The Eastern Michigan University’s track and field programs competed as an entire team for the first time at the Grand Valley State University’s Holiday Open, on Dec. 9, in Allendale, Michigan inside GVSU’s Kelly Family Sports Center.
Junior Miranda Caldwell received a career-high 19.32m mark in the weight throw, moving her to second place in the EMU record book for that event and taking second place at GVSU’s Holiday Open.
The women’s team saw strong performances with sophomore Chloie Musta and graduate student Tabatha Walford meeting that mark in the 800m.
The Eagle sprinters and hurdlers also had good performances as sophomore Saraiah Walkes took second place in the 400m dash finishing with a time
of 56.55. Additionally, senior Angel Gazaway claimed the top spot in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.65.
Eastern sent two distance runners to Boston University’s Sharon Colyear-Danville open, on Dec.3. Junior Toby Gualter set a new personal best with a time of 14:00.17, placing 79th in the meet. Senior Baldvin Magnusson set the Icelandic indoor national record for the 5000m with a time of 14:01.29, coming in 82nd place.
Gaultier and senior Marcus Kemp finished in first and second place in the 3000m. Senior hurdler Almighty Williamson grabbed first place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.92. Junior sprinter Kaleb Simpson finished in second place in the 60m dash with a time of 6.79.
The men’s field athletes also came out strong as graduate student Newlyn Stephenson placed second in the weight throw invitational with a 19.45m toss. Sophomore Andrew Knieper had a career-best weight toss of 12.68m, finishing in eighth place.
Eastern’s relay teams both took the top prize.
The men’s 4x400m team of freshman Josh Flake, seniors Dante Lander and Kyle Martin, and Simpson crossed the finish line in 3:17.94. The women’s group finished at 3:50.89 with a team of graduate student Chevonne Wheeler, senior Tiffany Cernej- Garcia, freshman Tijana Japundzic, and Gazaway.
Next, the Eagles will take a break over the holiday season and open the new year in Ann Arbor for the Wolverine Invitational hosted by the University of Michigan, on Jan. 7.
