Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
MAC Indoor Championships
Chippewas Second, Fourth After Day 1 At MAC Championships
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Zach Libby, CMUChippewas.com
AKRON, Ohio, -- Central Michigan director of track & field/cross country Mark Guthrie's goals going into the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships were for his two squads to finish fourth.
That goal could become a reality Saturday at Akron's Stile Field House if things go according to plan. The Chippewa men collected 27 points on Friday and are tied for second place with the host Zips. Eastern Michigan is first with 54.
The CMU women are tied for fourth with Buffalo, both with 16 points. Akron and Eastern Michigan are in a tight race for first, with the Zips leading by one point over the Eagles, 38-37. Kent State is third with 34.
"It was a great first day," Guthrie said. "Not a whole lot to be disappointed with. I mean, every track meet has some disappointment, but we're going to have people that should have gotten through and didn't, and we have people that shouldn't but did. So I'm pleased with the scores for (Friday) and for those who advanced."
As expected, the Chippewa men were strong in the weight throw as senior Cole Walderzak and junior Dylan Banagis finished second and third, respectively. Walderzak recorded a throw of 67 feet, 4 ¾ inches; Banagis 66-8. The two combined to garner 14 points toward the Chippewas' team total.
Also for the CMU men, sophomore Sam Wagner placed third and Tony Armstrong was sixth in the pole vault. Wagner went 16-3/4, Armstrong 15-7. CMU's Diavonte Smith placed seventh in the long jump at 23-5 ½. The Chippewas' Nate Ghena (14:40.56) finished fourth in the men's 5,000-meter run.
"Probably (Wagner), who had a lifetime PR vault that got him third was our standout performance, as far as those who stood out today," Guthrie said.
In the distance medley relay for the men, Scott Cousino, Monte Scott, Ben Yagiela and Quincy Briggs combined to finish fifth in 10 minutes, 22.92 seconds.
CMU's Michaela Bundy, Alyssa Dyer, Megan O'Neil and Kyla Walton teamed up to place sixth in the women's distance medley relay. They finished in 11:44.30.
Also for the women, sophomore Kirsten Olling was fourth in the 5,000-meter run (16:45.71), sophomore April Micheaux placed fourth in the pentathlon with 3,499 points, and junior Kylee Dobbelaere was sixth in the weight throw (57-7 ½).
"Micheaux had four PR's along the way so that's good," Guthrie said. "She showed up, she was steady and she took care of business."
Micheaux was sixth in the pentathlon long jump, 17-2 ¾; first in the shot put, 41-11 ½; ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, 9.10 seconds; fourth in the high jump, 5-4 ¼; and 11th in the 800, 2:46.77.
Two Chippewa women, freshman Samantha Cuneo and junior Kelsey Ross, advanced to Saturday's final in the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run, respectively.
Senior Tina Davis failed to advance in the 60- and 200-meter dashes.
"[Tina] was disappointed and we were disappointed," Guthrie said. "We needed those points and I mean, that's what track and field in a championship setting is. You have to get down in the hay, it's not the NBA or MLB where you get five or six attempts to win it, you have to be ready when your name is called. It just didn't happen."
For the men, sophomores Berkley Edwards and Lorenzo Wells advanced to participate on Saturday in the 60- and 200-meter dashes, respectively. Sophomore Shane Moffo qualified for Saturday's final in the 60-meter hurdles, finished second in his heat in a lifetime best 8.07 seconds.
Three Chippewa men - Ziemowit Dutkiewicz (47.24), Benjamin Hayes (47.37) and Erick Huertas (48.17) -- advanced to Saturday's final in the 400-meter dash. The finished 1-2-3 in their heat.
"They were ready to go," Guthrie said. "They had confidence. The training indicated that they were ready to go, and getting to the finals is great, but you have to run and be fast again (Saturday)."
Players Mentioned
