Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Ypsilanti, Mich.
10 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Bob Parks Memorial
Photo by: Dylan Martinez/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports
Two-Time Olympian Donald Scott to Compete at Second Annual Bob Parks Memorial
1/23/2025 2:33:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Scott is one of five former Eastern standouts scheduled to compete at the meet
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Former Eastern Michigan University men's track & field student-athlete and two-time United States Olympian Donald Scott will be making his return to Eastern's Bowen Field House, as he will compete in the triple jump at the Second Annual Bob Parks Memorial Meet Saturday, Jan. 25.
Scott marks one of five former Eagle track & field standouts returning to Ypsilanti to compete at their alma mater.
The men's and women's Eastern programs will welcome squads of both genders from Madonna, Detroit Mercy, Windsor, and Northwood, while hosting womens only teams from Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. with field events. Track events will start at 1 p.m. Admissions is free.
Fans can follow along with live results and access meet information, heat sheets, a schedule of events, and a parking map using the link on the EMU track & field schedule page. A post-meet recap will be posted to EMUEagles.com with official results attached. Be sure to stay tuned to EMU cross country/track & field social medias on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF for in-meet content.
EMU STANDOUTS BACK AT BOWEN
Along with two-time United States Olympian, nine-time U.S. Champion, World Indoor Bronze Medalist, three-time NCAA All-American, and eight-time MAC Champion Donald Scott, former Eagles Newlyn Stephenson, Natalie Cizmas, Almighty Williamson, and Cameron Hart will all be competing as unattached athletes. Scott will see action in the triple jump, while Stephenson will compete in the weight throw, Cizmas in the 800-meter run, Williamson in the 60-meter hurdles, and Hart in the high jump.
A premier thrower for the Eagles, Stephenson (2017-23) was an NCAA All-American, six-time NCAA Qualifier, MAC Champion, and holds the program record for the weight throw 23.22-meters (76-02.25). A distance runner from 2014-19, Cizmas was also an all-american, a five-time NCAA Qualifier, eight-time MAC Champion, and possesses the program record in the 1500-meter run (4:16.83). Williamson (2021-24) was a three-time MAC Champion hurdler and NCAA Qualifier, he also holds the program record for the 110-meter hurdles after breaking the MAC Outdoor Championships meet record in the event last season in 13.53. Hart (2015-19) earned a MAC Individual Championship in the high jump in the 2017 indoor season, was an NCAA Qualifier, and holds the program's fourth-best indoor long jump at 2.18-meters (7-01.75).
LAST TIME VS BOB PARKS MEMORIAL
Saturday will mark the second edition of the Bob Parks Memorial. Last year at the inaugural meet, the Eagles collected 14 first-place finishes, led by the men with eight while the women earned six. The programs combined to set 29 personal-best marks, including 17 from the women and 12 from the men. Additionally, four student-athletes cracked the program top-10 in Claire Allen (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich Community) (shot put – No. 9), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy) (60-meter – No. 10), Paige Marchant (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) (800-meter – No. 9), and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska) (long jump – No. 8).
LAST TIME OUT: AT WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL, JAN. 11
The Eagles most recently competed at the Wolverine Invitational, Jan. 11. Sophomore Josephine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Secondary School/Tayelolu Memorial) highlighted the EMU women's performances as she broke the program record in the 300-meter dash, tying for first in 38.05. Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford/Benedict) joined her with a first-place finish in the triple jump with an 11.79-meter (38-08.25) bound. For the men, Thompson placed first in the triple jump with a mark of 15.07-meters (49-05.50) while both Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) and Lucky Ezechukwuchiri (Nimo, Nigeria/Busy International Secondary) earned second-place outings. McCoy earned silver in the 600-meter dash in 1:19.25 while Ezechukwuchiri collected his second consecutive second-place finish in the high jump, leaping 2.06-meters (6-09.00).
