Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, December 9
Findlay, Ohio
All Day
Eastern Michigan University
at
Findlay Oiler Opener
Men's Track & Field Opens Season at a Pair of Meets
12/7/2016 3:33:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
The Eagles will begin the 2016-17 season at two Midwest locations
Hoosier Open Information
Findlay Oiler Opener Information
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team kicks off the 2016-17 indoor season this weekend, heading to both the Hoosier Open in Bloomington, Ind., and the Findlay Oiler Opener in Findlay, Ohio, Dec. 9. The Eagles look to gain some early season experience before resuming action after the holidays in 2017.
The Eagles bring back plenty of experienced veterans, while the squad will also feature a large group of talented newcomers. This year, EMU looks to bring both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference titles back to Ypsilanti for the first time since the 2010 season. Take a look at a brief breakdown of each event group, including some of the top returners and newcomers who may have an impact.
Sprints
The Eagles will once again be led by senior Tyler Brown (Findlay, Ohio - Findlay) when it comes to sprints. Last season, the Findlay, Ohio native had another very strong season, earning Most Valuable Performer and First Team All-MAC honors following the Indoor MAC Championships, Feb. 26-27, where he won the 400m dash and finished second in the 200m. The indoor season also saw Brown post the eighth-fastest 400m time in the EMU record books, clocking in at 21.31 seconds, in addition to breaking the 300m record with a time of 33.52 seconds. He continued his success to the outdoor season, heading to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, after winning the 400m dash at the Outdoor MAC Championships, May 12-14, for the third consecutive season in 46.55 seconds.
In addition to Brown, junior Brandon Bolden (Solon, Ohio - Solon) returns for his third year. Bolden posted a season-best indoor time of 22.32 seconds in the 200m dash, while he helped the team to three first-place finishes in the 4x100m relay thoughout the outdoor season. Redshirt senior Nick James (Troy, Ohio - Troy) will cap off his Eagle career this year, as he competed in a total of eight meets last season. James tied his career-best time of 22.48 seconds in the 200m last year during the indoor season, while he also set personal-bests of 7.06 seconds in the 60m and 10.82 seconds in the 100m. The Green and White also bring in a large amount of newcomers, including junior Leighton Antonio (Hudson, Ohio - Hudson), who should make an impact after finding success at Youngstown State the last two seasons.
Mid-Distance
After graduating a trio of seniors, the Eagles' mid-distance group will feature a number of new faces this season. Freshmen Dan Kuhn (Erie, Pa. - Harbor Creek), Dakota Medley (Novelty, Ohio - West Geauga), and Roderic Wilson (Atlanta, Ga. - Blanche Ely) all come to EMU with mid-distance experience in high school and look to continue their success donning the Green and White. Some members of the distance group may also supplement the three freshmen, as a couple participated in mid-distance events last season.
Distance
Following another dominating cross country season, the distance group looks primed to remain strong on the track. Although he was out of cross country eligibility, redshirt senior Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio - Maumee) returns for his final year with the Eagles. Last season, Fink finished as a Second Team All-American after taking 11th in the 3000m at the Indoor NCAA Championships, Mar. 11-12, clocking in at 8:07.81. He also ran the second-best 3000m time in program history at the Camel City Invite, Jan. 29-30, posting a time of 7:56.04. Fink was named MAC Championships MVP for the outdoor season, in addition to being named First Team All-MAC following both conference championships. Finally, the Maumee, Ohio native also qualified to the Outdoor NCAA Championships, June 8-11, taking 20th in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:52.43.
