Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, April 20
Rochester, Mich.
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
Elaine Leigh Invitational
Track & Field Grabs Six Wins at Elaine Leigh Invite
4/21/2023 9:21:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
EMU Women lead the way with four victories in meet hosted by Oakland
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University track and field teams competed at the 2023 Elaine Leigh Invitational Thursday and Friday, April 20-21, with the Eagles securing victories in six events in the meet hosted by Oakland University. Six different Eagles won their events with 18 total individuals posting personal-best marks in their penultimate meet of the regular season despite rainy weather in the area throughout.
How It Happened
Competition got underway Thursday, April 20, with four field events being conducted, including the long jump, high jump, hammer, and javelin. Eagle entrants collected four of their six victories in those events, including a sweep of the hammer throw with Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) winning the women's competition with a best of 55.40m (181-09) before Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) won for the men with a best of 60.83m (199-07). The remaining two victories came in the women's jumps with Antonia Woods (Winchester, Ohio-Groveport Madison) securing victory in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.87m (19-03.25) while Micah Martin (Clinton Township, Mich.-L'anse Creuse) cleared a best of 1.65m (5-05.00) to win the high jump. The final two victories in the meet came Friday, April 21, with both taking place in the field events. For the women, freshman Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio-Botkins) took the title in the discus with a toss of 39.28m (128-10) while Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica-Jamaica College-Nebraska) was the victor in the men's triple jump as he bounced his way to a best of 14.19m (46-06.75).
Isabella Brent (Dearborn Heights, Mich.-Divine Child) continued to post strong marks in the women's hammer as she finished second to teammate Cadwell with a personal-best mark of 52.11m (170-11), which also ranks seventh all-time in program history. Brent was the first of two individuals to record a PR in the hammer as Safeya Woolcock (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) tossed the ball 42.51m (139-05) to improve her mark by over six feet. Staying with the throws, Maleah Scott (Farmington, Minn.-Farmington) posted a PR of 26.84m (88-0) in the javelin to better her career best by over 12 feet.
The women's pole vault saw all three Eagles finish in the top eight with Fleur van der Linden (Drunen, Netherlands-d'Oultremont College) led the way with a clearance of 3.75m (12-03.50), which not only is a career-best mark, but also moved her to second on the current Mid-American Conference descending order list in 2023. Nicole Bow (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter) added a PR in the event with her clearance of 3.45m (11-03.75).
On the track, the 1,500m races produced seven total personal-best times with the women capturing four and the men three. For the women, Sadie Williams (Charleston, S.C.-Ashley Ridge) and Ella Garvin (Indianapolis, Ind.-Pike) each posted PRs for the third time in as many races this year, finishing with times of 4:58.08 and 5:07.77, respectively, while Kiera Hansen (Freeland, Mich.-Freeland) ran 5:01.55 to better her career mark by 12 seconds, and Elena Wheeler (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) rounded out the PRs with her time of 5:09.47. In the men's event, Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich.-Charlevoix), Brady Messer (Mason, Ohio-Mason), and Grant Sweningson (North Tustin, Calif.-Foothills) each ran personal bests with times of 3:53.25, 3:54.81, and 3:55.78, respectively. Sprinter Tirecia Walcott (Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica-Vere Technical) also posted a PR of 24.84 to place second overall in the women's 200m dash.
Up Next
Eastern will return to action next week when they venture to Lexington, Ky., for the University of Kentucky's Jim Green Invitational. The meet will be conducted Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29, and will be the final meet of the regular season before the Eagles head to the 2023 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 11-13, in Akron, Ohio.
