Annual Skoog Indoor Meet Set For Friday

Friday, January 11

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

3:30 P.M.

Central Michigan University

Jack Skoog Open

1/10/2019 8:01:00 PM | MTF, Track & Field

Chippewas to honor seniors, 2004 women's MAC championship team

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan Indoor Track and Field team will host its annual Jack Skoog Open meet on Friday, Jan. 11 at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track in the Indoor Athletic Complex.

It is CMU's lone home meet – indoors or outdoors -- of the year.

The field events will start at 3:30 p.m. with the weight throw. Running events will start at 5 p.m. with the men's mile run. The Fastest Kid in Mount Pleasant Competition is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m.

The Jack Skoog Open is Senior Day for all the senior athletes who will be participating in their final home meet. The seniors will be introduced and recognized during the meet.

The team will have a moment of silence to honor former sprint/hurdle coach Dionne Henley who died on Dec. 24, 2018. Henley was a coach at CMU from 2010-16 before leaving to be the assistant track and field coach at Costal Carolina.

In addition, CMU's 2004 women's MAC championship team will be honored.

Expected to partake in the meet are Calvin, Alma, Oakland and Olivet, which is coached by former CMU mentor Karen Lutzke. Lutzke coached the 2004 Chippewa women's team to the MAC title.

COMING OFF A STRONG START
The Chippewas started the indoor season in December at Grand Valley State. The Chippewas notched three first places at the that meet and their men's and women's teams combined to place fourth.

CMU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jenny Swieton said she was impressed with how her freshman performed, including Jackson Blanchard and Parker Arets. Arets finished eighth and Blanchard was ninth in the men's 60-meter hurdles.

LONE HOME MEET
Swieton said Friday's meet is important for CMU for multiple reasons.

"It's senior day, it's our opportunity to honor the seniors and their friends and families can come watch them compete," Swieton said. "It's also big because we're bringing back the 2004 women's MAC championship team. So it's cool for the student-athletes to compete in front of that team.

"This is really the only opportunity to display what the team has to so many important people to the program. We'll have more support than we will at any other meet including athletes' friends from on campus, professors, alumni and family."

From a competition perspective, Swieton said she hopes her team can go out, compete, and leg out as many people as they can.

"From my perspective, I want to see everyone compete, regardless of what event area they're in," she said. "If they go out and try to beat everyone that they can, I think that will be good to see. The times and marks might not be the best, they might be great, but as long as they go out, compete, and have fun, that will be good."

NEXT
The Chippewas are scheduled to compete in the Notre Dame Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 19 in South Bend, Ind.