The squad also retains the services of redshirt junior Nick Raymond (Erie, Mich. - Mason), who finished as an All-American at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Nov. 19, posting a time of 30:18.9 in the 10,000-meter race. Last season on the track, Raymond earned First Team All-MAC honors after winning the 10,000-meter title at the outdoor conference championships with a time of 29:41.07, while also nabbing second in the 5,000m after crossing the finish line in 14:45.30. The Erie, Mich. native qualified to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, as well, taking 41st in the 10K with a time of 31:24.83. The squad will also feature mainstays in the form of redshirt juniors Hlynur Andresson (Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland - Mountain Ridge), Lahsene Bouchikhi (Antwerp, Belgium - Stedelijk Lyceum Paardenmarkt Luchthaven), and Abel Flores (Defiance, Ohio - Defiance), as well as junior Csaba Matko (Racalmas, Hungary - Szechenyi Istvan Gimnazium).
Hurdles
The hurdles group will miss the services of Jeff Elam, but an experienced trio should keep the group on track. Redshirt senior Bryce Lindsey (New Middletown, Ohio - Fairfield Senior), and sophomores Elijah Barber (Columbus, Ohio - Eastmoor Academy) and Frank Douglas (Mansfield, Ohio - Madison Comprehensive) all bring competitive experience to the unit. Lindsey tied his personal-best in the 60m hurdles last season with a time of 8.13 seconds, while also finishing 10th in the event at the Indoor MAC Championships. Barber and Douglas both broke onto the scene as freshmen last year, with Barber notching a career-best 400m hurdles time of 54.76 seconds and Douglas taking fifth at the Indoor MAC Championships in the 60m hurdles with a career-best time of 8.16 seconds. Two strong freshmen in Devonte Findlay (Lauderhill, Fla. - Blanche Ely) and Ivan Suazo (Columbus, Ohio - Westland) may have an impact as well.
Jumps
The Eagles' jumps group features three sophomore returners in Cameron Hart (Columbus, Ohio - Bishop Hartley), Nicholas Herbert (Portage, Mich. - Portage Northern), and Micah Peters (York, Ontario - Vaughn Road Academy), while Brown will also compete in the long jump. Brown finished as the Indoor MAC Champion in the event with a mark of 7.61 meters/ 24 feet 11.75-inches. which was the second-best in EMU history. Hart regularly competed in all three jumps, placing ninth in both the high jump and the long jump at the Indoor MAC Championships, while he also took eighth in the high jump at the outdoor conference championships. Herbert consistently contributed in both the long jump and the triple jump with indoor personal-bests of 7.08 meters/ 23 feet 2.75-inches and 14.04 meters/ 46 feet 0.75-inches, respectively, while Peters competed primarily in the high jump and the triple jump. Peters' career-bests in the two events currently stand at 1.96 meters/ 6 feet 5-inches in the high jump and 14.35 meters/ 47 feet 1-inch in the triple jump. The group will be supplemented by junior Travis McCuaig (Big Rapids, Mich. - Morley Stanwood), who comes to EMU following a stint at Wingate University.
Pole Vault
A pair of freshmen will lead the way in the pole vault this season, while redshirt senior Zach Waldron (Grand Rapids, Mich. - Northview) will also add to EMU's depth. Freshmen Colin Etchen (Edgerton, Ohio - Edgerton) and Drew Pickus (Solon, Ohio - Solon) both had impressive high school careers in the event, with Etchen holding a personal-best of 15 feet 6-inches, which was a school record. Pickus was also solid on the high school level, as he holds the second and fifth-best pole vault marks in Solon history. Waldron, who primarily competed in multis, maintains a personal-best mark of 4.48 meters/ 14 feet 8.25-inches in the event.
Throws
Similar to last season, the throws group will again be paced by redshirt senior Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio - Sandusky). Jones had an incredible 2015-16 season, earning All-American honors at the Indoor NCAA Championships after finishing seventh in the weight throw with a toss of 21.52 meters/ 70 feet 7.25-inches. Jones also had the best weight throw in EMU history last year, erupting for a huge throw of 21.84 meters/ 71 feet 8-inches at the Findlay Open, Feb. 12. The outdoor season saw Jones qualify to the NCAA East Regional in the hammer throw, in addition to posting the second-best hammer throw in EMU laurels at the Beach Pacific Coast Invite, April 14, with a mark of 62.56 meters/ 205 feet 3-inches.