Previously Noted
EZECHUKWUCHIRI AND OLOYE: MAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Nigeria natives Ezechukwuchiri and Oloye were each named MAC Athletes of the Week, Dec. 10. Ezechukwuchiri earned the honor for the first time after starting his collegiate career with a second-place 2.09-meter (6-10.25) performance in the high jump at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 6. Ezechukwuchiri's bounce stands as the best in the MAC thus far and 44th-best in the NCAA. Furthermore, his second-place finish came with the first-place finisher, GVSU's Eli Kosiba, tying the NCAA Division II record with a 2.30-meter (7-06.50) leap.
Oloye also captured her first athlete of the week honors with a first-place outing in the 400-meter dash at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 6. Oloye crossed the finish line in 54.68, a time that ranks as the third-best in the MAC thus far, 39th-fastest in the NCAA, stands ninth in EMU program history, and marks a personal-best for the sophomore.
EMU WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM TOP-10
Oloye and Walkes ran the No. 9 and No. 10 fastest indoor 400-meters in EMU women's history, respectively. Oloye finished first in 54.68 while Walkes placed second in 54.79. Walkes' time serves as the fourth-best in the MAC and 44th-fastest in the nation. Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands/American School of "The Hague") clocked the program's eighth-fastest indoor 5000-meter with a fourth-place finish in 16:31.78, a time that stands as the third-best in the conference. Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins) started her season strong, tossing Eastern's seventh-farthest weight throw with a 16.65-meter (54-07.50) mark.
AT GVSU HOLIDAY OPEN, DEC. 6
In a meet that had no team scoring, the women led the way as they posted 13 top-three finishes and set four marks that landed inside the program top-10, while the men notched four top-three finishes. In total, the Eagles recorded 52 collegiate personal-best marks with the men setting 27 and the women 24.
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 one former MAC Champion in Thompson. He 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 Buffen, Walkes and Marchant. 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 200-meter dash (24.15) and the 60-meter dash (7.44). Marchant earned three individual championships at the MAC Indoor Championships, winning the 800-meter (2:10.26), mile (4:49.67), and 3000-meter (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"), Oloye, and Walkes also earned titles in the 4x400m relay, as they crossed the finish line in 3:44.74.
2024 MAC HONORS
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 11 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
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 seven 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
Gabe Singh
Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive)
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 thrower McEachern excelled at the Canadian U20 track & field championships. He 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. Joining him in competing nationally was 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 110-meter hurdles.
Up Next
The Eagles will hit the road to compete in two meets with the Jets Pizza Invitational, hosted by Saginaw Valley State Friday-Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb.1, and the Meyo Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame on the same two days.
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.
Scott marks one of five former Eagle track & field standouts returning to Ypsilanti to compete at their alma mater.
The men's and women's Eastern programs will welcome squads of both genders from Madonna, Detroit Mercy, Windsor, and Northwood, while hosting womens only teams from Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. with field events. Track events will start at 1 p.m. Admissions is free.
Fans can follow along with live results and access meet information, heat sheets, a schedule of events, and a parking map using the link on the EMU track & field schedule page. A post-meet recap will be posted to EMUEagles.com with official results attached. Be sure to stay tuned to EMU cross country/track & field social medias on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF for in-meet content.
EMU STANDOUTS BACK AT BOWEN
Along with two-time United States Olympian, nine-time U.S. Champion, World Indoor Bronze Medalist, three-time NCAA All-American, and eight-time MAC Champion Donald Scott, former Eagles Newlyn Stephenson, Natalie Cizmas, Almighty Williamson, and Cameron Hart will all be competing as unattached athletes. Scott will see action in the triple jump, while Stephenson will compete in the weight throw, Cizmas in the 800-meter run, Williamson in the 60-meter hurdles, and Hart in the high jump.
A premier thrower for the Eagles, Stephenson (2017-23) was an NCAA All-American, six-time NCAA Qualifier, MAC Champion, and holds the program record for the weight throw 23.22-meters (76-02.25). A distance runner from 2014-19, Cizmas was also an all-american, a five-time NCAA Qualifier, eight-time MAC Champion, and possesses the program record in the 1500-meter run (4:16.83). Williamson (2021-24) was a three-time MAC Champion hurdler and NCAA Qualifier, he also holds the program record for the 110-meter hurdles after breaking the MAC Outdoor Championships meet record in the event last season in 13.53. Hart (2015-19) earned a MAC Individual Championship in the high jump in the 2017 indoor season, was an NCAA Qualifier, and holds the program's fourth-best indoor long jump at 2.18-meters (7-01.75).