For updates on all things EMU track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
2023 Elaine Leigh Track & Field Invitational
Rochester Hills, Mich. (Oakland University)
* personal best
Women's Results
100m Hurdles
Prelims
11. Chevonne Wheeler - 16.05
15. Maleah Scott - 16.82
200m Dash
2. Tirecia Walcott - 24.84 *
3. Kilani Harvey - 25.05
7. Chevonne Wheeler - 26.08 *
16. Maleah Scott - 27.25
400m Hurdles
2. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia - 1:02.37
10. Tijana Japundzic - 1:07.68
1,500m Run
6. Faith Rono - 4:38.99
12. Julia Pleskaczynska - 4:43.52
13. Esme Davies - 4:45.51
24. Sadie Williams - 4:58.08 *
26. Kiera Hansen - 5:01.55 *
33. Ella Garvin - 5:07.77 *
34. Elena Wheeler - 5:09.47 *
41. Cara Weber - 5:29.00
5,000m Run
17. Kayla Muir - 18:58.15
Long Jump
1. Antonia Woods - 5.87m (19-03.25) *
7. Nyla Joseph-Guevara - 5.33m (17-06.00)
8. Chevonne Wheeler - 5.23m (17-02.00) *
High Jump
1. Micah Martin - 1.65m (5-05.00)
10. Natalie Buratczuk - 1.55m (5-01.00) *
-- Maleah Scott - no height
Pole Vault
4. Fleur van der Linden - 3.75m (12-03.50) *
6. Maura Lane - 3.45m (11-03.75)
8. Nicole Bow - 3.45m (11-03.75) *
Shot Put
13. Aleah Johnson - 9.94m (32-07.50)
16. Thierry Campbell - 9.64m (31-07.50)
Discus
1. Aleah Johnson - 39.28m (128-10)
Hammer
1. Miranda Cadwell - 55.40m (181-09)
2. Isabella Brent - 52.11m (170-11) * - EMU #7
8. Aleah Johnson - 42.57m (139-08)
9. Safeya Woolcock - 42.51m (139-05) *
Javelin
8. Maleah Scott - 26.84m (88-00) *
10. Elise Gregory - 25.10m (82-04)
Men's Results
100m Dash
Prelims
14. George Gage - 11.55
400m Hurdles
3. Payne Wylie - 55.42
1,500m Run
5. Sam Peterson - 3:53.25 *
6. Brady Messer - 3:54.81 *
8. Grant Sweningson - 3:55.78 *
18. Ian Cook - 4:03.94
Long Jump
6. Dahndray Holmes - 6.46m (21-02.50)
11. Reese McEvers - 5.82m (19-01.25) *
Triple Jump
1. Formula Thompson - 14.19m (46-06.75)
2. Dahndray Holmes - 13.52m (44-04.25)
High Jump
2. Brendan Hill - 2.04m (6-08.25)
-- Ousman Kamara - no height
Pole Vault
2. Jacob Niedzwiecki - 4.65m (15-03.00)
Shot Put
10. Newlyn Stephenson - 13.12m (43-00.50)
Discus
10. Drew Knieper - 38.26m (125-06)
Hammer
1. Newlyn Stephenson - 60.83m (199-07)
6. Kevin Fofanah - 49.50m (162-05)
-- Drew Knieper - foul
Javelin
4. Drew Knieper - 46.28m (151-10)
9. Sam Fullerton - 40.29m (132-02)
How It Happened
Competition got underway Thursday, April 20, with four field events being conducted, including the long jump, high jump, hammer, and javelin. Eagle entrants collected four of their six victories in those events, including a sweep of the hammer throw with Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) winning the women's competition with a best of 55.40m (181-09) before Newlyn Stephenson (Gary, Ind.-Thea Bowman Leadership Academy) won for the men with a best of 60.83m (199-07). The remaining two victories came in the women's jumps with Antonia Woods (Winchester, Ohio-Groveport Madison) securing victory in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.87m (19-03.25) while Micah Martin (Clinton Township, Mich.-L'anse Creuse) cleared a best of 1.65m (5-05.00) to win the high jump. The final two victories in the meet came Friday, April 21, with both taking place in the field events. For the women, freshman Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio-Botkins) took the title in the discus with a toss of 39.28m (128-10) while Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica-Jamaica College-Nebraska) was the victor in the men's triple jump as he bounced his way to a best of 14.19m (46-06.75).
Isabella Brent (Dearborn Heights, Mich.-Divine Child) continued to post strong marks in the women's hammer as she finished second to teammate Cadwell with a personal-best mark of 52.11m (170-11), which also ranks seventh all-time in program history. Brent was the first of two individuals to record a PR in the hammer as Safeya Woolcock (Kingston, Jamaica-Immaculate Conception) tossed the ball 42.51m (139-05) to improve her mark by over six feet. Staying with the throws, Maleah Scott (Farmington, Minn.-Farmington) posted a PR of 26.84m (88-0) in the javelin to better her career best by over 12 feet.
The women's pole vault saw all three Eagles finish in the top eight with Fleur van der Linden (Drunen, Netherlands-d'Oultremont College) led the way with a clearance of 3.75m (12-03.50), which not only is a career-best mark, but also moved her to second on the current Mid-American Conference descending order list in 2023. Nicole Bow (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter) added a PR in the event with her clearance of 3.45m (11-03.75).
