Eastern Michigan Athletics
3/2/2022 9:44:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Multiple coaches and student-athletes picked up league honors
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – After a strong showing at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 25-26, including a victory by the men's team, the Eastern Michigan University track & field team program was honored with a number of MAC awards, announced the league, March 2.
Director/Head Coach Sue Parks was tabbed as the Men's Coach of the Year for the second time as the team captured its 17th MAC title and third in the last five years. In total, this was Parks' ninth time receiving the league's indoor COY award. No other female coach in Mid-American Conference history has led a men's program to a championship -- Coach Parks' has accomplished the feat twice in cross country (2020, 2021) and twice in indoor track & field (2021, 2022).
Assistant Coach Mark Rinker earned the title of Men's Assistant Coach of the Year as his distance runners dominated the competition. In total, Rinker's harriers tallied eight top-ten finishes across five events, including a second-place finish in the distance medley relay (9:54.00) as the group hauled in 77 points. Additionally, this was the second time Coach Rinker earned the award, as he earned the honor last indoor season as well.
Junior harrier Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University), who was already named the Men's Most Valuable Performer, was also dubbed the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer for his efforts. At the MAC Indoor Championships, Magnusson won the mile (4:07.00), 3000m (8:20.72), and placed third in the 800m race (1:53.04), Feb. 25-26. In total, the Icelandic native earned 36 points for the Eagles.
Freshman Tajay Roberts (Sunrise, Fla.-Dillard) was named the Men's Freshman Co-Track Performers of the championship meet, alongside Buffalo's Fernando Sanchez. Roberts produced a personal-best time of 48.72 in the preliminary round of the 400m dash, later placing sixth with a time of 49.05 in the final. Additionally, the first-year student-athlete ran the first leg of the men's 4x400m relay team which placed third in 3:17.98.
Men's Coach of the Year
Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
Women's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Mark Rinker, Eastern Michigan
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Dominka Stokowska, Akron
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Jack Wickey, Kent State
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Charity Griffith, Ball State
Men's Freshman Co-Track Performers
Fernando Sanchez, Buffalo and Tajay Roberts, Eastern Michigan
Men's Freshman Field Performer
Alexandre Malanda of Kent State
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Taylor Shriver, Akron
Men's First Team All-MAC
Zarik Brown, Akron (60m, 1600 relay)
Jean Dieuvil, Akron (DMR)
Hesham Eldesouky, Akron (LJ, Triple Jump)
Hunter Garretson, Akron (Pole Vault)
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron (1600 relay)
Oliver Huffman, Akron (DMR)
Blake Lucius, Akron (DMR, 800m,1600 relay)
Jacob Ondash, Akron (DMR)
Charles Sanders, Akron (400m, 1600 relay)
Brandon Burke, Buffalo (HJ)
Jonathan Surdej, Buffalo (Shot)
Baldvin Magnusson, EMU (5,000, Mile, 3000m)
Almighty Williamson, EMU (60m Hurdles)
Asa Hodrick, Kent State (200m)
Alex Shields, Kent State (Heptathlon)
Jake Wickey, Kent State (Weight Throw)
Men's Second Team All-MAC
Nuh Andu, Akron (HJ)
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron (400m)
Solomon Costa, EMU (DMR)
Chukwusom Enekwechi, EMU (Shot)
Toby Gualter, EMU (5,000m 3,000m)
Derek Jones, EMU (800m, DMR)
Marcus Kemp, EMU (DMR)