The Green and White also bring back sophomore Derek Ziegenfuss (Allentown, Pa. - Parkland), the EMU record holder in the javelin throw. As a freshman, Ziegenfuss posted the best mark in EMU annals at the MAC Championships, winning the event with a throw of 67.44 meters/ 221 feet 3-inches. For his efforts at the conference championships, he was named First Team All-MAC and the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year. He also qualified to the NCAA East Regional and finished 26th with a mark of 62.77 meters/ 205 feet 11-inches. Junior Mike Hierholzer (Medina, Ohio - Medina), sophomore Zach Harkey (Huron, Ohio - Huron), and redshirt freshman Zach Purcilly (Troy, Mich. - Avondale) all return as well, bringing experience in the shot put and the discus. Finally, freshmen Nik Curtiss (Lancaster, Ohio - Lancaster) and Jannik Schmitt (Plymouth, Mich. - Salem) look to continue their high school success at the collegiate level.
Multis
The Eagles' multis group suffered a blow with the graduation of All-American Solomon Simmons, who now serves as an assistant coach for the Eagles, but a trio of student-athletes look to follow in his footsteps this year. Waldron will don the Green and White for the final time this season, with his career-best marks in the heptathlon and decathlon sitting at 5054 and 6548 points, respectively. After his freshmen season, sophomore Alex Jacobs (Dublin, Ohio - Dublin Jerome) should continue improving as he gains more experience, while freshman Drew Lament (Lakeview, Ohio - Waynesfield-Goshen) will provide added depth as he gets used to the collegiate level.
The Hoosier Open is slated to begin at 3:45 p.m. with the women's weight throw, while the final event of the day will be the men's 4x400m relay at 9:15 p.m. On the other hand, the Findlay Oiler Opener starts at 1 p.m. with the men's heptathlon, and ends at 6:45 p.m. with the women's weight throw. For more information on the Hoosier Open, please click here. For more information on the Findlay Oiler Opener, please click here.
Findlay Oiler Opener Information
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team kicks off the 2016-17 indoor season this weekend, heading to both the Hoosier Open in Bloomington, Ind., and the Findlay Oiler Opener in Findlay, Ohio, Dec. 9. The Eagles look to gain some early season experience before resuming action after the holidays in 2017.
The Eagles bring back plenty of experienced veterans, while the squad will also feature a large group of talented newcomers. This year, EMU looks to bring both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference titles back to Ypsilanti for the first time since the 2010 season. Take a look at a brief breakdown of each event group, including some of the top returners and newcomers who may have an impact.
Sprints
The Eagles will once again be led by senior Tyler Brown (Findlay, Ohio - Findlay) when it comes to sprints. Last season, the Findlay, Ohio native had another very strong season, earning Most Valuable Performer and First Team All-MAC honors following the Indoor MAC Championships, Feb. 26-27, where he won the 400m dash and finished second in the 200m. The indoor season also saw Brown post the eighth-fastest 400m time in the EMU record books, clocking in at 21.31 seconds, in addition to breaking the 300m record with a time of 33.52 seconds. He continued his success to the outdoor season, heading to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, after winning the 400m dash at the Outdoor MAC Championships, May 12-14, for the third consecutive season in 46.55 seconds.
In addition to Brown, junior Brandon Bolden (Solon, Ohio - Solon) returns for his third year. Bolden posted a season-best indoor time of 22.32 seconds in the 200m dash, while he helped the team to three first-place finishes in the 4x100m relay thoughout the outdoor season. Redshirt senior Nick James (Troy, Ohio - Troy) will cap off his Eagle career this year, as he competed in a total of eight meets last season. James tied his career-best time of 22.48 seconds in the 200m last year during the indoor season, while he also set personal-bests of 7.06 seconds in the 60m and 10.82 seconds in the 100m. The Green and White also bring in a large amount of newcomers, including junior Leighton Antonio (Hudson, Ohio - Hudson), who should make an impact after finding success at Youngstown State the last two seasons.
