Track & Field Set to Open 2025-26 Season at GVSU Holiday Open

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs are set to open its 2025-26 campaign with the GVSU Holiday Open, hosted by Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., Friday, Dec. 5. The meet will begin with field events at 12 p.m. in the Kelly Family Sports Center.

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

Fans can also track live results here.

A Look Back: 2024-25 MAC Honors
Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy), was named Most Valuable Performer in the outdoor season after scoring 38 points at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 15-17. She became the 13th most valuable performer in program history and the first since Alsu Bogdanova in 2018.

All-MAC Returners – Indoor Season
Eastern returns 10 All-MAC honorees from the indoor season.

Women's All-MAC Returners
Saraiah Walkes – First Team (200m)
Josephine Oloye – Second Team (400m)

Men's All-MAC Returners
Carson McCoy – First Team (800m)
Kian Wiles – First Team (mile)
Jake McEachern – Second Team (weight throw)
Tajay Roberts – Second Team (4x400m relay)
Bamidele Ajayi – Second Team (4x400m relay)
Ty Dailey – Second Team (distance medley relay)
Josh Flake – Second Team (distance medley relay)
Jimmy Geller – Second Team (distance medley relay)

All-MAC Returners – Outdoor Season
The Eagles return 15 All-MAC athletes from the outdoor season.

Women's All-MAC Returners
Saraiah Walkes – First Team (100m, 200m, 4x400m relay)
Demetria Henderson – First Team (4x400m relay)
Josephine Oloye – First Team (4x400m relay)
Alimot Alowonle – Second Team (4x100m relay)
Ajah Arscott – Second Team (4x100m relay)
Jaeden Garraway – Second Team (4x100m relay)
Micah Martin – Second Team (high jump)

Men's All-MAC Returners
Bamidele Ajayi – First Team (4x400m relay)
Mill Coleman III – First Team (4x100m relay)
Lachlan Cornelius – First Team (800m)
Jake McEachern – First Team (hammer throw)
Olawole Olanrewaju – First Team (4x400m relay)
Tajay Roberts – First Team (4x400m relay)
Kian Wiles – First Team (1500m)
Samuel Jeffery – Second Team (decathlon)

Last Time at GVSU Holiday Open – Returner Highlights
Eastern's performance at the 2024 GVSU Holiday Open Dec. 6, was highlighted by 17 top-three finishes and 52 collegiate personal-best marks combined.

On the women's side, returners Josephine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Seconday School), and Walkes placed first and second, respectively, in the 400m dash, each earning a spot in the program top 10, taking spots No. 9 (54.68) and No. 10 (54.79), respectively. Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins), earned a top 10 program spot in the weight throw (16.65m), taking spot No. 7. Mariia Yelanska (Dnipro, Ukraine) and Mariah Taylor (East Lake, Fla./East Lake) took first and second place in the triple jump with marks of 11.68m and 11.21m, respectively. Distance runner Frankie Moore (Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington), finished first in her collegiate track debut, finishing first in the second heat of the 3000m run in 10:32.99.

For the men, Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) earned gold in the shotput with a 14.48-meter throw. Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) and Lucky Fiaku (Nimo, Nigeria/Busy International Secondary) each earned second-place finishes. McCoy finished second in 4:10.36 in the one mile run and Fiaku grabbed silver in the high jump with a 2.09m mark. Samuel Jeffery (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley Secondary) placed third in the long jump, setting a personal-best leap at 7.15m.

Captains
The 2025-26 squad is led by eight captains. The women's leaders include Walkes, seniors Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) and Micah Martin (Clinton Township, Mich./L'anse Creuse), and junior Megan Rybitski (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne). The men's leaders include senior Kian Wiles (Hull, England/St. Mary's College), juniors Jeffery and Leland Godfrey (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral), and sophomore Michael Hawkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical).

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. 10.

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 2025-26 Season at GVSU Holiday Open

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bamidele Ajayi

Alimot Alowonle

Ajah Arscott

Mill Coleman III

Lachlan Cornelius

Ty Dailey

Sophie Emin

Lucky Fiaku

Josh Flake

Jaeden Garraway

Jimmy Geller

Leland Godfrey

Michael Hawkins

Demetria Henderson

Samuel Jeffery

Aleah Johnson

Micah Martin

Carson McCoy

Jake McEachern

Frankie Moore

Olawole Olanrewaju

Josephine Oloye

Tajay Roberts

Megan Rybitski

Mariah Taylor

Saraiah Walkes

Kian Wiles

Mariia Yelanska

Eastern Michigan Athletics