Eastern Michigan Athletics
Cross Country and Track & Field Add Six to Programs
6/22/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's XC, Women's XC, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
The additions include a distance runner, two sprinters, and three field athletes
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University cross country and track and field programs announced six additions to the 2026-27 season.
The incoming athletes include Patricia Wanjiku, Jailen McNair, Sydney Burdine, Emma Stewart, Katie Stewart, and Ramell Walley. Wanjiku joins the cross country and track and field programs as a distance runner, while McNair and Burdine will compete in sprints, and the Stewart sisters and Walley will compete in field events for the track and field program.
The six additions to the squad bring the total of new athletes for the 2026-27 season to 17, with Kaelyn Becken, Kaiya Fujioka, Ella Luker, Laura Van Nes, Maiya Corrigan, Riley Williams, Mercy Chepkemoi, Emma Kanka, Sean Cinzori, Cameron Gramzow, and Mohammed Mohammed also joining the programs.
Patricia Wanjiku
Event: Distance
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming freshman.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attends Kiptulos Secondary School… Competed in the 5,000m ad 1,500m events… Was captain for two years and earned three letters… Also competed in netball.
PERSONAL: Full name: Patricia Wanjiku Wambui… Daughter of Dennis Nyaga Kariuki and Cecily Wawira … Has a sister, Risper Ng'endo, and two brothers, Mark Njuki and Edwin Njogu… A native of Iten, Elgeiyo Marakwet, Kenya… Major: Sports management.
Jailen McNair
Event: Sprints
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Lawrence Tech University.
LTU: 2025-26: Attended Lawrence Tech University for one year… Indoor: Competed in six meets… ran a personal best in the 60m dash at the WHAC Indoor Championships Feb. 20-21, with a time of 6.91… Earned a top-five finish in the 60m dash at the SVSU Holiday Open and Multis Dec. 5-6… Outdoor: Competed in six meets… Claimed the WHAC 100m dash title after winning the race in personal-best 10.48 at the WHAC Outdoor Championship April 30-May 1… Ran a personal best 200m in 22.06 at the Cherry Blossom Invitational April 3… Earned five top-five finishes throughout the outdoor season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cleveland Heights High School… Competed for the Tigers as a sprinter… Earned All-American JO, and All-OHSAA honors… Also competed for the Ohio Heat for one year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Jailen Anthony McNair… Son of Johnny McNair and Teiya Riggins… Has a sister, Savanna Riggins… A native of Cleveland, Ohio… Major: Civil engineering.
Sydney Burdine
Event: Sprints
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Southeast Missouri State University.
SEMO: 2025-26: Attended Southeast Missouri State University for three years, competing in the Ohio Valley Conference… Indoor: Competed in nine meets… Claimed the 400m title at the OVC Championship Feb. 24-25, taking the win in 54.56… Saw two other victories in the 400m, the first at the Josh Gartland Invitational, Dec. 12-13, and the second at the 2026 Redhawks Invite, Jan. 10… Earned four top-three finishes… Outdoor: Competed in six meets… Was the OVC champion in the 400m, earning the title in both indoor and outdoor seasons, after winning the race in 54.77 at the OVC Championships, May 14-16… Was also a member of the championship 4x400m relay team at the OVC Championships… Earned four top-three finishes.
2024-25: Indoor: Competed in eight meets...Finished a race 10 times in the top 10… Was a member of the 4x400m relay championship team at the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 25-26… Won both the 55m (7.40) and the 200m (26.34) at the 2025 Redhawks Invite, Jan. 11… Outdoor: Ran in seven meets...Notched five top 10 finishes… Was the OVC champion in the 400m, running a personal best time of 53.78 at the OVC Outdoor Championships, May 15-17, along with finishing third in the 4x100m relay, fourth in the 4x400m relay, and sixth in the 200m.
2023-24: Indoor: Ran at eight meets…Tallied 20 top ten finishes with eight being first place finishes…Began her collegiate career with three top five performances in the 60m (7.74, 5th), the 300m (39.84, 1st), and the 4x400 (3:57.09, 1st)...Posted two gold medal performances in the 4x400m and the 400m with times of 3:58.70 and 58.09 at the Redhawks Invite, Jan. 13… Finished the season with times of 25.58 (8th), 54.94 (1st), and the 3:47.62 (1st) in the 200m, 400m, and the 4x400m at the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 21-22… Outdoor: Ran in eight meets…Claimed Ohio Valley Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week…Raced in 27 events and finished in the top ten in 24 events with 17 being top five finishes… Ended the season with three podium finishes in the 400m (55.30) for silver, 4x100m (46.37) for silver and wore the gold in the 4x400 with a finishing time of 3:45.84 at the OVC Championship May 9-11.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Westminster Christian Academy… Earned all-state first team honors… Was a class four state champion in the 400m in 2022… Ran a personal-best 54.40 in the 400m senior year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Sydney Marie Burdine… Daughter of Willie and Kimberly Kilpatrick… Has two brothers, Jaylen and Josiah, and four sisters, Kesishon, Christina, Nia, and Carmen… A native of Belleville, Ill… Major: Individualized studies.
