The Eastern Michigan University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Mid-American Conference outdoor championships last weekend in Akron, Ohio.
The women finished fifth with an overall score of 82.50 points, while the men tallied 142.50, good enough for third.
“We always hope to be in contention for the title, but we had some injuries and setbacks after the indoor season and we knew that we were going to be shorthanded for this meet,” EMU women’s coach Sue Parks said. “The athletes who competed did a good job. We just didn’t have enough depth for a higher team finish.”
Sophomore Victoria Voronko became the first EMU runner to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the MAC Championships. Voronko outlasted the field, crossing the line in 10:23.09.
Voronko finished third in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs with times of 4:27.73 and 16:44.70, respectively.
Freshman Alysha Newman captured first in the pole vault with a leap of 13 feet 5.75 inches (4.11 meters). Newman swept the indoor and outdoor pole vault championship events on the season.
Newman also became the first EMU pole-vaulter to win both events in the same season since Hanna Palamaa back in 2002.
In the 400-meter hurdles, senior co-captain Asia Rawls crossed the line first with a personal-best time of 58.32 seconds.
Senior co-captain Tatijana Jacobson finished second in the high-jump with a leap of 5-feet 8.75-inches (1.75 meters).
In the 4×400-meter relay, the quartet of Rawls, freshman Morgan Yeadon, freshman Aaliyah McKinney and sophomore Danielle Clark combined for a time of 3:42.53, good enough for third.
Clark, McKinney, Yeadon and freshman Vanessa Clerveaux finished third in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 45.73 seconds.
On the men’s side, redshirt freshman Daryl Smith took home first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal best of 9:02.86, becoming the first Eagle since Corey Nowitzke to win the event.
In the 4×100-meter relay, the quartet of junior Chris Scott, sophomore Cameron Bolton, freshman Matthew Williams and senior Jay Saunders finished first with a combined time of 40.47 seconds.
Saunders also took third in the 100-meter dash with a 10.726 seconds.
Junior Max Babits finished in the runner-up position in the pole vault with a leap of 17-feet 4.50-inches (5.30 meters).
In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Darrell Butler finished third with a 52.12 seconds.
Junior Grzegorz Kalinowski took second in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:52.16.
In the 5,000-meter run, Terefe Ejigu crossed the line in 14:40.13, which was good enough for second.
Ejigu also finished second in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 30:58.72.
In the decathlon, sophomore Solomon Ijah placed third with 7,092 points, which is third best in program history.
Championship Notes:
Kent State won the women’s championship with a total score of 169, while the University of Akron finished second with 119, the University at Buffalo in third with 109.50, Miami University in fourth with 105, EMU in fifth with 82.50, the Western Michigan University Broncos in sixth with 72, the University of Toledo Rockets in seventh with 49, Central Michigan University in eighth with 41.50, the University of Ohio Bobcats in ninth with 33.50, Bowling Green State University Falcons in tenth with 23, the Northern Illinois University Huskies in 11th with 11 and the Ball State University Cardinals finishing last with four.
The University of Akron Zips won the men’s championship with a total score of 195, while the Kent State University Golden Flashes finished second with 183, then the Eagles in third with 142.50, the Miami University RedHawks came in fourth with 125, the University at Buffalo Bulls finished fifth with 97.50 and the Central Michigan University Chippewas finished last with 67.
Looking Ahead:
Select members of the EMU track and field team will head to Greensboro, N.C., for the National Collegiate Athletic Association regionals that will take place from May 23-25.
Social Media:
Follow me on Twitter: @EasternEchoGeno.