Mid-Distance
After graduating a trio of seniors, the Eagles' mid-distance group will feature a number of new faces this season. Freshmen Dan Kuhn (Erie, Pa. - Harbor Creek), Dakota Medley (Novelty, Ohio - West Geauga), and Roderic Wilson (Atlanta, Ga. - Blanche Ely) all come to EMU with mid-distance experience in high school and look to continue their success donning the Green and White. Some members of the distance group may also supplement the three freshmen, as a couple participated in mid-distance events last season.
Distance
Following another dominating cross country season, the distance group looks primed to remain strong on the track. Although he was out of cross country eligibility, redshirt senior Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio - Maumee) returns for his final year with the Eagles. Last season, Fink finished as a Second Team All-American after taking 11th in the 3000m at the Indoor NCAA Championships, Mar. 11-12, clocking in at 8:07.81. He also ran the second-best 3000m time in program history at the Camel City Invite, Jan. 29-30, posting a time of 7:56.04. Fink was named MAC Championships MVP for the outdoor season, in addition to being named First Team All-MAC following both conference championships. Finally, the Maumee, Ohio native also qualified to the Outdoor NCAA Championships, June 8-11, taking 20th in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:52.43.
The squad also retains the services of redshirt junior Nick Raymond (Erie, Mich. - Mason), who finished as an All-American at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Nov. 19, posting a time of 30:18.9 in the 10,000-meter race. Last season on the track, Raymond earned First Team All-MAC honors after winning the 10,000-meter title at the outdoor conference championships with a time of 29:41.07, while also nabbing second in the 5,000m after crossing the finish line in 14:45.30. The Erie, Mich. native qualified to the NCAA East Regional, May 26-28, as well, taking 41st in the 10K with a time of 31:24.83. The squad will also feature mainstays in the form of redshirt juniors Hlynur Andresson (Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland - Mountain Ridge), Lahsene Bouchikhi (Antwerp, Belgium - Stedelijk Lyceum Paardenmarkt Luchthaven), and Abel Flores (Defiance, Ohio - Defiance), as well as junior Csaba Matko (Racalmas, Hungary - Szechenyi Istvan Gimnazium).
Hurdles
The hurdles group will miss the services of Jeff Elam, but an experienced trio should keep the group on track. Redshirt senior Bryce Lindsey (New Middletown, Ohio - Fairfield Senior), and sophomores Elijah Barber (Columbus, Ohio - Eastmoor Academy) and Frank Douglas (Mansfield, Ohio - Madison Comprehensive) all bring competitive experience to the unit. Lindsey tied his personal-best in the 60m hurdles last season with a time of 8.13 seconds, while also finishing 10th in the event at the Indoor MAC Championships. Barber and Douglas both broke onto the scene as freshmen last year, with Barber notching a career-best 400m hurdles time of 54.76 seconds and Douglas taking fifth at the Indoor MAC Championships in the 60m hurdles with a career-best time of 8.16 seconds. Two strong freshmen in Devonte Findlay (Lauderhill, Fla. - Blanche Ely) and Ivan Suazo (Columbus, Ohio - Westland) may have an impact as well.
Jumps
The Eagles' jumps group features three sophomore returners in Cameron Hart (Columbus, Ohio - Bishop Hartley), Nicholas Herbert (Portage, Mich. - Portage Northern), and Micah Peters (York, Ontario - Vaughn Road Academy), while Brown will also compete in the long jump. Brown finished as the Indoor MAC Champion in the event with a mark of 7.61 meters/ 24 feet 11.75-inches. which was the second-best in EMU history. Hart regularly competed in all three jumps, placing ninth in both the high jump and the long jump at the Indoor MAC Championships, while he also took eighth in the high jump at the outdoor conference championships. Herbert consistently contributed in both the long jump and the triple jump with indoor personal-bests of 7.08 meters/ 23 feet 2.75-inches and 14.04 meters/ 46 feet 0.75-inches, respectively, while Peters competed primarily in the high jump and the triple jump. Peters' career-bests in the two events currently stand at 1.96 meters/ 6 feet 5-inches in the high jump and 14.35 meters/ 47 feet 1-inch in the triple jump. The group will be supplemented by junior Travis McCuaig (Big Rapids, Mich. - Morley Stanwood), who comes to EMU following a stint at Wingate University.
