Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
MAC Indoor Championships
Mid-American Conference Indoor Track Champions Crowned
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Feb. 26, 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT -- For the first time in Mid-American Conference indoor track history, the men of Central Michigan University are champions.
The team used several strong performances on the final day of the MAC indoor track championships held at Jack Skoog Track on the campus of CMU to hold off conference rivals Kent State and Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles had won every previous men's indoor title, but CMU snapped their bid to make it ten in a row thanks to a 214 point effort.
"It's just incredible," CMU coach Jim Knapp said. "This was supposed to be a dog fight, but these kids wouldn't let it become one. It's all about their character and pride."
The meet's "Most Valuable Performers" were CMU's Tamera Thomas, Pierre Vinson, and Dave Ernsberger. The MVP is given to the competitors that score the most points for their team. The "Most Outstanding Performers" were Jill Scully of Ball State and Jacob Friess of CMU. The MOP is determined by a vote among the coaches in the MAC.
Pierre Vinson, Dave Ernsberger, and Jacob Friess hold their awards after day two of the MAC Indoor Track Championships.  | |
For CMU's men's team, the victory came on the shoulders of strong showings on day two in the 3000m, 200m, 60m hurdles and 60m dash, where the Chippewas took 11 of the potential 16 top four finishes, including first in each of the races.
Vinson upset teammate Johnie Drake in the 60m dash, winning the event in 6.67 seconds, narrowly edging Drake at 6.69. Vinson also won the 200m dash (21.65 seconds), with Drake finishing second (21.91) there as well. Teammate Nelson Deford claimed third place in the 200m (21.81), after winning the 400m dash title with a time of 48.58 seconds.
Pierre Vinson and teammate Johnie Drake were neck and neck the entire 60m race. | |
The final title for CMU came on the meet's final race. The Chippewas 4x400m relay team of Soj Jibowu, Greg Gogola, Ferman Tate, and Steve Wezner edged out EMU's squad with a time of 3:17.18. Wezner, as he has been several times this season, was the difference in the race, closing the gap between he and EMU's Donnie Young, and eventually overtaking him.
Kent State was close for a majority of the meet, but was never able to overtake CMU for the lead. They finished with 177 1/2 points. Defending champion EMU finished with 111.
For CMU's women, the biggest bright spot came from Thomas. She won the pentathlon (3877) on Friday, and on Saturday she won the 60m hurdles title, re-braking the record she had set the night before. To qualify, she set the record at 8.37 seconds. To win the title, she completed the race in a time of 8.34 seconds, also breaking the Jack Skoog Track record, which she also owned.
Thomas also took sixth in the high jump(5-6) and fourth in the long jump (19-6 1/4).
Katie Davis finished third in the shot put for CMU, with a heave of 48-7 1/4., and Jackie Smart took second in the triple jump with a leap of 42-00 3/4. Nancy Figueroa also claimed a second place finish, completing the 60m hurdles in 8.45 seconds.
BSU's Skully also set a new MAC championship meet record in the 3000m run with a time of 9:38.04, while Western Michigan's 4x400m relay team broke the MAC meet record with a time of 3:41.68.
Below are the final standings:
Women
Akron -- 97
Eastern Michigan -- 95.5
Kent State -- 88.5
Ball State -- 81.5
CMU -- 79
Western Michigan -- 57
Miami -- 49
Buffalo -- 43.5
Northern Illinois -- 28
Bowling Green -- 19
Toledo -- 16
Ohio -- 7
Marshall -- 2
Men
CMU -- 214
Kent State -- 177.5
Eastern Michigan -- 111
Akron -- 105
Ohio -- 24.5
Buffalo -- 24
