Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Announces Postseason Awards for Outdoor Track and Field
5/17/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
EMU student-athletes claimed multiple awards, including a pair of Most Outstanding Performer Nods
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Mid-American Conference announced its 2023 Outdoor Track and Field postseason awards Wednesday, May 17, following the championships last weekend in Akron, Ohio. All awards are voted on by the head coaches in the conference, with the exception of All-MAC Teams and Freshmen Performers of the Year, which are determined by points earned at the conference championship meet.
Both the men's and women's teams from Eastern Michigan had podium finishes at the outdoor championships. The women's team placed second with 105 points just behind Ball State University's 108 points while the men's team was third with 144.50 points behind host Akron (168.50) and Kent State University (161), respectively.
Despite falling just short in the team standings, Eastern Michigan received a plethora of postseason honors for its 2023 efforts.
Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) brought home the league's top honor as he was named the MAC's Most Outstanding Track Performer. Magnusson, who was also named the league's most outstanding performer following the 2023 indoor campaign, finished the outdoor season with a first place finish in the 1,500 meter run, second place finish in the 10,000 meter event, and third place finish in the 5,000 meter to collect an incredible 24 points for the Eagles. Magnusson finishes an epic 2022-23 season that saw him claim four individual MAC titles, and earn First Team All-MAC recognition in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.
Keeping pace with Magnusson in terms of postseason honors was assistant coach Mark Rinker, who was named the MAC's Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. Rinker also earned the honor following the 2023 indoor championships. Rinker's distance group scored 71 points at the 2023 outdoor championships, including wins in the 800 meter and 1,500 meter.
In addition to those honors, seven other men joined Magnusson as All-MAC honorees. Payne Wylie (Elstow, Saskatchewan-Colonsay School), Marcus Kemp (Kitchener, Ontario-St. Mary's Kitchener-Providence), and Brendan Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) were all named to the first team. Wylie won the league title in the 110 hurdles (14.09), while Kemp won the 800 meters with a personal best time of 1:51.20. Hill tied his PR to win the high jump (2.06 meters).
Linus Vennemann (Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany-Gymnasium "In der Wuste"), Dante Lander (Dayton, Ohio-West Carrollton-Central Michigan), Kaleb Simpson (Bexley, Ohio-St. Charles Prep), and Toby Gaulter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College) all earned second team nods. Vennemann was second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a personal best time of 9:06.54, while Lander set a PR to place second in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 51.41, the seventh best mark in school history, bettering his time from the preliminaries. Simpson was second in the 200 meters with a PR of 20.80 which is the seventh best mark in program history, and took second in the 5,000 meters (14:11.27).
On the women's side, Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) was tabbed as the league's Most Outstanding Track Performer. Gazaway's dominant 2022-23 season continued at the outdoor championships, where she took home titles in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles. She was also the lead runner on Eastern Michigan's winning 4 x 400 meter relay team that captured the crown in Akron last week. Gazaway accounted for 22.5 of Eastern Michigan's total points. Gazway finishes her 2022-23 indoor and outdoor efforts with four titles, and two respective nods as a First Team All-MAC selection.
Four additional Eagles earned All-MAC honors as Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child), and Noriyah Johnson (Chania, Greece-Second General-Albilene Christian) picked up First Team All-MAC accolades. The trio paired with Gazaway to win the 4 x 400 meter relay, while Johnson won the 400 meters with a personal best time of 53.85, the 10th best result in school history.
Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) was second in the hammer (57.07 meters) for EMU's only second place finish and she took the bronze in the discus (46.31 meters) by posting a personal best and Eastern Michigan school record. For her efforts, she was awarded Second Team All-MAC honors.
