Track & Field Opens Indoor Season On Friday

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan track & field team will open the indoor season on Friday, Dec. 6 the Grand Valley State Holiday Open in Allendale.

Defending Champions
The CMU women's team took home the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship in Kent, Ohio.

Among the top returnees from that squad are sprinter/long jumper Nadia Williams and thrower Erin Howard. Williams placed sixth in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships last season, and then followed with a 14th placing at the Outdoor Championships in June, making her a double All-American.

Howard was second a year ago in the shot put at the MAC Indoor Championships and went on to earn honorable mention All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Among those who must be replaced are Rebekah Petty, the indoor program record holder in the pole vault, and Megan O'Neil who holds the program record in the indoor mile and the 5,000-kilometer run.

"Last year was great, and we learned a lot both for the men and the women," said Jenny Swieton, CMU's director of track & field/cross country. "But every year, it's kind of like a new team. We have some of the same pieces, but I want to see how this group works together, how they push each other, where we're starting from and what we need to work on."

Young Core
On the men's side, the Chippewas will look to replace hurdler Shane Moffo and thrower Kevin Weiler. A good young core returns after showing flashes of potential throughout the 2019 season.

"Losing Shane and Kevin is tough for sure," Swieton said. "But because we had so many men that did so well that were so young last year, that's really exciting. We have a really great core group with sprinters like Jack Dodge, Jackson Blanchard, Gavin Jamie" along with veteran "throwers Logan Targgart and Connor Covert.

"We have a really good group of men that are still making big jumps. We still have a potential to run a great 4x400-meter (relay) race. We are deep enough in that area where we don't even know who's going to be on it, which is a good position to be in."

Newcomers
Friday's meet at Grand Valley is a great way for Swieton to get a look at her newcomers and to gauge the veterans.

At last season's Holiday Open, then-freshmen Parker Aerts and Blanchard burst onto the scene, and would end up playing vital roles for CMU in their freshman seasons.

"We were like 'OK, this is going to be pretty good,'" Swieton said of last year's performances, particularly those of the younger Chippewas. "I think we have some good freshman on the team and I'm excited to see where they're at and see how they handle the environment."

Surging Sophomores
One of the keys to the potential success is the expected improvement of the sophomores, who now have a year of collegiate competition under their respective belts.

Among those who could make a big jump is Siobhan Szerencsits in the women's pole vault. Szerencsits at one point was tied with Petty for the indoor program record in the event, and she holds the outdoor program mark at 13 feet 3 ¾ inches.

"I think what we definitely will have is some sophomores who will make a big jump from last year," Swieton said. "At least, in my eyes, watching them practice, they know what's going on. I feel like this is their opportunity to really start doing some big things."

Program Records
A common theme that CMU saw last season was the amount of program records broken in the indoor season. There were four program records on the women's side and one on the men's last season.

The program record surge started at the Jack Skoog Invite last year where Williams went 21-1/2 in the long jump.

"You just never know what's going to happen, but I do think the possibility is there," Swieton said. "We had a really good idea that Nadia was going to do really well last year. But to break the record in the first week of January wasn't expected; it was a pleasant surprise. The year built off that. We're excited to see what surprises we get this year."

Next
CMU will be off until competing in the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor on Jan. 11.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Parker Aerts

Jackson Blanchard

Connor Covert

Jack Dodge

Erin Howard

Shane Moffo

Megan O'Neil

Rebekah Petty

Siobhan Szerencsits

Logan Targgart

Kevin Weiler

Nadia Williams