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed, EMU (LJ)
Kaleb Simpson, EMU(60m)
Newlyn Stephenson, EMU (Weight Throw)
Linus Vennemann, EMU (DMR)
Quintin Cooks, Kent State (1600 relay)
Shakorie Davis, Kent State (1600 relay)
Drew Johnson, Kent State (Mile)
Jacob Mally, Kent State (Heptathlon)
Jonathan Solomon, Kent State (1600 relay)
Lukas Van Der Walt, Kent State (Pole Vault)
Women's First Team All-MAC
Kadian Clarke, EMU (Weight Throw)
Joy Chirchir, Toledo (5000, 3000)
Hayley Manners, CMU (LJ)
Kailee Perry, BGSU (DMR)
Darian Braddix, BGSU (DMR)
Raegan Burkey, BGSU (DMR)
Katerina Shuble, BGSU (DMR)
Charity Griffith, Ball State (Pentathlon, HJ)
Charlotte Roemer, Miami (Mile)
Mi'Angel Daniels, Kent State (60m Hurdles)
Kadeja Campbell, NIU (400m)
Amya Clarke, Akron (60m, 200m)
Varvara Lissichkina, Akron (800m)
Zaresha Neal, Bowling Green (Shot Put)
Leah Pasqualetti, Kent State (Pole Vault)
Tiffany Cernej-Garcia, EMU (1600 relay)
Mair Edwards, EMU (1600 relay)
Keypathwa Gibson, EMU (1600 relay)
Noriyah Johnson, EMU (1600 relay)
Fegor Clifford, Akron (Triple Jump)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Ariel Floyd, EMU (Weight Throw)
Carmen Riano, Miami (5000)
Jazmyn Smith, NIU (LJ)
Emily Akin, Miami (DMR)
Faith Baxter, Miami (DMR)
McKenna Fry, Miami (DMR)
Annie Christie, Miami (DMR)
Beth Arentz, Akron (Mile)
Scout Regular, NIU (60m Hurdles)
Azariah McGee-Grantham, WMU (60m)
Makenna Heimlich, Akron (800m)
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State (Shot Put)
Quintella Johnson, EMU (HJ)
Emily Vining, Toledo (3000)
Abby Knouff, Akron (Pole Vault)
Alexis Thigpen, Ball State (1600 relay)
MaQuila Norman, Ball State (1600 relay)
Karlie Zumbro, Ball State (Pentathlon, 1600 relay)
Payton Barlow, Ball State (1600 relay)
Sarena Choi, Kent State (Triple Jump)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will wait to see if any marks qualify individuals for the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-12. 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.
Director/Head Coach Sue Parks was tabbed as the Men's Coach of the Year for the second time as the team captured its 17th MAC title and third in the last five years. In total, this was Parks' ninth time receiving the league's indoor COY award. No other female coach in Mid-American Conference history has led a men's program to a championship -- Coach Parks' has accomplished the feat twice in cross country (2020, 2021) and twice in indoor track & field (2021, 2022).
Assistant Coach Mark Rinker earned the title of Men's Assistant Coach of the Year as his distance runners dominated the competition. In total, Rinker's harriers tallied eight top-ten finishes across five events, including a second-place finish in the distance medley relay (9:54.00) as the group hauled in 77 points. Additionally, this was the second time Coach Rinker earned the award, as he earned the honor last indoor season as well.
Junior harrier Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University), who was already named the Men's Most Valuable Performer, was also dubbed the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer for his efforts. At the MAC Indoor Championships, Magnusson won the mile (4:07.00), 3000m (8:20.72), and placed third in the 800m race (1:53.04), Feb. 25-26. In total, the Icelandic native earned 36 points for the Eagles.
Freshman Tajay Roberts (Sunrise, Fla.-Dillard) was named the Men's Freshman Co-Track Performers of the championship meet, alongside Buffalo's Fernando Sanchez. Roberts produced a personal-best time of 48.72 in the preliminary round of the 400m dash, later placing sixth with a time of 49.05 in the final. Additionally, the first-year student-athlete ran the first leg of the men's 4x400m relay team which placed third in 3:17.98.