Full List of 2023 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Postseason Honors
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Ryan Smith, Miami
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Mark Rinker, Eastern Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Angel Gazaway, Eastern Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Janelle Rogers, Ball State
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Matt Bigelow, Ball State
Men's First Team
Brian Masai, Akron
Dimitrije Novakovic, Akron
Hunter Garretson, Akron
Charles Sanders, Akron
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron
Quentin Woodall, Akron
Jameel Williamson, Akron
William Gross, Akron
Danil Chernov, Buffalo
Jonathan Surdej, Buffalo
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Payne Wylie, Eastern Michigan
Marcus Kemp, Eastern Michigan
Brendan Hill, Eastern Michigan
Logan Doyle, Kent State
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Dejon Manning, Kent State
Jonathan Solomon, Kent State
Alex Shields, Kent State
Alexandre Malanda, Kent State
Charlie Harders, Miami
Ryan Smith, Miami
Men's Second Team
Haruki Sakai, Akron
Robert Atrip, Akron
Josiah Cox, Akron
Milton Wilson, Akron
Nuh Andu, Akron
Kevin Gabalski, Buffalo
Linus Vennemann, Eastern Michigan
Dante Lander, Eastern Michigan
Kaleb Simpson, Eastern Michigan
Toby Gaulter, Eastern Michigan
Scott Benco, Kent State
Shakorie Davis II, Kent State
Quinton Cooks, Kent State
Kyle Sommer, Kent State
Nolan Landis, Kent State
Julian Wagner, Miami
Ibukunoluwa Alfred, Miami
Jacob Ranker, Miami
Leo Bouldin, Miami
Women's First Team
Brynn Rychlik, Akron
Amya Clarke, Akron
Makenna Heimlich, Akron
Janelle Rogers, Ball State
Charity Griffith Ball State
Moriah Johnson, Ball State
Alana Springer, Ball State
Lindley Steele, Ball State
Jenna Oriani, Ball State
Mateya Haintz, Bowling Green
Zaresha Neal, Bowling Green
Kylee Cubbison, Bowling Green
Christina Wende, Buffalo
Scilla Benussi, Buffalo
Angel Gazaway, Eastern Michigan
Noriyah Johnson, Eastern Michigan
Mair Edwards, Eastern Michigan
Chevonne Wheeler, Eastern Michigan
Ava Nuttall, Miami
Carmen Riano, Miami
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois
Women's Second Team
Laurel Bristow, Akron
Adaeze Nwokike, Akron
Darian Braddix, Bowling Green
DaMya Barker, Bowling Green
Tianna Mulligan, Bowling Green
Jemeila Hunter, Bowling Green
Brianna Richard, Bowling Green
Zaria Fuller, Buffalo
Emily Paupore, Central Michigan
Miranda Cadwell, Eastern Michigan
Aliesha Shaw, Kent State
Angelina Lotarski, Kent State
Karsyn Spears, Kent State
Annie Christie, Miami
Santornya Ralliford, Miami
Kimone Hines, Northern Illinois
Skylynn Blue, Northern Illinois
Scout Regular, Northern Illinois
Suerethia Henderson, Northern Illinois
Talayassia Sanders, Northern Illinois
Kimone Hines, Northern Illinois
Madeline Vining, Toledo
Both the men's and women's teams from Eastern Michigan had podium finishes at the outdoor championships. The women's team placed second with 105 points just behind Ball State University's 108 points while the men's team was third with 144.50 points behind host Akron (168.50) and Kent State University (161), respectively.
Despite falling just short in the team standings, Eastern Michigan received a plethora of postseason honors for its 2023 efforts.
Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) brought home the league's top honor as he was named the MAC's Most Outstanding Track Performer. Magnusson, who was also named the league's most outstanding performer following the 2023 indoor campaign, finished the outdoor season with a first place finish in the 1,500 meter run, second place finish in the 10,000 meter event, and third place finish in the 5,000 meter to collect an incredible 24 points for the Eagles. Magnusson finishes an epic 2022-23 season that saw him claim four individual MAC titles, and earn First Team All-MAC recognition in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.
Keeping pace with Magnusson in terms of postseason honors was assistant coach Mark Rinker, who was named the MAC's Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. Rinker also earned the honor following the 2023 indoor championships. Rinker's distance group scored 71 points at the 2023 outdoor championships, including wins in the 800 meter and 1,500 meter.
In addition to those honors, seven other men joined Magnusson as All-MAC honorees. Payne Wylie (Elstow, Saskatchewan-Colonsay School), Marcus Kemp (Kitchener, Ontario-St. Mary's Kitchener-Providence), and Brendan Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) were all named to the first team. Wylie won the league title in the 110 hurdles (14.09), while Kemp won the 800 meters with a personal best time of 1:51.20. Hill tied his PR to win the high jump (2.06 meters).
Linus Vennemann (Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany-Gymnasium "In der Wuste"), Dante Lander (Dayton, Ohio-West Carrollton-Central Michigan), Kaleb Simpson (Bexley, Ohio-St. Charles Prep), and Toby Gaulter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College) all earned second team nods. Vennemann was second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a personal best time of 9:06.54, while Lander set a PR to place second in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 51.41, the seventh best mark in school history, bettering his time from the preliminaries. Simpson was second in the 200 meters with a PR of 20.80 which is the seventh best mark in program history, and took second in the 5,000 meters (14:11.27).