Katie Stewart
Event: Pole Vault and Throws
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Siena Heights University.
SHU: 2025-26: Attended Siena Heights University for one year… Indoor: Cleared a personal-best 3.57m (11-08.50) in the pole vault… Earned top-five finishes in every meet of the indoor season… Outdoor: Saw a personal best in the javelin throw with a mark of 30.09m (98-9), along with a personal-best discus throw of 34.88m (114-5)… Earned seven top-five finishes.
USMA: 2024-25: Attended the United States Military Academy for one year… Indoor: Earned two event wins and three additional top-five finishes in the pole vault… Outdoor: Competed in one meet, finishing fourth in the pole vault.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Salem High School… Holds the school and park record in the pole vault… Earned most valuable field event athlete and female athlete of the year... Was a two-time conference champion, a three-time regional champion, and finished third in the state her junior year… Also competed in dive and gymnastics, earning all-state honors for gymnastics all three years she competed and broke the school record for vault.
PERSONAL: Full name: Kathryn Elisabeth Stewart… Daughter of Sean and Jessica Stewart… Has two sisters, Emma and Sarah… A native of Canton, Mich… Major: Social work.
Emma Stewart
Event: Pole Vault
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Siena Heights University.
SHU: 2025-26: Attended Siena Heights University for two years… Indoor: NAIA indoor pole vault champion with a clearance of 4.05m (13-03.50) at the NAIA Indoor Championships… Won the pole vault title at the WHAC Indoor Championships… Also won the pole vault at the Centre Indoor Invitational and Multis, the SVSU Classic, the SVSU Holiday Open and Multis, and the SVSU Jet's Pizza Invitational with a personal best mark of 4.08m (13-04.50)…Outdoor: Placed third at the NAIA Outdoor Championships… Was the WHAC champion in the pole vault at the WHAC Outdoor Championship… Won the pole vault at the Bill Bippes Meet, and the Don Kleinow Invitational… Also earned nine top-three finishes throughout the season.
2024-25: Indoor: Earned two pole vault wins in the indoor season, the first at the Mrs. G Invitational, Feb. 7, and the second at the WHAC Indoor Championship with a mark of 3.90m (12-09.50)… Placed fourth at the NAIA Indoor Championships in the pole vault… Also secured three additional top-three finishes… Outdoor: Finished as the runner up in the pole vault at the WHAC Outdoor Championship… Earned six top-five finishes throughout the season… Placed seventh at the NAIA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault.
SAU: 2023-24: Attended Spring Arbor University for one year… Indoor: Won the pole vault at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with a mark of 3.67m (12-00.50)… Secured two top-five finishes throughout the season… Outdoor: Won the pole vault with a personal best mark of 3.76m (12-04.00) at the Jack Shaw Invitational, April 12-13… Earned six top-five finishes in the season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Salem High School… Earned two letters along with serving as a captain of the track & field team for two years… Competed in pole vault, long jump, high jump, and hurdle events... Was a state champion… Competed for Inversion Vault Club for five years… Also competed in gymnastics.
PERSONAL: Full name: Emma Louise Stewart… Daughter of Sean and Jessica Stewart… Has two sisters, Katie and Sarah… A native of Canton, Mich… Major: Exercise science.
Ramell Walley
Event: Pole Vault
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming freshman.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Atlantic Coast High School… Is the pole vault school record holder for the Stingrays with a clearance of 15-05.00… Was a Florida Relays champion… No. 2 all-time JAC men's vaulter… 2026 State Bronze medalist… Along with being a Florida High School district and regional champion his senior year… Finished third at both the Florida High School Class 4A State Championships and then Florida High School Indoor State Championships… Was a 2025 Gateway Conference champion… Competed for Jacksonville Athletic Club for a year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Ramell Walley… Son of Xzavier and Natasha Walley… Has a sister Zaria, and a brother Elijah… A native of Oshu, Japan… Major: Marketing.
