Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 18
Atlanta, Ga.
11:30 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Georgia Tech Invitational
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Track & Field Embarks on Three-Meet Weekend
4/17/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
The Eagles will see action at the Wake Forest Invitational, Georgia Tech Invitational, and the Elaine Leigh Invite
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University track & field programs are set for three meets in the fourth weekend of the outdoor season, as they are slated to compete at the Wake Forest Invitational, hosted by Wake Forest University, at Ketner Stadium, in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Georgia Tech Invitational, hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology, at the George C. Griffin Track, in Atlanta, and the Elaine Leigh Invite, hosted by Oakland University, at the OU Track, Friday-Saturday, April 18-19.
The Wake Forest Invitational will begin with the women's 3000m steeplechase at 11:50 a.m., and conclude at roughly 9:40 p.m. with the men's 5000m. The Georgia Tech Invitational will start with field events at 11:30 a.m. Friday, and finish around 9:30 p.m. after the conclusion of the men's 5000m. The meet will pick back up at 12 p.m. Saturday with the women's high jump, and finish around 5 p.m. after the 4x400m relays. The Elaine Leigh Invite will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and finish around 5 p.m.
Fans can access all live results and watch links on the EMU Track & Field Schedule Page. Those looking to attend the Wake Forest Invitational can access full meet information here, for the Georgia Tech Invitational here, and the Elaine Leigh Invite here. Also, stay posted to EMUEagles.com for a post-meet recap with final results attached and follow EMU cross country/track & field social medias on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF for more track & field content.
SINGH AND WALKES NAMED MAC TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Track athletes Gabe Singh (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Northview/Oakland) and Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy) were named Men's and Women's MAC Track Athlete of the Week, respectively, April 15, for their performances at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, Friday-Saturday, April 11-12.
Singh placed third in the 400m hurdles out of 32 competitors in 50.67. His time stands as the best in the MAC and the Great Lakes Region, while standing eighth on the East Qualifying List, and 15th in the country. Furthermore, Singh's time stands as the best in the MAC by 2.56 seconds, the fastest in the region by 1.1 seconds, and third in program laurels. Additionally, he was the highest finisher from a group of five schools in the event.
Singh went on to anchor a 4x400m relay team that finished sixth out of 16 teams in a MAC-best 3:08.39, a time that stands over two seconds faster than the second-fastest time in the conference. The mark also stands as the second fastest in the region, and 33rd on the East Qualifying List.
Walkes ran two MAC-best times, personal bests, and program/Great Lakes Region top-three marks. She placed seventh out of 66 in the 200m dash in 23.30, and fifth out of 39 in the 400m in 52.88 at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, April 11–12. Walkes' 400m time stands as the fastest in the Great Lakes Region while her 200m mark ranks third. Both times rank inside the top 25 on the East Qualifying List as well, with her 400m mark standing 19th, and her 200m time ranking 25th. Nationally, Walkes ranks 31st in the 400m and 49th in the 200m. Moreover, she was the highest finisher from a group of five school in each of her races.
LAST TIME OUT: AT 44 FARMS TEAM INVITATIONAL AND CHIPPEWA CHALLENGE: APRIL 11-13
Walkes and Singh both finished with Mid-American Conference-best times to highlight the Eastern Michigan University track and field teams action at the Texas A&M 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M University, at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
At the Chippewa Challenge, hosted by Central Michigan University, April 12, freshman Mia Biehl (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) set a personal best in the 400m dash with a 58.42 mark, placing fourth in the event. Senior Nyla Joseph-Guevara (Coral Springs, Fla./Fort Lauderdale) placed second in the long jump with a leap of 5.40m (17-08.75), and senior Isabella Brent (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child) finished second in the hammer throw with a 52.42m (172-0.0) mark.
LAST TIME AT WAKE FOREST INVITATIONAL: APRIL 19, 2024
The performances at last seasons' Wake Forest Invitational were highlighted by Esme Davies, who set the program record in the 10,000m, as she finished in 33:30.93, topping the previous program-best (33:37.37), set by former Eagle Jordan McDermitt in 2017, by nearly seven seconds.
