Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sue Parks Named Great Lakes Region Women's Coach of the Year by USTFCCCA
3/14/2024 8:57:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The award marks Parks' third of her EMU tenure, after previously receiving the nod in 2018 and 2022
NEW ORLEANS, La. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Sue Parks was named the Great Lakes Region's Women's Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 indoor track & field season, the United States Cross Country/Track & Field Coaches Association of America (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday, March 14.
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender's top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
The honor marks Parks' third of her EMU tenure, after most recently winning the award on the men's side in the 2022 outdoor season, a meet where Parks helped guide the EMU men to their second consecutive league crown.
At the conference meet that season, Eastern topped the University of Akron, 166-156, Feb. 27, highlighted by 77 points from the Eagles' distance crew. Following the victory, Parks was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
Prior to 2022, the long-time Eagle garnered the award initially in 2018, in her 12th year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's women's program. Parks led her team to its fifth MAC title, thanks to seven first-place finishes.
The Ypsilanti native accepts the award after the EMU women's team captured its ninth overall, and second consecutive indoor MAC title, Feb. 25, marking the first time the EMU women have won back-to-back indoor championships since the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
During the meet, the Eagles were led by the duo of Paige Marchant (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) and Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy). Marchant was responsible for 30 points as she won the 800m in 2:10.26; the mile run in 4:49.67; and the 3,000m run in a meet-record time of 9:25.38. Walkes raced to times of 7.44 in the 60m dash and 24.15 in the 200m for her victory while running the lead leg of the victorious 4x400m relay that clocked in at 3:44.74.
Up Next
The Eagles are back on the track Friday-Saturday, March 15-16, as they are set to open the outdoor portion of their schedule at the Black & Gold Invitational, hosted by the University of Central Florida.
Follow Us
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.
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender's top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
The honor marks Parks' third of her EMU tenure, after most recently winning the award on the men's side in the 2022 outdoor season, a meet where Parks helped guide the EMU men to their second consecutive league crown.
At the conference meet that season, Eastern topped the University of Akron, 166-156, Feb. 27, highlighted by 77 points from the Eagles' distance crew. Following the victory, Parks was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
Prior to 2022, the long-time Eagle garnered the award initially in 2018, in her 12th year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's women's program. Parks led her team to its fifth MAC title, thanks to seven first-place finishes.
The Ypsilanti native accepts the award after the EMU women's team captured its ninth overall, and second consecutive indoor MAC title, Feb. 25, marking the first time the EMU women have won back-to-back indoor championships since the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
During the meet, the Eagles were led by the duo of Paige Marchant (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) and Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy). Marchant was responsible for 30 points as she won the 800m in 2:10.26; the mile run in 4:49.67; and the 3,000m run in a meet-record time of 9:25.38. Walkes raced to times of 7.44 in the 60m dash and 24.15 in the 200m for her victory while running the lead leg of the victorious 4x400m relay that clocked in at 3:44.74.
Up Next
The Eagles are back on the track Friday-Saturday, March 15-16, as they are set to open the outdoor portion of their schedule at the Black & Gold Invitational, hosted by the University of Central Florida.
Follow Us
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.
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