Long Jump Record Among Many Chippewa Highlights At Skoog

Friday, January 11

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

3:30 P.M.

Central Michigan University

Jack Skoog Open

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

1/12/2019 12:12:00 AM | MTF, Track & Field

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Chippewas post several firsts as indoor season gets rolling

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Nadia Williams won three events and in the process set the Central Michigan women's indoor long jump record on Friday to highlight the Chippewas' Jack Skoog Open track & field meet in front of a packed house at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track.

Williams, a junior, won the women's 60-meter dash in 7.63 seconds and placed first in the long jump with a leap of 6.41 meters, shattering the previous mark of 19 feet, 11 ¾ inches set in 2005 by Tamera Thomas. Converted to feet and inches, Perry's leap on Friday measured better than 21 feet.

"This just makes me more motivated to do better during the season and to keep on breaking records," said Williams, who also won the 200 (24.58).

It was a big day in the women's long jump for the Chippewas as senior Janelle Perry placed second at 6.15 meters, a leap that also bettered Thomas' mark. Converted, Perry's jump topped 20 feet.

Perry also captured the women's 60-meter hurdles in 8.63 seconds.

BIG DAY
Williams and Perry weren't the only Chippewas who had great days as CMU athletes posted a number of firsts.

In arguably the most exciting race of the day, Chippewa sophomore Roshawn Morton won the men's 600-meter race in 1:24.48, edging Oakland's Corey Goodloe, who came in at 1:24.56.

CMU's other firsts:
• John Mitrzyk, men's long jump, 22-4 1/4.
• Quiara Wheeler, women's weight throw, 60-9 ¼.
• Ryan Taylor, men's triple jump, 47-4 1/4.
• Siobhan Szerencsits, women's pole vault, 12-9 1/2.
• Shane Moffo, men's 60 hurdles, 8.00 seconds.
• Jeron Kelley, men's 60 dash, 6.95 seconds.
• Luke Anderson, men's 800, 1:56.35.
• Megan O'Neil, women's 600, 1:41.08.
• Jack Dodge, men's 200, 22.11 seconds.

HOME SWEET HOME
The meet is CMU's lone home event of the season, and the Chippewa supporters turned out in droves, making it standing-room-only for not only some great performances, but to honor the 2004 CMU women's team that won the MAC championship and the seniors on the Chippewa roster.

There was also a moment of silence in honor of former CMU assistant coach Dionne Henley, who died on Dec. 24, 2018. Henley coached sprints and hurdles in the Chippewa program from 2010-16.

COACH'S TAKE
The meet was CMU's first since it competed in the Grand Valley State Holiday Meet on Dec. 7. The Chippewa squads combined to place fourth in that event.

"I'm really excited with how we performed," CMU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jenny Swieton said. "The first meet back from (Christmas) break usually is a little shaky and I feel we picked up where we left off from Grand Valley State, which doesn't usually happen. So that's pretty exciting. I think everyone that competed, competed really well and ran the best they've had in a long time.

"This (crowd support) shows that people care about what our student-athletes do and how hard they work. It makes it all worth it and it makes the athletes want to go out and train harder and get better."

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