Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
Green and White Remain Highly Ranked Heading into NCAA Indoor Championships
3/9/2016 11:08:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
The Eagles will be sending two to compete for an NCAA title, but the team has plenty more ranked in the top-50 nationally
Live Results
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team will be sending a pair of student-athletes to compete for a national title at the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-12, in Birmingham, Ala. Heading into the final event of the indoor season, the Eagles remain well-represented in the rankings, and are No. 54 nationally.
Redshirt juniors Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio – Maumee) and Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio – Sandusky) will both be making the trek south to vie for a national championship in their respective events. Fink will be competing in the 3000m, but he is also ranked in the 5000m. In the 3000m, the Maumee, Ohio native sits at No. 8 in the country after turning in a fantastic time of 7:50.57 at the Camel City Invitational, Jan. 29. On the other hand, Fink is No. 36 in the 5000m, crossing the finish line in 13:56.66 at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 4. Additionally, Jones also holds a top-10 ranking, as he is No. 9 in the weight throw. His best toss of the season came at the Findlay Indoor Open & Elite Throws Competition, where his mark came in at 21.84 meters/ 71 feet 8-inches, which was also a program record.
Junior Tyler Brown (Findlay, Ohio – Findlay) had a fantastic season as well, as evidenced by being ranked on two events. In the 400m, Brown's time of 46.45 at the SPIRE Invitational, Feb. 12, put him at No. 22 in the country. He is also ranked in the long jump, where his No. 32 ranking came at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 26-27, with a jump of 7.61 meters/ 24 feet 11.75-inches. His jump was also the second best in EMU history.
The Eagles also have a 4x400m relay group ranked at No. 48. The foursome of seniors Jeff Elam (Latrobe, Pa. – Greater Latrobe Senior), Matthew Williams (Moreno Valley, Calif. – Vista Del Lago), and Mason Waynes (Kenosha, Wis. – Bradford), and Brown crossed the finish line in 3:09.57 at the MAC Indoor Championships, which is the fifth-fastest in the EMU record books. In addition to Jones, redshirt senior Keith Williams (Sherman, Ill. – Williamsville) is also ranked in the weight throw, coming in at No. 47 with a mark of 20.28 meters/ 66 feet 6.5-inches at the conference championship.
Finally, redshirt senior Solomon Simmons (Murrieta, Calif. – Murrieta Valley) ended the indoor season on a high note, setting an EMU record in the heptathlon with 5608 points at the conference championship. He currently ranks No. 24 in the country, and it just 32 points away from 20th.
Action from the NCAA Championships begins Friday, March 11, at 5:00 p.m. with the weight throw. Fink's event does not come until later, as he competes Saturday, March 12, at 6:10 p.m. in the 3000m. To follow along with live results, please click here.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team will be sending a pair of student-athletes to compete for a national title at the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-12, in Birmingham, Ala. Heading into the final event of the indoor season, the Eagles remain well-represented in the rankings, and are No. 54 nationally.
Redshirt juniors Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio – Maumee) and Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio – Sandusky) will both be making the trek south to vie for a national championship in their respective events. Fink will be competing in the 3000m, but he is also ranked in the 5000m. In the 3000m, the Maumee, Ohio native sits at No. 8 in the country after turning in a fantastic time of 7:50.57 at the Camel City Invitational, Jan. 29. On the other hand, Fink is No. 36 in the 5000m, crossing the finish line in 13:56.66 at the GVSU Holiday Open, Dec. 4. Additionally, Jones also holds a top-10 ranking, as he is No. 9 in the weight throw. His best toss of the season came at the Findlay Indoor Open & Elite Throws Competition, where his mark came in at 21.84 meters/ 71 feet 8-inches, which was also a program record.
Junior Tyler Brown (Findlay, Ohio – Findlay) had a fantastic season as well, as evidenced by being ranked on two events. In the 400m, Brown's time of 46.45 at the SPIRE Invitational, Feb. 12, put him at No. 22 in the country. He is also ranked in the long jump, where his No. 32 ranking came at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 26-27, with a jump of 7.61 meters/ 24 feet 11.75-inches. His jump was also the second best in EMU history.
The Eagles also have a 4x400m relay group ranked at No. 48. The foursome of seniors Jeff Elam (Latrobe, Pa. – Greater Latrobe Senior), Matthew Williams (Moreno Valley, Calif. – Vista Del Lago), and Mason Waynes (Kenosha, Wis. – Bradford), and Brown crossed the finish line in 3:09.57 at the MAC Indoor Championships, which is the fifth-fastest in the EMU record books. In addition to Jones, redshirt senior Keith Williams (Sherman, Ill. – Williamsville) is also ranked in the weight throw, coming in at No. 47 with a mark of 20.28 meters/ 66 feet 6.5-inches at the conference championship.
Finally, redshirt senior Solomon Simmons (Murrieta, Calif. – Murrieta Valley) ended the indoor season on a high note, setting an EMU record in the heptathlon with 5608 points at the conference championship. He currently ranks No. 24 in the country, and it just 32 points away from 20th.
Action from the NCAA Championships begins Friday, March 11, at 5:00 p.m. with the weight throw. Fink's event does not come until later, as he competes Saturday, March 12, at 6:10 p.m. in the 3000m. To follow along with live results, please click here.
Players Mentioned
2025 E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Cinematic Recap
Saturday, October 11
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Ben Reese
Friday, October 10
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Patrice Beasley
Friday, October 10










