in-a-row, besting junior teammate Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) in a jump-off with a clearance of 1.71m. Both were First Team All-MAC honorees.
Sophomore Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) tied her career-high in the 60m dash with a time of 7.50 for second overall. Her performance earned her Second Team All-MAC status.
Live stats and a live stream link will be available on KentStateSports.com. For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Friday's action will commence with the men's heptathlon at 10:45 a.m. and finish with the women's distance medley relay at 7:15 p.m. The men's heptathlon picks up the following morning at 11:30 a.m., while the competition comes to a close with the women's 4x400 relay at 4:40 p.m.
"We've had strong performances in all event areas throughout the season and we're excited about putting together a total team performance at the MAC meet," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "We're expecting a great competition and I feel that our athletes are ready to rise to the challenge."
Coming into this year's meet, sophomore Kaleb Simpson (Bexley, Ohio-St. Charles Preparatory) owns the second-fastest time in both the 60m (6.81) and 200m (21.35) in the MAC this season. Classmate Kilani Harvey (Orlando, Fla.-Jones (Highland C.C.)) is also runner-up in the 60 with a career-high time of 7.55.
Fellow sprinter Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School) has put together a strong season as she currently paces the conference in the 400 (54.64) and sits fifth in the 200 (24.49). In the distance events, junior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) leads the MAC in the mile (3:58.08), 3000 (7:47.51), and 5000 (13:41.39).
The EMU hurdlers have produced a dominant season thus far as sophomore Almighty Williamson (Baltimore, Md.-Digital Harbor (Barton C.C.)) and junior Payne Wylie (Elstow, Saskatchewan-Colonsay School) are 1-2 with season-best times of 7.87 and 7.90, respectively.
In jumps, senior Quintella Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev.-Saint Mary's (Texas Southern)) owns the second-best clearance in the MAC at 1.75m. Meanwhile, classmate Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed (Windhoek, Namibia-Fishburne Military (Va.) (Bethany College)) sits third in both the long jump (7.28m) and triple jump (15.19m).
The Eastern throwers have also had a very strong season. In the shot put, senior Chukwusom Enekwechi (Valley Stream, N.Y.-Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences (Monroe College)) ranks first in the league with a toss of 18.72m. Classmate Kadian Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) owns the best weight throw mark of the season at 21.54m and is fifth in the shot put at 15.50m.
Junior Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) tops the league in the weight throw with a school-record 23.22m toss. Graduate student Taige Bryant (Edmond, Okla.-Edmond Memorial) is third in the event at 23.01m.
Last year, the men's team captured the MAC indoor title, topping Akron 184-176, Feb. 27, 2021. Magnusson was named Co-MVP of the meet after winning the mile (4:09.23), 3000 (8:08.49), and DMR (10:00.10).
Also on the track, Simpson was dubbed the Freshman Track Athlete of the Year after placing second in the 60m dash (6.83), 200 (21.75), and 4x400 (3:18.82). Meanwhile, sophomore Chris Devaney (New Plymouth, New Zealand) led an EMU sweep in the 5000 with a meet record time of 14:17.81, earning him the title of Most Outstanding Track Performer.
Parks picked up Coach of the Year honors while Assistant Coach Mark Rinker was tabbed as the Assistant Coach of the Year.
The women's team finished fourth overall with 77 points at the league's last indoor meet. Johnson captured the high jump crown for the second year in-a-row, besting junior teammate Nina Ward (Fairfield, Ohio-Fairfield) in a jump-off with a clearance of 1.71m. Both were First Team All-MAC honorees.
Sophomore Alyson Davis (Summerfield, N.C.-Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts) tied her career-high in the 60m dash with a time of 7.50 for second overall. Her performance earned her Second Team All-MAC status.
Live stats and a live stream link will be available on KentStateSports.com. For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
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