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 incoming athletes include Patricia Wanjiku, Jailen McNair, Sydney Burdine, Emma Stewart, Katie Stewart, and Ramell Walley. Wanjiku joins the cross country and track and field programs as a distance runner, while McNair and Burdine will compete in sprints, and the Stewart sisters and Walley will compete in field events for the track and field program.
The six additions to the squad bring the total of new athletes for the 2026-27 season to 17, with Kaelyn Becken, Kaiya Fujioka, Ella Luker, Laura Van Nes, Maiya Corrigan, Riley Williams, Mercy Chepkemoi, Emma Kanka, Sean Cinzori, Cameron Gramzow, and Mohammed Mohammed also joining the programs.
Patricia Wanjiku
Event: Distance
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming freshman.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attends Kiptulos Secondary School… Competed in the 5,000m ad 1,500m events… Was captain for two years and earned three letters… Also competed in netball.
PERSONAL: Full name: Patricia Wanjiku Wambui… Daughter of Dennis Nyaga Kariuki and Cecily Wawira … Has a sister, Risper Ng'endo, and two brothers, Mark Njuki and Edwin Njogu… A native of Iten, Elgeiyo Marakwet, Kenya… Major: Sports management.
Jailen McNair
Event: Sprints
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Lawrence Tech University.
LTU: 2025-26: Attended Lawrence Tech University for one year… Indoor: Competed in six meets… ran a personal best in the 60m dash at the WHAC Indoor Championships Feb. 20-21, with a time of 6.91… Earned a top-five finish in the 60m dash at the SVSU Holiday Open and Multis Dec. 5-6… Outdoor: Competed in six meets… Claimed the WHAC 100m dash title after winning the race in personal-best 10.48 at the WHAC Outdoor Championship April 30-May 1… Ran a personal best 200m in 22.06 at the Cherry Blossom Invitational April 3… Earned five top-five finishes throughout the outdoor season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cleveland Heights High School… Competed for the Tigers as a sprinter… Earned All-American JO, and All-OHSAA honors… Also competed for the Ohio Heat for one year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Jailen Anthony McNair… Son of Johnny McNair and Teiya Riggins… Has a sister, Savanna Riggins… A native of Cleveland, Ohio… Major: Civil engineering.
Sydney Burdine
Event: Sprints
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Southeast Missouri State University.
SEMO: 2025-26: Attended Southeast Missouri State University for three years, competing in the Ohio Valley Conference… Indoor: Competed in nine meets… Claimed the 400m title at the OVC Championship Feb. 24-25, taking the win in 54.56… Saw two other victories in the 400m, the first at the Josh Gartland Invitational, Dec. 12-13, and the second at the 2026 Redhawks Invite, Jan. 10… Earned four top-three finishes… Outdoor: Competed in six meets… Was the OVC champion in the 400m, earning the title in both indoor and outdoor seasons, after winning the race in 54.77 at the OVC Championships, May 14-16… Was also a member of the championship 4x400m relay team at the OVC Championships… Earned four top-three finishes.
2024-25: Indoor: Competed in eight meets...Finished a race 10 times in the top 10… Was a member of the 4x400m relay championship team at the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 25-26… Won both the 55m (7.40) and the 200m (26.34) at the 2025 Redhawks Invite, Jan. 11… Outdoor: Ran in seven meets...Notched five top 10 finishes… Was the OVC champion in the 400m, running a personal best time of 53.78 at the OVC Outdoor Championships, May 15-17, along with finishing third in the 4x100m relay, fourth in the 4x400m relay, and sixth in the 200m.
2023-24: Indoor: Ran at eight meets…Tallied 20 top ten finishes with eight being first place finishes…Began her collegiate career with three top five performances in the 60m (7.74, 5th), the 300m (39.84, 1st), and the 4x400 (3:57.09, 1st)...Posted two gold medal performances in the 4x400m and the 400m with times of 3:58.70 and 58.09 at the Redhawks Invite, Jan. 13… Finished the season with times of 25.58 (8th), 54.94 (1st), and the 3:47.62 (1st) in the 200m, 400m, and the 4x400m at the OVC Indoor Championships, Feb. 21-22… Outdoor: Ran in eight meets…Claimed Ohio Valley Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week…Raced in 27 events and finished in the top ten in 24 events with 17 being top five finishes… Ended the season with three podium finishes in the 400m (55.30) for silver, 4x100m (46.37) for silver and wore the gold in the 4x400 with a finishing time of 3:45.84 at the OVC Championship May 9-11.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Westminster Christian Academy… Earned all-state first team honors… Was a class four state champion in the 400m in 2022… Ran a personal-best 54.40 in the 400m senior year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Sydney Marie Burdine… Daughter of Willie and Kimberly Kilpatrick… Has two brothers, Jaylen and Josiah, and four sisters, Kesishon, Christina, Nia, and Carmen… A native of Belleville, Ill… Major: Individualized studies.