LAST TIME AT ELAINE LEIGH INVITE: APRIL 19, 2024
For the men, Kayenn Mabin (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) secured the Eagles' first event win of the day by taking the 110m hurdles in an outdoor-personal-best 14.38 seconds. Matt McKnight (Miami, Fla./Miami Norland Senior) also secured a top-three finish, and career-best, crossing third in the 400m hurdles in 59.83 seconds.
On the women's side, three different Eagles tallied event wins. Claire Allen (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich Community) won the shot put at 12.97m (42-06.75), Erica King's 35.47m (116-04) toss won the javelin throw, and Joseph-Guevara topped the field in the triple jump at 11.24m (36-10.50). Allen also placed second in the discus throw at 40.51m (132-11).
LAST TIME AT GEORGIA TECH INVITATIONAL
Neither program has competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational since at least the 1998 season.
TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: MEN
The men currently hold 19 marks that rank inside the MAC top five.
Event Name Mark Rank
400m Bamidele Ajayi 46.85 1
400m Olawole Olanrewaju 47.18 2
800m Carson McCoy 1:49.90 1
800m Lachlan Cornelius 1:51.16 4
800m Jimmy Geller 1:51.87 5
1500m Kian Wiles 3:43.43 1
1500m Lachlan Cornelius 3:49.22 2
1500m Jimmy Geller 3:50.41 5
5000m Joey Furlong 14:51.98 4
110mH Michael Hawkins 14.40 3
400mH Gabe Singh 50.67 1
400mH Michael Hawkins 53.72 4
4x100m Ajayi, King, Bass, Olanrewaju 41.07 3
4x400m Roberts, Singh, Olanrewaju, Ajayi 3:08.39 1
HJ Brendan Hill 2.04m 2
PV Jacob Niedzwiecki 4.80m 5
LJ Formula Thompson 7.34m 3
TJ Eric Haddock Jr. 14.44m 3
HT Jake McEachern 60.70m 3
TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: WOMEN
The Eastern women hold eight marks that rank inside the MAC top five.
Event Name Mark Rank
100m Ajah Arscott 11.78 4
200m Saraiah Walkes 23.30 1
400m Saraiah Walkes 52.88 1
5000m Marta Moreno 16:12.80 4
TJ Kyra Buffen 12.60m 2
TJ Mariia Yelanska 12.15m 3
Javelin Erica King 40.34m 4
Hep Shamoya Clemetson 4,405 Pts 5
USTFCCCA RANKINGS
The Eastern men rank as the third-best team in the MAC with a score of 1059.44, according to the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), and stand as the 13th-best team in the Great Lakes Region with a score of 308.32. The women also stand as the third-best team in the MAC with a score of 593.40 and the 13th-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, posting a 196.68.
USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: MEN
The Eastern men check into the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings in 10 events and rank inside the top-50 in four of them, led by the 22nd-ranked 400m hurdles team that averages a time of 54.95. The squad is led by Singh with a conference-best time of 50.67. Eastern slots 44th in America in the 800m with an average time of 1:51.83. It is paced by Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) who leads the MAC with a time of 1:49.90. The 110m hurdles team stands 46th in the country with an average time of 14.87. It is led by Michael Hawkins' (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical/Michigan State) 14.40 at the 44 Farms Team Invitational. The 1500m group rounds out the top-50 standings for the EMU men, as they slot 50th with an average time of 3:48.46, paced by Kian Wiles' (Hull, England/St. Mary's College) MAC-best 3:43.43.
USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: WOMEN
The Eastern women are ranked in nine events by the USTFCCCA, and slot inside the national top-50 in two of them. Eastern's triple jump squad ranks 10th in the country as it averages a 11.98m (39-03.75) mark and is led by Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford/Benedict) with a 12.60m (41-04.25) jump that ranks second in the MAC. The hammer throw team ranks 36th in the nation with an average toss of 48.58m (159-5). Brent leads the group with a 52.42m (172-0) toss at the Chippewa Challenge, April 12.
PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: MEN
Decathlon athletes Samuel Jeffery (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley Secondary) and Cason Doolittle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty Benton) combined to set 14 program top-10 decathlon marks at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, April 11-12. Most notably, Jeffery set the program record in the decathlon 1500m run, finishing in 4:40.30, and recorded the 10th-best decathlon mark with 6,641 points. Singh continued his strong start to the outdoor season with another PR in the 400m hurdles, finishing 50.67 to move himself up to the No. 3 spot in program history. Overall, the men have set 17 program top-10 marks in the outdoor campaign.
PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: WOMEN
Heptathlon athlete Shamoya Clemetson (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) set nine program top-10 heptathlon marks in her collegiate heptathlon debut at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, April 11-12. She most notably ran the program second-fastest heptathlon 100m hurdles in 14.37. Walkes collected two program top-10 marks, running the third-fastest 200m (23.30) and 400m (52.88). King improved her top-10 standing in the javelin, setting a PR with a 40.34m (132-04) toss. Overall, the women's team has set 14 program top-10 marks in the outdoor season.
UP NEXT
Eastern is scheduled for one meet next week in the Hillsdale College Tune-Up, hosted by Hillsdale College, at the Hillsdale Outdoor Track at Hayden Park, in Hillsdale, Mich., Friday, April 25.
Previously Noted
AT SPARTAN INVITATIONAL: APRIL 4
The Eastern Michigan track and field teams turned in a total of 21 personal bests and 17 top-three finishes while in action at the nearby Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State, at Ralph Young Field Friday, April 4. 13 Eagles on the women's side turned in career highs in their respective events, with Lena Korte (Clinton, Mich./Clinton/Concordia) throwing a personal best 47.76m (156-08) in the hammer throw while Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle) placed first in the unseeded 1500m run with a personal best time of 4:56.63. Overall, the women earned eight top-three finishes. On the men's side, 11 Eagles set personal bests to go with nine top-three showings, Joey Furlong (Deer Park, Ill./Barrington) ran the MAC's second-best 5000m time in 14:51.98.
AT TEXAS RELAYS, BOBCAT INVITATIONAL, AND RALEIGH RELAYS: MARCH 27-29
The Eastern women posted two top-three finishes while the two programs combined for 12 personal-best marks, with the men posting eight and the women grabbing four, and five program top-10 marks as the women earned three and the men secured two.
RETURNING MAC CHAMPS – OUTDOOR SEASON
The Eagles return Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford-Benedict) and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska) who both won the triple jump at the 2024 MAC Outdoor Championships. Buffen won the event with a 12.64m (05.75) bound, a mark that stands as the fourth-best in program history. She also became the first Eastern woman to win the event at the outdoor championships since 1999.
Thompson became the first EMU male jumper to win the triple jump at the outdoor championships since United States Olympian Donald Scott did so in the 2015 campaign, as Thompson claimed gold with a 15.57m (51-01.00) jump, a mark that sits sixth in the program top-10 leaderboards.
ALL-MAC RETURNERS – OUTDOOR SEASON
The Eagles return seven All-MAC athletes from the outdoor season.
Women's All-MAC Returners
Kyra Buffen - First Team
Paige Marchant – Second Team
Saraiah Walkes – Second Team
Josephine Oloye – Second Team
Men's All-MAC Returners
Formula Thompson - First Team
Gabe Singh – Second Team
Jake McEachern – Second Team
NCAA EAST PRELIMS RETURNERS
The men's squad returns three student-athletes who qualified for the 2024 NCAA East Prelims in Thompson, who punched his ticket in the triple jump, Mabin, who earned his entry in the 110m hurdles, and Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) who qualified in the hammer throw.
The women return Buffen, who saw action in the triple jump after winning an individual MAC title in the event and Anita Zaro (Timirsoara, Romania/Faculty of Physical Education and Sport) who ran in the 3000m steeplechase.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
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. Joining him in competing nationally was Thompson, who saw action at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in the long and triple jump. Mabin also earned himself a spot at the USA U20 Track & Field Championships in the 110m hurdles.
