Chippewas Set 2 More Track & Field Records

Friday, February 8

Allendale, MI

Central Michigan University

GVSU Big Meet

Photo by: Robert Barclay

2/9/2019 11:14:00 PM | MTF, Track & Field

Kent State Results Grand Valley Results

CMU comes away with three firsts at Kent State Raymond Inv.

By: Nick Vuylsteke, CMUChippewas.com

Two meets, two more program records.

Megan O'Neil broke the Central Michigan indoor record in the women's 5,000-meter run on Friday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet, and Erin Howard broke the CMU women's indoor shot put record on Saturday at the Doug Raymond Invitational at Kent State University.

It was a good weekend for the Chippewas, who sent the distance runners to Grand Valley on Friday and the remainder of the squad to Kent State on Saturday.

O'NEIL'S RECORD

O'Neil, a senior from Stanwood, posted a time of 16 minutes, 34.19 seconds to etch her name in the Chippewa record book. She broke the mark, 16:41.27, set by Abbey Kelto in 2015. O'Neil finished sixth.

"The pace was pretty hot from the gun and we knew that she wanted to break the record," CMU director of track & field/cross country Jenny Swieton said. The time "didn't have to be crazy, but it was to check off the box for the program record."

Sweiton said the race strategy at Grand Valley differed from the norm, which is usually a "sit and kick," meaning an even-paced race with a sprint at the end.

"O'Neil has never been in a 5K like this before. She's only run (an indoor 5K) a couple of times. It was good that she got to be in a race that was faster and learn how to handle that kind of scenario."

HOWARD'S MARK
Howard placed second in the women's shot put at Kent State as her record-setting toss measured 52 feet, 9 ¼ inches. Devene Brown held the previous mark, 52-7, set in 2016.

"Coach (Stephen) Saenz has her clicking on all cylinders right now and they have a good thing going," CMU assistant coach Bryant Wilson said. "They were starting to talk a little strategy at the meet. They talked about getting that first throw out there, and setting that tone on the field. They were able to execute that and they looked great.

"To come out there, first throw, and have that result is obviously a testament to our training and to her focus and ability. That was pretty special."

MORE FROM KENT STATE

The Chippewas notched three first places at the Doug Raymond Invitational. Janelle Perry won the women's 60-meter hurdles, Kevin Weiler captured the men's shot put, and CMU won the men's 4x400 relay.

Jack Dodge, Gavin Jamie, Roshawn Morton and Ben Hayes teamed up to win the men's relay in 3:15.01; Perry won the hurdles in 8.40 seconds, edging Pittsburgh's Eddita Pessima by 4-100ths of a second; and Weiler's winning toss in the shot put measured 58-0 ¼.

Perry also placed second in the long jump, 19-8 ¼, and CMU was second in the women's 4x400 relay (Gabriella Beauvais, Jayden Williams, Nadia Williams, Samatha Cuneo), 3:46.42.

Also for the CMU women, Rebekah Petty was third in the pole vault, 13-0 ¾; Siobhan Szerencsits was fifth in the pole vault, 12-6 ¾; Quiara Wheeler was seventh in the weight throw, 57-5 ¾ inches; Williams was seventh in the 60-meter dash, 7.58; Alexandria Robinson was eighth in the high jump, 5-4 ¼; and Beauvais was eighth in the long jump, 18-0 ¼.

For the CMU men, Jackson Blanchard was fourth in the 400, 49.07; Dodge was sixth in the 200, 21.94; Ryan Taylor was seventh in the triple jump, 45-7 ¾; and Connor Covert was eighth in the weight throw, 55-10 ½.

MORE FROM GRAND VALLEY
Brett Hannah led the way for the CMU as he placed fifth in the 600-meter run in 1:23.34.

The Chippewas experienced exactly what they expected at the meet, good competition and highly competitive races, Swieton said.

"I think it's really good to know how to handle different race scenarios and that meet definitely provided that for us," she said. "The races were much more aggressive and much more scrappy than what our distance runners are used to and they fared really well. Any time you can give (the team) a different type of racing experience, they kind of learn how to race in that scenario."

TAKEAWAYS
"I think it's good for them to have a comfort level in that environment against similar teams," Swieton said of the experience the Chippewas gained by competing at Kent State, the site of the Feb. 22-23 Mid-American Conference Championships. "So when we go back there in two weeks, they've been there, they've competed there, and seen a lot of teams in that building so it's not so new, especially for our younger athletes or athletes who haven't been to the MAC meet."

"Most people think that track is track. Well, here at Kent, (in the) high jump, you're jumping off the infield, and the infield is AstroTurf. So, that's a little new to some athletes. They are jumping off aluminum raised runways. They'll need to get some bounce and get some quirks (on their jumps). And the pole vaulters are on a raised runway as well. So, it is important to feel it out and we needed (this experience)."

NEXT
The Chippewas are scheduled to return to Allendale for the Grand Valley Tune Up Meet on Friday Feb. 15. It is their final competition before the MAC Championships.