Katie Stewart
Event: Pole Vault and Throws
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Siena Heights University.
SHU: 2025-26: Attended Siena Heights University for one year… Indoor: Cleared a personal-best 3.57m (11-08.50) in the pole vault… Earned top-five finishes in every meet of the indoor season… Outdoor: Saw a personal best in the javelin throw with a mark of 30.09m (98-9), along with a personal-best discus throw of 34.88m (114-5)… Earned seven top-five finishes.
USMA: 2024-25: Attended the United States Military Academy for one year… Indoor: Earned two event wins and three additional top-five finishes in the pole vault… Outdoor: Competed in one meet, finishing fourth in the pole vault.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Salem High School… Holds the school and park record in the pole vault… Earned most valuable field event athlete and female athlete of the year... Was a two-time conference champion, a three-time regional champion, and finished third in the state her junior year… Also competed in dive and gymnastics, earning all-state honors for gymnastics all three years she competed and broke the school record for vault.
PERSONAL: Full name: Kathryn Elisabeth Stewart… Daughter of Sean and Jessica Stewart… Has two sisters, Emma and Sarah… A native of Canton, Mich… Major: Social work.
Emma Stewart
Event: Pole Vault
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming transfer from Siena Heights University.
SHU: 2025-26: Attended Siena Heights University for two years… Indoor: NAIA indoor pole vault champion with a clearance of 4.05m (13-03.50) at the NAIA Indoor Championships… Won the pole vault title at the WHAC Indoor Championships… Also won the pole vault at the Centre Indoor Invitational and Multis, the SVSU Classic, the SVSU Holiday Open and Multis, and the SVSU Jet's Pizza Invitational with a personal best mark of 4.08m (13-04.50)…Outdoor: Placed third at the NAIA Outdoor Championships… Was the WHAC champion in the pole vault at the WHAC Outdoor Championship… Won the pole vault at the Bill Bippes Meet, and the Don Kleinow Invitational… Also earned nine top-three finishes throughout the season.
2024-25: Indoor: Earned two pole vault wins in the indoor season, the first at the Mrs. G Invitational, Feb. 7, and the second at the WHAC Indoor Championship with a mark of 3.90m (12-09.50)… Placed fourth at the NAIA Indoor Championships in the pole vault… Also secured three additional top-three finishes… Outdoor: Finished as the runner up in the pole vault at the WHAC Outdoor Championship… Earned six top-five finishes throughout the season… Placed seventh at the NAIA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault.
SAU: 2023-24: Attended Spring Arbor University for one year… Indoor: Won the pole vault at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with a mark of 3.67m (12-00.50)… Secured two top-five finishes throughout the season… Outdoor: Won the pole vault with a personal best mark of 3.76m (12-04.00) at the Jack Shaw Invitational, April 12-13… Earned six top-five finishes in the season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Salem High School… Earned two letters along with serving as a captain of the track & field team for two years… Competed in pole vault, long jump, high jump, and hurdle events... Was a state champion… Competed for Inversion Vault Club for five years… Also competed in gymnastics.
PERSONAL: Full name: Emma Louise Stewart… Daughter of Sean and Jessica Stewart… Has two sisters, Katie and Sarah… A native of Canton, Mich… Major: Exercise science.
Ramell Walley
Event: Pole Vault
EMU: 2026-27: Will join the EMU cross country and track & field programs as an incoming freshman.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Atlantic Coast High School… Is the pole vault school record holder for the Stingrays with a clearance of 15-05.00… Was a Florida Relays champion… No. 2 all-time JAC men's vaulter… 2026 State Bronze medalist… Along with being a Florida High School district and regional champion his senior year… Finished third at both the Florida High School Class 4A State Championships and then Florida High School Indoor State Championships… Was a 2025 Gateway Conference champion… Competed for Jacksonville Athletic Club for a year.
PERSONAL: Full name: Ramell Walley… Son of Xzavier and Natasha Walley… Has a sister Zaria, and a brother Elijah… A native of Oshu, Japan… Major: Marketing.
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
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
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