On the women's side, Angel Gazaway (Cincinnati, Ohio-Princeton) was tabbed as the league's Most Outstanding Track Performer. Gazaway's dominant 2022-23 season continued at the outdoor championships, where she took home titles in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles. She was also the lead runner on Eastern Michigan's winning 4 x 400 meter relay team that captured the crown in Akron last week. Gazaway accounted for 22.5 of Eastern Michigan's total points. Gazway finishes her 2022-23 indoor and outdoor efforts with four titles, and two respective nods as a First Team All-MAC selection.
Four additional Eagles earned All-MAC honors as Mair Edwards (Basingstoke, England-The Costello School), Chevonne Wheeler (Redford, Mich.-Divine Child), and Noriyah Johnson (Chania, Greece-Second General-Albilene Christian) picked up First Team All-MAC accolades. The trio paired with Gazaway to win the 4 x 400 meter relay, while Johnson won the 400 meters with a personal best time of 53.85, the 10th best result in school history.
Miranda Cadwell (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield South) was second in the hammer (57.07 meters) for EMU's only second place finish and she took the bronze in the discus (46.31 meters) by posting a personal best and Eastern Michigan school record. For her efforts, she was awarded Second Team All-MAC honors.
Full List of 2023 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Postseason Honors
Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Men's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Ryan Smith, Miami
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Mark Rinker, Eastern Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer
Angel Gazaway, Eastern Michigan
Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer
Janelle Rogers, Ball State
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Matt Bigelow, Ball State
Men's First Team
Brian Masai, Akron
Dimitrije Novakovic, Akron
Hunter Garretson, Akron
Charles Sanders, Akron
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron
Quentin Woodall, Akron
Jameel Williamson, Akron
William Gross, Akron
Danil Chernov, Buffalo
Jonathan Surdej, Buffalo
Baldvin Magnusson, Eastern Michigan
Payne Wylie, Eastern Michigan
Marcus Kemp, Eastern Michigan
Brendan Hill, Eastern Michigan
Logan Doyle, Kent State
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Dejon Manning, Kent State
Jonathan Solomon, Kent State
Alex Shields, Kent State
Alexandre Malanda, Kent State
Charlie Harders, Miami
Ryan Smith, Miami
Men's Second Team
Haruki Sakai, Akron
Robert Atrip, Akron
Josiah Cox, Akron
Milton Wilson, Akron
Nuh Andu, Akron
Kevin Gabalski, Buffalo
Linus Vennemann, Eastern Michigan
Dante Lander, Eastern Michigan
Kaleb Simpson, Eastern Michigan
Toby Gaulter, Eastern Michigan
Scott Benco, Kent State
Shakorie Davis II, Kent State
Quinton Cooks, Kent State
Kyle Sommer, Kent State
Nolan Landis, Kent State
Julian Wagner, Miami
Ibukunoluwa Alfred, Miami
Jacob Ranker, Miami
Leo Bouldin, Miami
Women's First Team
Brynn Rychlik, Akron
Amya Clarke, Akron
Makenna Heimlich, Akron
Janelle Rogers, Ball State
Charity Griffith Ball State
Moriah Johnson, Ball State
Alana Springer, Ball State
Lindley Steele, Ball State
Jenna Oriani, Ball State
Mateya Haintz, Bowling Green
Zaresha Neal, Bowling Green
Kylee Cubbison, Bowling Green
Christina Wende, Buffalo
Scilla Benussi, Buffalo
Angel Gazaway, Eastern Michigan
Noriyah Johnson, Eastern Michigan
Mair Edwards, Eastern Michigan
Chevonne Wheeler, Eastern Michigan
Ava Nuttall, Miami
Carmen Riano, Miami
Diamond Riley, Northern Illinois
Women's Second Team
Laurel Bristow, Akron
Adaeze Nwokike, Akron
Darian Braddix, Bowling Green
DaMya Barker, Bowling Green
Tianna Mulligan, Bowling Green
Jemeila Hunter, Bowling Green
Brianna Richard, Bowling Green
Zaria Fuller, Buffalo
Emily Paupore, Central Michigan
Miranda Cadwell, Eastern Michigan
Aliesha Shaw, Kent State
Angelina Lotarski, Kent State
Karsyn Spears, Kent State
Annie Christie, Miami
Santornya Ralliford, Miami
Kimone Hines, Northern Illinois
Skylynn Blue, Northern Illinois
Scout Regular, Northern Illinois
Suerethia Henderson, Northern Illinois
Talayassia Sanders, Northern Illinois
Kimone Hines, Northern Illinois
Madeline Vining, Toledo
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Ben Reese
Friday, October 10
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Patrice Beasley
Friday, October 10