Green and White Open the Season at Two Meets

Hoosier Open Results
Findlay Oiler Opener Results

Bloomington, Ind. & Findlay, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team opened the 2016-17 season today, Dec. 9, at both the Hoosier Open and the Findlay Oiler Opener. Eastern had a trio of distance runners compete in Bloomington, while a pair of heptathletes and a group of throwers competed at Findlay.

"I was very excited about the boys' effort today," remarked Head Coach John Goodridge when speaking about the 5000m runners. "The pace was very fast, much too fast for our current 5K race preparation, but this is a great indicator for me as to what lies ahead."

A trio of Eagles took part in the 5000m run fast section at the Hoosier Open, with redshirt senior Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio – Maumee) leading the way after crossing the finish line in 14:01.99, which was good for a fifth-place finish. Behind him, redshirt juniors Lahsene Bouchikhi (Antwerp, Belgium - Stedelijk Lyceum Paardenmarkt Luchthaven) and Hlynur Andresson (Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland - Mountain Ridge) finished with personal-best times of 14:14.42 and 14:14.45, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.

Moving over to the Findlay Oiler Opener, the squad had six throwers take part in the weight throw. Junior Elijah Albert-Grayer (Canton, Mich. – Salem) was as the team's top finisher, taking home fourth-place with a toss of 17.51 meters/ 57 feet 5.5-inches. Behind him, sophomore Zach Harkey (Huron, Ohio – Huron) took part in the event for the first time, throwing 15.83 meters/ 51 feet 11.25-inches, which was good for 11^th. Just behind him, redshirt freshman Austin Hazek (Medina, Ohio – Medina) posted a career-best mark of 15.70 meters/ 51 feet 6.25-inches to take 12^th.

The Eagles also had two compete in the first day of the heptathlon. Freshman Drew Lament (Lakeview, Ohio - Waynesfield-Goshen) sits in fifth after the first day with a total of 2406 points, while sophomore Alex Jacobs (Dublin, Ohio – Dublin Jerome) was one spot behind in sixth with 2383 points. Lament had his best performance of the day in the shot put, posting a mark of 12.21 meters/ 40 feet 0.75-inches to win the event. He also turned in a sixth-place finish in the 60m dash with a time of 7.52 seconds. Jacobs also had his best finish in the shot put, taking fourth with a throw of 10.25 meters/ 33 feet 7.5-inches. Additionally, he also had a career-best in the high jump, taking fifth with a mark of 1.79 meters/ 5 feet 10.5-inches.

The Green and White will wrap up the Oiler Opener tomorrow, Dec. 10, with day two of competition. Following tomorrow's meet, EMU will next compete after the holidays, taking part in the Simmons Harvey Invitational, Jan. 14.

EMU Individual Results (* denotes a personal best)
Hoosier Open
5000m Run Fast Section
5. Willy Fink 14:01.99
7. Lahsene Bouchikhi 14:14.42*
8. Hlynur Andresson 14:14.45*

Findlay Oiler Opener
Weight Throw
4. Elijah Albert-Grayer 17.51m/ 57-05.50
11. Zach Harkey 15.83m/ 51-11.25*
12. Austin Hazek 15.70m/ 51-06.25*
17. Taige Bryant 14.77m/ 48-05.50*
19. Mike Hierholzer 14.40m/ 47-03.00*
23. Jannik Schmitt 13.42m/ 44-00.50*
Heptathlon 60m Dash
6. Drew Lament 7.52*
7. Alex Jacobs 7.56
Heptathlon High Jump
5. Alex Jacobs 1.79m/ 5-10.50*
8. Drew Lament 1.73m/ 5-08.00*
Heptathlon Long Jump
6. Alex Jacobs 5.92m/ 19-05.25
7. Drew Lament 5.65m/ 18-06.50*
Heptathlon Shot Put
1. Drew Lament 12.21m/ 40-00.75*
4. Alex Jacobs 10.25m/ 33-07.50
Heptathlon Day One
5. Drew Lament 2406*
6. Alex Jacobs 2383

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elijah Albert-Grayer

Hlynur Andresson

Lahsene Bouchikhi

Taige Bryant

Willy Fink

Zach Harkey

Austin Hazek

Mike Hierholzer

Alex Jacobs

Drew Lament

Jannik Schmitt

Eastern Michigan Athletics