Track & Field Heads to Jesse Owens Invitational Friday

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs will compete at the Jesse Owens Invitational, hosted by Ohio State University, Friday-Saturday, May 1-2, in Columbus, Ohio.

The meet will take place at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, with events beginning at 12 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Fans can access live results here. A post-meet recap along with results will be posted to EMUEagles.com following the last day of competition.

Last Time at Jesse Owens Invitational
Eastern competed at the Jesse Owens Invitational last season, May 2-3. Former Eagle Brendan Hill and returner Lucky Fiaku (Nimo, Nigeria/Busy International Secondary) set the top high jump mark in the conference with jumps of 2.12m (06-11.50), along with Gabe Singh improved his conference-leading 400m hurdle time to 50.62, earning an event win. Also earning a win for the men was Samuel Jeffery (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley Secondary), placing first in the long jump with a season-best 6.98m (22-11) leap.

On the women's side, Ashtan Winfrey (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Africentric Early College) won the long jump with a leap of 5.83m (19-01.50). Both Isabella Brent and Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins) saw program top 10 marks in the hammer throw, as Brent tossed a personal best 55.10m (180-09) to take spot No. 7, and Johnson threw a personal best 51.48m (168-10) for spot No. 8.

Last Time Out: Split-Squad Weekend
The Eagles last competed in a two-meet weekend, as athletes were at both the Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Invitational, April 23-25, and the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet, April 24-25.

The Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Invitational was highlighted by two school records, as the 4x400m relay team of Uduak Udosoh (Abak, Nigeria/Ibiaku Clan Community Secondary), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy), Demetria Henderson (Tampa, Fla./Freedom) and Josephine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Secondary School) set a program record with their 3:33.86 win. Additionally, Mariah Taylor (East Lake, Fla./East Lake) rewrote the EMU triple jump record with a leap of 12.92m (42-04.75), finishing third and surpassing the previous school best by a centimeter.

On the men's side, Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) won the hammer throw with a personal-best 64.29m (210-11), climbing to No. 6 in school history and earning a No. 51 DI national rank. The 4x400m relay of Olawole Olanrewaju (Akoko North-West, Nigeria/Wallas Universal Secondary School), Bamidele Ajayi (Eikiti State, Nigeria/Metropolitan International College), Tajay Roberts (Sunrise, Fla./Dillard) and Jamyle Anderson ran a season-best 3:08.79 for second place, ranking No. 57 nationally.

At the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet, Erika Van Loton (Garden City, Mich./Huron Valley Lutheran) earned a personal best 2:16.96 in the women's 800m, and Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle) was sixth in the 10,000m.

The men's team saw Nicholas Kline (Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills) set a personal best of 3:55.39 for fifth in the men's 1500m, while Ronan Codyre (Auckland, New Zealand/Macleans College) ran 14:37.68 for fourth in the 5000m.

Taylor Named MAC Field Athlete of the Week
Taylor earned MAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week, April 28. It is the first time winning the award in her collegiate career, doing so after breaking the school record for the triple jump with her MAC-leading mark of 12.92m (42-04.75), finishing third at the Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Invitational.

MAC Standings
Multiple Eagles have earned top-three spots in the conference rankings within their respective events so far this outdoor season.

Men's Team

Bamidele Ajayi is second in the men's 400m (46.74)
Jimmy Geller leads the MAC in the 800m with a time of 1:49.34
Kian Wiles is the current MAC leader in the 1,500m (3:39.87)
Leo Ignacio and Michael Hawkins hold the second (14.20) and third (14.23) fastest spots in the 110m hurdles, respectively
The 4x400m relay team of Olawole Olanrewaju, Bamidele Ajayi, Jamyle Anderson, and Tajay Roberts hold the second fastest spot with a time of 3:08.79
Lucky Fiaku leads the conference in the high jump with a clearance of 2.05m (6-08.75)
Leland Godfrey is in third for the shot put with a 16.96m (55-07.75) mark
Ray Glory-Ejoyokah holds spot No. 2 in the discus throw with a toss of 55.02m (180-6)
Jake McEachern's hammer throw of 64.29m (210-11) ranks second

Women's Team

Saraiah Walkes is second in the MAC in the 200m with a time of 23.30, along with having the third fastest time in the 100m of 11.58
Saraiah Walkes and Josephine Oloye hold the second (53.51) and third (54.03) spots in the 400m, respectively
The 4x400m relay team of Uduak Udosoh, Saraiah Walkes, Josephine Oloye, and Demetria Henderson lead the MAC with a time of 3:33.86 (school record)
Mariah Taylor holds the best triple jump in the conference with a 12.92m (42-04.75) mark (school record)

Up Next
Eastern will next send athletes to the Hillsdale College Last Chance Meet in Hillsdale, Mich., Wednesday, May 6, followed shortly after by the University of Michigan's Len Paddock Open, Friday, May 8.

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.

Previously Noted

All-MAC Returners – Outdoor Season
Eastern returns 14 All-MAC honorees from the 2025 outdoor season.

Men's All-MAC Returners
Bamidele Ajayi – First Team (4x400m relay)
Mill Coleman III – First Team (4x100m relay)
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)

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

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bamidele Ajayi

Alimot Alowonle

Jamyle Anderson

Ajah Arscott

Isabella Brent

Ronan Codyre

Mill Coleman III

Lucky Fiaku

Jaeden Garraway

Jimmy Geller

Ray Glory-Ejoyokah

Leland Godfrey

Michael Hawkins

Demetria Henderson

Brendan Hill

Leo Ignacio

Samuel Jeffery

Aleah Johnson

Nicholas Kline

Micah Martin

Jake McEachern

Olawole Olanrewaju

Josephine Oloye

Tajay Roberts

Gabe Singh

Mariah Taylor

Uduak Udosoh

Erika Van Loton

Saraiah Walkes

Cara Weber

Kian Wiles

Ashtan Winfrey

Eastern Michigan Athletics