On the track, the 1,500m races produced seven total personal-best times with the women capturing four and the men three. For the women, Sadie Williams (Charleston, S.C.-Ashley Ridge) and Ella Garvin (Indianapolis, Ind.-Pike) each posted PRs for the third time in as many races this year, finishing with times of 4:58.08 and 5:07.77, respectively, while Kiera Hansen (Freeland, Mich.-Freeland) ran 5:01.55 to better her career mark by 12 seconds, and Elena Wheeler (Plymouth, Mich.-Salem) rounded out the PRs with her time of 5:09.47. In the men's event, Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich.-Charlevoix), Brady Messer (Mason, Ohio-Mason), and Grant Sweningson (North Tustin, Calif.-Foothills) each ran personal bests with times of 3:53.25, 3:54.81, and 3:55.78, respectively. Sprinter Tirecia Walcott (Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica-Vere Technical) also posted a PR of 24.84 to place second overall in the women's 200m dash.
Up Next
Eastern will return to action next week when they venture to Lexington, Ky., for the University of Kentucky's Jim Green Invitational. The meet will be conducted Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29, and will be the final meet of the regular season before the Eagles head to the 2023 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 11-13, in Akron, Ohio.
For updates on all things EMU track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
2023 Elaine Leigh Track & Field Invitational
Rochester Hills, Mich. (Oakland University)
* personal best
Women's Results
100m Hurdles
Prelims
11. Chevonne Wheeler - 16.05
15. Maleah Scott - 16.82
200m Dash
2. Tirecia Walcott - 24.84 *
3. Kilani Harvey - 25.05
7. Chevonne Wheeler - 26.08 *
16. Maleah Scott - 27.25
400m Hurdles
2. Tiffany Cernej-Garcia - 1:02.37
10. Tijana Japundzic - 1:07.68
1,500m Run
6. Faith Rono - 4:38.99
12. Julia Pleskaczynska - 4:43.52
13. Esme Davies - 4:45.51
24. Sadie Williams - 4:58.08 *
26. Kiera Hansen - 5:01.55 *
33. Ella Garvin - 5:07.77 *
34. Elena Wheeler - 5:09.47 *
41. Cara Weber - 5:29.00
5,000m Run
17. Kayla Muir - 18:58.15
Long Jump
1. Antonia Woods - 5.87m (19-03.25) *
7. Nyla Joseph-Guevara - 5.33m (17-06.00)
8. Chevonne Wheeler - 5.23m (17-02.00) *
High Jump
1. Micah Martin - 1.65m (5-05.00)
10. Natalie Buratczuk - 1.55m (5-01.00) *
-- Maleah Scott - no height
Pole Vault
4. Fleur van der Linden - 3.75m (12-03.50) *
6. Maura Lane - 3.45m (11-03.75)
8. Nicole Bow - 3.45m (11-03.75) *
Shot Put
13. Aleah Johnson - 9.94m (32-07.50)
16. Thierry Campbell - 9.64m (31-07.50)
Discus
1. Aleah Johnson - 39.28m (128-10)
Hammer
1. Miranda Cadwell - 55.40m (181-09)
2. Isabella Brent - 52.11m (170-11) * - EMU #7
8. Aleah Johnson - 42.57m (139-08)
9. Safeya Woolcock - 42.51m (139-05) *
Javelin
8. Maleah Scott - 26.84m (88-00) *
10. Elise Gregory - 25.10m (82-04)
Men's Results
100m Dash
Prelims
14. George Gage - 11.55
400m Hurdles
3. Payne Wylie - 55.42
1,500m Run
5. Sam Peterson - 3:53.25 *
6. Brady Messer - 3:54.81 *
8. Grant Sweningson - 3:55.78 *
18. Ian Cook - 4:03.94
Long Jump
6. Dahndray Holmes - 6.46m (21-02.50)
11. Reese McEvers - 5.82m (19-01.25) *
Triple Jump
1. Formula Thompson - 14.19m (46-06.75)
2. Dahndray Holmes - 13.52m (44-04.25)
High Jump
2. Brendan Hill - 2.04m (6-08.25)
-- Ousman Kamara - no height
Pole Vault
2. Jacob Niedzwiecki - 4.65m (15-03.00)
Shot Put
10. Newlyn Stephenson - 13.12m (43-00.50)
Discus
10. Drew Knieper - 38.26m (125-06)
Hammer
1. Newlyn Stephenson - 60.83m (199-07)
6. Kevin Fofanah - 49.50m (162-05)
-- Drew Knieper - foul
Javelin
4. Drew Knieper - 46.28m (151-10)
9. Sam Fullerton - 40.29m (132-02)
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
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