LAST TIME VS BOB PARKS MEMORIAL
Saturday will mark the second edition of the Bob Parks Memorial. Last year at the inaugural meet, the Eagles collected 14 first-place finishes, led by the men with eight while the women earned six. The programs combined to set 29 personal-best marks, including 17 from the women and 12 from the men. Additionally, four student-athletes cracked the program top-10 in Claire Allen (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich Community) (shot put – No. 9), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy) (60-meter – No. 10), Paige Marchant (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) (800-meter – No. 9), and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska) (long jump – No. 8).
LAST TIME OUT: AT WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL, JAN. 11
The Eagles most recently competed at the Wolverine Invitational, Jan. 11. Sophomore Josephine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Secondary School/Tayelolu Memorial) highlighted the EMU women's performances as she broke the program record in the 300-meter dash, tying for first in 38.05. Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford/Benedict) joined her with a first-place finish in the triple jump with an 11.79-meter (38-08.25) bound. For the men, Thompson placed first in the triple jump with a mark of 15.07-meters (49-05.50) while both Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) and Lucky Ezechukwuchiri (Nimo, Nigeria/Busy International Secondary) earned second-place outings. McCoy earned silver in the 600-meter dash in 1:19.25 while Ezechukwuchiri collected his second consecutive second-place finish in the high jump, leaping 2.06-meters (6-09.00).
Previously Noted
EZECHUKWUCHIRI AND OLOYE: MAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Nigeria natives Ezechukwuchiri and Oloye were each named MAC Athletes of the Week, Dec. 10. Ezechukwuchiri earned the honor for the first time after starting his collegiate career with a second-place 2.09-meter (6-10.25) performance in the high jump at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 6. Ezechukwuchiri's bounce stands as the best in the MAC thus far and 44th-best in the NCAA. Furthermore, his second-place finish came with the first-place finisher, GVSU's Eli Kosiba, tying the NCAA Division II record with a 2.30-meter (7-06.50) leap.
Oloye also captured her first athlete of the week honors with a first-place outing in the 400-meter dash at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 6. Oloye crossed the finish line in 54.68, a time that ranks as the third-best in the MAC thus far, 39th-fastest in the NCAA, stands ninth in EMU program history, and marks a personal-best for the sophomore.
EMU WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM TOP-10
Oloye and Walkes ran the No. 9 and No. 10 fastest indoor 400-meters in EMU women's history, respectively. Oloye finished first in 54.68 while Walkes placed second in 54.79. Walkes' time serves as the fourth-best in the MAC and 44th-fastest in the nation. Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands/American School of "The Hague") clocked the program's eighth-fastest indoor 5000-meter with a fourth-place finish in 16:31.78, a time that stands as the third-best in the conference. Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins) started her season strong, tossing Eastern's seventh-farthest weight throw with a 16.65-meter (54-07.50) mark.
AT GVSU HOLIDAY OPEN, DEC. 6
In a meet that had no team scoring, the women led the way as they posted 13 top-three finishes and set four marks that landed inside the program top-10, while the men notched four top-three finishes. In total, the Eagles recorded 52 collegiate personal-best marks with the men setting 27 and the women 24.
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 one former MAC Champion in Thompson. He 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 Buffen, Walkes and Marchant. 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 200-meter dash (24.15) and the 60-meter dash (7.44). Marchant earned three individual championships at the MAC Indoor Championships, winning the 800-meter (2:10.26), mile (4:49.67), and 3000-meter (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"), Oloye, and Walkes also earned titles in the 4x400m relay, as they crossed the finish line in 3:44.74.
2024 MAC HONORS
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 11 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
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 seven 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
Gabe Singh
Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive)
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 thrower McEachern excelled at the Canadian U20 track & field championships. He 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. Joining him in competing nationally was 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 110-meter hurdles.
Up Next
The Eagles will hit the road to compete in two meets with the Jets Pizza Invitational, hosted by Saginaw Valley State Friday-Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb.1, and the Meyo Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame on the same two days.
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.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
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