Track & Field Set to Open 2024-25 Campaign at GVSU Holiday Open Friday

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University track & field programs are set to open its 2024-25 season with the GVSU Holiday Open, hosted by Grand Valley State University, at the Kelly Family Sports Center, in Allendale, Mich., Friday, Dec. 6. The meet will begin with field events at 1:30 p.m.

Fans interested in attending the meet can access all meet information here.

DEFENDING THE CROWN
The Eagles' women's team captured its ninth MAC title at the 2024 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. It is looking to secure its 10th title in the 2025 indoor season. A victory at the MAC Indoor Championships would mark the first three-peat from the women's team in program history.

RETURNING MAC CHAMPS
The men return two former MAC Champions in Ryan Johnson (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska). Johnson won the weight throw title in the indoor season (22.24m – 72-11.50) and the hammer throw championship in the outdoor season (65.17m – 213-10). Thompson won the long jump at the indoor championships with a 7.68m (25-02.50) jump and the triple jump at the outdoor championships, bounding 15.57m (51-01.00).

On the women's side, EMU returns former MAC champions Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford-Benedict), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy), and Paige Marchant (London, Ontario/Catholic Central). Buffen won the triple jump at both the indoor and outdoor conference meets with her best mark coming at the outdoor meet, leaping 12.64m (41-05.75). Walkes captured individual conference titles in the indoor season in the 200m dash (24.15) and the 60m dash (7.44). Marchant earned three individual championships at the MAC Indoor Championships, winning the 800m (2:10.26), mile (4:49.67), and 3000m (9:25.38). She also set the women's indoor mile record last season, finishing the race in 4:38.91, Feb. 10. Tijana Japundzic (Belgrade, Serbia/Technical School "New Belgrade"), Joesphine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Secondary School/Tayelolu Memorial), and Walkes also earned titles in the 4x400m relay, as they crossed the finish line in 3:44.74.

2024 MAC HONORS
Ryan Johnson was named the MAC Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year in both the indoor and outdoor seasons after winning the weight throw at the indoor championships (22.24m – 72-11.75) and the hammer throw at the outdoor championships (66.74m – 218-11). Paige Marchant was named the MAC Women's Most Valuable Track Performer and Most Outstanding Track Performer in the indoor season. Now Associate Head Coach, Sue Parks was named MAC Women's Coach of the Year while former Associate Head Coach and now Co-Director of Cross Country/Track & Field, Chris Best, earned Women's Assistant Coach of the Year after the indoor championships.

ALL-MAC RETURNERS – INDOOR SEASON
Eastern returns 12 All-MAC honorees from the indoor season.

Women's All-MAC Returners
Kyra Buffen
Tijana Japundzic
Paige Marchant
Josephine Oloye
Saraiah Walkes

Men's All-MAC Returners
Ryan Johnson
Formula Thompson
Shelton Bass (Warner Robbins, Ga./Houston County/Alderson Broaddus)
Eric Haddock Jr. (Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh/Appalachian State)
Brendan Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne)
Tajay Roberts (Sunrise, Fla./Dillard)
Gabe Singh (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Northview/Oakland)

ALL-MAC RETURNERS – OUTDOOR SEASON
The Eagles return eight All-MAC athletes from the outdoor season.

Women's All-MAC Returners
Kyra Buffen
Paige Marchant
Saraiah Walkes
Josephine Oloye

Men's All-MAC Returners
Formula Thompson
Ryan Johnson
Gabe Singh
Jake McEachern

NEW COACHES
The Eagles have adjusted their coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Chris Best and Sterling Roberts have been promoted to Directors of Cross Country/Track & Field. Best will take on the head coaching duties for the women's team while Roberts will do so for the men's. Sue Parks opted to return to hands-on coaching duties and will serve as an Associate Head Coach while still acting as the Head Women's Cross Country Coach. Eastern added two newcomers to the coaching staff in Austin Whitelaw (distance) and Nia Henderson (throws). Whitelaw comes to Ypsilanti after most recently serving as an assistant track & field/cross country coach as well as recruiting coordinator for the University of Connecticut (2022-24). Henderson brings five years of NAIA coaching experience with her as she oversaw nine NAIA All-Americans at nearby Madonna University. She was also named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Eastern throwers Jake McEachern and Ryan Johnson excelled at their respective countries' U20 track & field championships. McEachern won the hammer throw (67.32m – 220-10), shotput (15.93m – 52-03.16), and discus (49.22m – 161-05) events at the Canadian U20 Track & Field Championships, while Johnson won the hammer throw (71.06m – 233-01) at the USA U20 Track & Field Championships. Joining the two in competing nationally was Formula Thompson, who saw action at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in the long and triple jump. Kayenn Mabin (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) also earned himself a spot at the USA U20 Track & Field Championships in the 110m hurdles.

Up Next
The Eagles will return to the track in the new year, as they are next set to compete at the Wolverine Invitational, hosted by the University of Michigan Saturday, Jan. 11.

Follow Us
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.

Track & Field Set to Open 2024-25 Campaign at GVSU Holiday Open Friday

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Players Mentioned

Shelton Bass

Kyra Buffen

Eric Haddock Jr.

Brendan Hill

Tijana Japundzic

Kayenn Mabin

Paige Marchant

Jake McEachern

Josephine Oloye

Tajay Roberts

Gabe Singh

Formula Thompson

Saraiah Walkes

Eastern Michigan Athletics