Men's Coach of the Year
Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
Women's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Mark Rinker, Eastern Michigan
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Dominka Stokowska, Akron
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Jack Wickey, Kent State
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Charity Griffith, Ball State
Men's Freshman Co-Track Performers
Fernando Sanchez, Buffalo and Tajay Roberts, Eastern Michigan
Men's Freshman Field Performer
Alexandre Malanda of Kent State
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Joy Chirchir, Toledo
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Taylor Shriver, Akron
Men's First Team All-MAC
Zarik Brown, Akron (60m, 1600 relay)
Jean Dieuvil, Akron (DMR)
Hesham Eldesouky, Akron (LJ, Triple Jump)
Hunter Garretson, Akron (Pole Vault)
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron (1600 relay)
Oliver Huffman, Akron (DMR)
Blake Lucius, Akron (DMR, 800m,1600 relay)
Jacob Ondash, Akron (DMR)
Charles Sanders, Akron (400m, 1600 relay)
Brandon Burke, Buffalo (HJ)
Jonathan Surdej, Buffalo (Shot)
Baldvin Magnusson, EMU (5,000, Mile, 3000m)
Almighty Williamson, EMU (60m Hurdles)
Asa Hodrick, Kent State (200m)
Alex Shields, Kent State (Heptathlon)
Jake Wickey, Kent State (Weight Throw)
Men's Second Team All-MAC
Nuh Andu, Akron (HJ)
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron (400m)
Solomon Costa, EMU (DMR)
Chukwusom Enekwechi, EMU (Shot)
Toby Gualter, EMU (5,000m 3,000m)
Derek Jones, EMU (800m, DMR)
Marcus Kemp, EMU (DMR)
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed, EMU (LJ)
Kaleb Simpson, EMU(60m)
Newlyn Stephenson, EMU (Weight Throw)
Linus Vennemann, EMU (DMR)
Quintin Cooks, Kent State (1600 relay)
Shakorie Davis, Kent State (1600 relay)
Drew Johnson, Kent State (Mile)
Jacob Mally, Kent State (Heptathlon)
Jonathan Solomon, Kent State (1600 relay)
Lukas Van Der Walt, Kent State (Pole Vault)
Women's First Team All-MAC
Kadian Clarke, EMU (Weight Throw)
Joy Chirchir, Toledo (5000, 3000)
Hayley Manners, CMU (LJ)
Kailee Perry, BGSU (DMR)
Darian Braddix, BGSU (DMR)
Raegan Burkey, BGSU (DMR)
Katerina Shuble, BGSU (DMR)
Charity Griffith, Ball State (Pentathlon, HJ)
Charlotte Roemer, Miami (Mile)
Mi'Angel Daniels, Kent State (60m Hurdles)
Kadeja Campbell, NIU (400m)
Amya Clarke, Akron (60m, 200m)
Varvara Lissichkina, Akron (800m)
Zaresha Neal, Bowling Green (Shot Put)
Leah Pasqualetti, Kent State (Pole Vault)
Tiffany Cernej-Garcia, EMU (1600 relay)
Mair Edwards, EMU (1600 relay)
Keypathwa Gibson, EMU (1600 relay)
Noriyah Johnson, EMU (1600 relay)
Fegor Clifford, Akron (Triple Jump)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Ariel Floyd, EMU (Weight Throw)
Carmen Riano, Miami (5000)
Jazmyn Smith, NIU (LJ)
Emily Akin, Miami (DMR)
Faith Baxter, Miami (DMR)
McKenna Fry, Miami (DMR)
Annie Christie, Miami (DMR)
Beth Arentz, Akron (Mile)
Scout Regular, NIU (60m Hurdles)
Azariah McGee-Grantham, WMU (60m)
Makenna Heimlich, Akron (800m)
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State (Shot Put)
Quintella Johnson, EMU (HJ)
Emily Vining, Toledo (3000)
Abby Knouff, Akron (Pole Vault)
Alexis Thigpen, Ball State (1600 relay)
MaQuila Norman, Ball State (1600 relay)
Karlie Zumbro, Ball State (Pentathlon, 1600 relay)
Payton Barlow, Ball State (1600 relay)
Sarena Choi, Kent State (Triple Jump)
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will wait to see if any marks qualify individuals for the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-12. 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
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
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
High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track & FieldSaturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Friday, September 25
Wednesday, June 17