2024 MAC OUTDOORS FINISH
The Eastern women placed second with 126.5 points while the men slotted third with 121 points. The women's second-place finish at the meet marked its 11th straight season doing so while the men's marked the 12th consecutive year it has finished inside the top-three. Kent State claimed the women's title with 137.5 points and Akron won the men's, scoring 189.
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.
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.
The Wake Forest Invitational will begin with the women's 3000m steeplechase at 11:50 a.m., and conclude at roughly 9:40 p.m. with the men's 5000m. The Georgia Tech Invitational will start with field events at 11:30 a.m. Friday, and finish around 9:30 p.m. after the conclusion of the men's 5000m. The meet will pick back up at 12 p.m. Saturday with the women's high jump, and finish around 5 p.m. after the 4x400m relays. The Elaine Leigh Invite will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and finish around 5 p.m.
Fans can access all live results and watch links on the EMU Track & Field Schedule Page. Those looking to attend the Wake Forest Invitational can access full meet information here, for the Georgia Tech Invitational here, and the Elaine Leigh Invite here. Also, stay posted to EMUEagles.com for a post-meet recap with final results attached and follow EMU cross country/track & field social medias on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF for more track & field content.
SINGH AND WALKES NAMED MAC TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Track athletes Gabe Singh (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Northview/Oakland) and Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy) were named Men's and Women's MAC Track Athlete of the Week, respectively, April 15, for their performances at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, Friday-Saturday, April 11-12.
Singh placed third in the 400m hurdles out of 32 competitors in 50.67. His time stands as the best in the MAC and the Great Lakes Region, while standing eighth on the East Qualifying List, and 15th in the country. Furthermore, Singh's time stands as the best in the MAC by 2.56 seconds, the fastest in the region by 1.1 seconds, and third in program laurels. Additionally, he was the highest finisher from a group of five schools in the event.
Singh went on to anchor a 4x400m relay team that finished sixth out of 16 teams in a MAC-best 3:08.39, a time that stands over two seconds faster than the second-fastest time in the conference. The mark also stands as the second fastest in the region, and 33rd on the East Qualifying List.
Walkes ran two MAC-best times, personal bests, and program/Great Lakes Region top-three marks. She placed seventh out of 66 in the 200m dash in 23.30, and fifth out of 39 in the 400m in 52.88 at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, April 11–12. Walkes' 400m time stands as the fastest in the Great Lakes Region while her 200m mark ranks third. Both times rank inside the top 25 on the East Qualifying List as well, with her 400m mark standing 19th, and her 200m time ranking 25th. Nationally, Walkes ranks 31st in the 400m and 49th in the 200m. Moreover, she was the highest finisher from a group of five school in each of her races.
LAST TIME OUT: AT 44 FARMS TEAM INVITATIONAL AND CHIPPEWA CHALLENGE: APRIL 11-13
Walkes and Singh both finished with Mid-American Conference-best times to highlight the Eastern Michigan University track and field teams action at the Texas A&M 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M University, at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
At the Chippewa Challenge, hosted by Central Michigan University, April 12, freshman Mia Biehl (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) set a personal best in the 400m dash with a 58.42 mark, placing fourth in the event. Senior Nyla Joseph-Guevara (Coral Springs, Fla./Fort Lauderdale) placed second in the long jump with a leap of 5.40m (17-08.75), and senior Isabella Brent (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child) finished second in the hammer throw with a 52.42m (172-0.0) mark.
LAST TIME AT WAKE FOREST INVITATIONAL: APRIL 19, 2024
The performances at last seasons' Wake Forest Invitational were highlighted by Esme Davies, who set the program record in the 10,000m, as she finished in 33:30.93, topping the previous program-best (33:37.37), set by former Eagle Jordan McDermitt in 2017, by nearly seven seconds.
LAST TIME AT ELAINE LEIGH INVITE: APRIL 19, 2024
For the men, Kayenn Mabin (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) secured the Eagles' first event win of the day by taking the 110m hurdles in an outdoor-personal-best 14.38 seconds. Matt McKnight (Miami, Fla./Miami Norland Senior) also secured a top-three finish, and career-best, crossing third in the 400m hurdles in 59.83 seconds.