Pole Vault
A pair of freshmen will lead the way in the pole vault this season, while redshirt senior Zach Waldron (Grand Rapids, Mich. - Northview) will also add to EMU's depth. Freshmen Colin Etchen (Edgerton, Ohio - Edgerton) and Drew Pickus (Solon, Ohio - Solon) both had impressive high school careers in the event, with Etchen holding a personal-best of 15 feet 6-inches, which was a school record. Pickus was also solid on the high school level, as he holds the second and fifth-best pole vault marks in Solon history. Waldron, who primarily competed in multis, maintains a personal-best mark of 4.48 meters/ 14 feet 8.25-inches in the event.
Throws
Similar to last season, the throws group will again be paced by redshirt senior Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio - Sandusky). Jones had an incredible 2015-16 season, earning All-American honors at the Indoor NCAA Championships after finishing seventh in the weight throw with a toss of 21.52 meters/ 70 feet 7.25-inches. Jones also had the best weight throw in EMU history last year, erupting for a huge throw of 21.84 meters/ 71 feet 8-inches at the Findlay Open, Feb. 12. The outdoor season saw Jones qualify to the NCAA East Regional in the hammer throw, in addition to posting the second-best hammer throw in EMU laurels at the Beach Pacific Coast Invite, April 14, with a mark of 62.56 meters/ 205 feet 3-inches.
The Green and White also bring back sophomore Derek Ziegenfuss (Allentown, Pa. - Parkland), the EMU record holder in the javelin throw. As a freshman, Ziegenfuss posted the best mark in EMU annals at the MAC Championships, winning the event with a throw of 67.44 meters/ 221 feet 3-inches. For his efforts at the conference championships, he was named First Team All-MAC and the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year. He also qualified to the NCAA East Regional and finished 26th with a mark of 62.77 meters/ 205 feet 11-inches. Junior Mike Hierholzer (Medina, Ohio - Medina), sophomore Zach Harkey (Huron, Ohio - Huron), and redshirt freshman Zach Purcilly (Troy, Mich. - Avondale) all return as well, bringing experience in the shot put and the discus. Finally, freshmen Nik Curtiss (Lancaster, Ohio - Lancaster) and Jannik Schmitt (Plymouth, Mich. - Salem) look to continue their high school success at the collegiate level.
Multis
The Eagles' multis group suffered a blow with the graduation of All-American Solomon Simmons, who now serves as an assistant coach for the Eagles, but a trio of student-athletes look to follow in his footsteps this year. Waldron will don the Green and White for the final time this season, with his career-best marks in the heptathlon and decathlon sitting at 5054 and 6548 points, respectively. After his freshmen season, sophomore Alex Jacobs (Dublin, Ohio - Dublin Jerome) should continue improving as he gains more experience, while freshman Drew Lament (Lakeview, Ohio - Waynesfield-Goshen) will provide added depth as he gets used to the collegiate level.
The Hoosier Open is slated to begin at 3:45 p.m. with the women's weight throw, while the final event of the day will be the men's 4x400m relay at 9:15 p.m. On the other hand, the Findlay Oiler Opener starts at 1 p.m. with the men's heptathlon, and ends at 6:45 p.m. with the women's weight throw. For more information on the Hoosier Open, please click here. For more information on the Findlay Oiler Opener, please click here.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Men's Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track & FieldNew Outdoor Track & Field Facility Ribbon Cutting
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