On the women's side, three different Eagles tallied event wins. Claire Allen (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich Community) won the shot put at 12.97m (42-06.75), Erica King's 35.47m (116-04) toss won the javelin throw, and Joseph-Guevara topped the field in the triple jump at 11.24m (36-10.50). Allen also placed second in the discus throw at 40.51m (132-11).
LAST TIME AT GEORGIA TECH INVITATIONAL
Neither program has competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational since at least the 1998 season.
TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: MEN
The men currently hold 19 marks that rank inside the MAC top five.
Event Name Mark Rank
400m Bamidele Ajayi 46.85 1
400m Olawole Olanrewaju 47.18 2
800m Carson McCoy 1:49.90 1
800m Lachlan Cornelius 1:51.16 4
800m Jimmy Geller 1:51.87 5
1500m Kian Wiles 3:43.43 1
1500m Lachlan Cornelius 3:49.22 2
1500m Jimmy Geller 3:50.41 5
5000m Joey Furlong 14:51.98 4
110mH Michael Hawkins 14.40 3
400mH Gabe Singh 50.67 1
400mH Michael Hawkins 53.72 4
4x100m Ajayi, King, Bass, Olanrewaju 41.07 3
4x400m Roberts, Singh, Olanrewaju, Ajayi 3:08.39 1
HJ Brendan Hill 2.04m 2
PV Jacob Niedzwiecki 4.80m 5
LJ Formula Thompson 7.34m 3
TJ Eric Haddock Jr. 14.44m 3
HT Jake McEachern 60.70m 3
TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: WOMEN
The Eastern women hold eight marks that rank inside the MAC top five.
Event Name Mark Rank
100m Ajah Arscott 11.78 4
200m Saraiah Walkes 23.30 1
400m Saraiah Walkes 52.88 1
5000m Marta Moreno 16:12.80 4
TJ Kyra Buffen 12.60m 2
TJ Mariia Yelanska 12.15m 3
Javelin Erica King 40.34m 4
Hep Shamoya Clemetson 4,405 Pts 5
USTFCCCA RANKINGS
The Eastern men rank as the third-best team in the MAC with a score of 1059.44, according to the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), and stand as the 13th-best team in the Great Lakes Region with a score of 308.32. The women also stand as the third-best team in the MAC with a score of 593.40 and the 13th-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, posting a 196.68.
USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: MEN
The Eastern men check into the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings in 10 events and rank inside the top-50 in four of them, led by the 22nd-ranked 400m hurdles team that averages a time of 54.95. The squad is led by Singh with a conference-best time of 50.67. Eastern slots 44th in America in the 800m with an average time of 1:51.83. It is paced by Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) who leads the MAC with a time of 1:49.90. The 110m hurdles team stands 46th in the country with an average time of 14.87. It is led by Michael Hawkins' (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical/Michigan State) 14.40 at the 44 Farms Team Invitational. The 1500m group rounds out the top-50 standings for the EMU men, as they slot 50th with an average time of 3:48.46, paced by Kian Wiles' (Hull, England/St. Mary's College) MAC-best 3:43.43.
USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: WOMEN
The Eastern women are ranked in nine events by the USTFCCCA, and slot inside the national top-50 in two of them. Eastern's triple jump squad ranks 10th in the country as it averages a 11.98m (39-03.75) mark and is led by Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford/Benedict) with a 12.60m (41-04.25) jump that ranks second in the MAC. The hammer throw team ranks 36th in the nation with an average toss of 48.58m (159-5). Brent leads the group with a 52.42m (172-0) toss at the Chippewa Challenge, April 12.
PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: MEN
Decathlon athletes Samuel Jeffery (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley Secondary) and Cason Doolittle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty Benton) combined to set 14 program top-10 decathlon marks at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, April 11-12. Most notably, Jeffery set the program record in the decathlon 1500m run, finishing in 4:40.30, and recorded the 10th-best decathlon mark with 6,641 points. Singh continued his strong start to the outdoor season with another PR in the 400m hurdles, finishing 50.67 to move himself up to the No. 3 spot in program history. Overall, the men have set 17 program top-10 marks in the outdoor campaign.
PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: WOMEN
Heptathlon athlete Shamoya Clemetson (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) set nine program top-10 heptathlon marks in her collegiate heptathlon debut at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, April 11-12. She most notably ran the program second-fastest heptathlon 100m hurdles in 14.37. Walkes collected two program top-10 marks, running the third-fastest 200m (23.30) and 400m (52.88). King improved her top-10 standing in the javelin, setting a PR with a 40.34m (132-04) toss. Overall, the women's team has set 14 program top-10 marks in the outdoor season.
UP NEXT
Eastern is scheduled for one meet next week in the Hillsdale College Tune-Up, hosted by Hillsdale College, at the Hillsdale Outdoor Track at Hayden Park, in Hillsdale, Mich., Friday, April 25.
Previously Noted
AT SPARTAN INVITATIONAL: APRIL 4
The Eastern Michigan track and field teams turned in a total of 21 personal bests and 17 top-three finishes while in action at the nearby Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State, at Ralph Young Field Friday, April 4. 13 Eagles on the women's side turned in career highs in their respective events, with Lena Korte (Clinton, Mich./Clinton/Concordia) throwing a personal best 47.76m (156-08) in the hammer throw while Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle) placed first in the unseeded 1500m run with a personal best time of 4:56.63. Overall, the women earned eight top-three finishes. On the men's side, 11 Eagles set personal bests to go with nine top-three showings, Joey Furlong (Deer Park, Ill./Barrington) ran the MAC's second-best 5000m time in 14:51.98.
AT TEXAS RELAYS, BOBCAT INVITATIONAL, AND RALEIGH RELAYS: MARCH 27-29
The Eastern women posted two top-three finishes while the two programs combined for 12 personal-best marks, with the men posting eight and the women grabbing four, and five program top-10 marks as the women earned three and the men secured two.
RETURNING MAC CHAMPS – OUTDOOR SEASON
The Eagles return Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford-Benedict) and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska) who both won the triple jump at the 2024 MAC Outdoor Championships. Buffen won the event with a 12.64m (05.75) bound, a mark that stands as the fourth-best in program history. She also became the first Eastern woman to win the event at the outdoor championships since 1999.
Thompson became the first EMU male jumper to win the triple jump at the outdoor championships since United States Olympian Donald Scott did so in the 2015 campaign, as Thompson claimed gold with a 15.57m (51-01.00) jump, a mark that sits sixth in the program top-10 leaderboards.
ALL-MAC RETURNERS – OUTDOOR SEASON
The Eagles return seven All-MAC athletes from the outdoor season.
Women's All-MAC Returners
Kyra Buffen - First Team
Paige Marchant – Second Team
Saraiah Walkes – Second Team
Josephine Oloye – Second Team
Men's All-MAC Returners
Formula Thompson - First Team
Gabe Singh – Second Team
Jake McEachern – Second Team
NCAA EAST PRELIMS RETURNERS
The men's squad returns three student-athletes who qualified for the 2024 NCAA East Prelims in Thompson, who punched his ticket in the triple jump, Mabin, who earned his entry in the 110m hurdles, and Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) who qualified in the hammer throw.
The women return Buffen, who saw action in the triple jump after winning an individual MAC title in the event and Anita Zaro (Timirsoara, Romania/Faculty of Physical Education and Sport) who ran in the 3000m steeplechase.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
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. Joining him in competing nationally was Thompson, who saw action at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in the long and triple jump. Mabin also earned himself a spot at the USA U20 Track & Field Championships in the 110m hurdles.
2024 MAC OUTDOORS FINISH
The Eastern women placed second with 126.5 points while the men slotted third with 121 points. The women's second-place finish at the meet marked its 11th straight season doing so while the men's marked the 12th consecutive year it has finished inside the top-three. Kent State claimed the women's title with 137.5 points and Akron won the men's, scoring 189.
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.
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
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws/Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & FieldTrack & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
Tuesday, April 08
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, March 05
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Highlights
Saturday, March 01
2025 MAC Indoor Championships Hype Video
Wednesday, February 26