Saturday, May 11
Muncie, Ind.
Central Michigan University
at
MAC Championships
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Two Chippewas Capture League titles
5/11/2019 11:41:00 PM | MTF, Track & Field
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Jackson Blanchard and Calli Stemple won league championships in the men's 400 meter hurdle and women's high jump on the third and final day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships.
Akron won both the men's and women's championships. The men's team scored 199 points, the women's team scored 120 points. The CMU women's team finished in second place 117.5 points, a mere two and a half points behind Akron. The CMU men's team finished in fifth with 92 points.
"For both the men's and women's teams, it was a great meet for us," CMU Director of Track & Field Jenny Swieton said. "The men's team definitely scored more points than they were projected. They kept the energy high and did really well. They know that we don't have the depth yet, but that'll come with time. I'm really impressed with all the effort they put forward. They all gave everything they could and that was really exciting to see.
"The same goes on the women's side. Everything went perfect in indoor track, the star were aligned. We learned more from this experience. We had to fight harder, and scrape and claw for every point. Not everything went perfect, but everyone kept their composure and did everything they could. I'm more proud of this performance, even then just winning the championships because everything went right in indoors. We've dealt with a lot of stuff, their held their head high, and gave everything we could."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Blanchard's time in the 400 meter hurdles was 52.26. Blanchard is the first CMU 400 men's champion since Barry Alexia won it in 1978.
"He competed like a veteran, which is awesome to see out of a freshman," Swieton said. "He took care of business, he did everything he could, and ran really fast."
Dante Lander finished seventh in the 400 hurdles at 54.02.
Calli Stemple mark in the women's high jump was 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches. She is the first league champion in the high jump since Erika Schroll won it back in 2010.
"This was a huge performance for her," Swieton said. "I think that she competed well under pressure, which is awesome to see. It's really hard to do, especially in an event like high jump. But I don't think we're surprised (that she won). We knew that was capable, and to actually get it done in an event like that is very impressive."
Alexandria Robinson placed fifth in the high jump at 5 feet, 5 ¼ inches.
Megan O'Neil, the MAC women's 10,000 meter champion, placed second in the women's 5,000 meters at 16:48.43. Hannah Davis placed fifth in the women's 5,000 at 17:01.29.
Gabriella Beauvais and Samantha Cuneo placed third and fifth place in the women's 400. Beauvais ran 53.78, Cuneo ran 53.95. Beauvais also finished in fifth in the women's 200 meters at 24.11. The MAC Long Jump Champion Nadia Williams placed sixth in the women's 200 at 24.18.
Jack Dodge and Benjamin Hayes placed third and fifth in the men's 400 meters, Dodge ran 46.98, Hayes ran 47.83. Dodge also placed fifth in the 200 meters, 21.30 seconds.
The women's 4x400 team that consisted of Simonae Dismuke, Cuneo, Beauvais, Cuneo, and Jayden Williams placed second, 3:42.98.
The men's 4 by 400 team that consisted of Dodge, Hayes, Blanchard, and Lander placed third, 3:14.07.
Other finishers include Shane Moffo placed second in the men's 110 meter hurdles, 14.07; Erin Howard placed third in the women's discus, 173 feet, 7 inches; AJ Ferns placed fourth in the men's pole vaults, 16 feet, 1 ¼ inches; Connor Covert placed fourth in the men's discus, 154 feet; Janelle Perry placed fourth in the women's 100 meter hurdles, 13.66; Emmett Smrcka placed fifth in the men's 800 meters, 1:52.46; Jeron Kelley placed sixth in the men's 100 meters, 10:71; Chandler Lorf placed eighth in the men's mile, 4:03.30.
END OF THE SEASON
Both the men's and women's team have several athletes who qualified for the first rounds of the NCAA Track & Field Championship, starting on May 23.
For the athletes who aren't competing at the NCAA first round's, their season is over.
"We were on both sides of the spectrum (for both the men's and women's teams). I don't think we accomplished what we wanted to indoor (on the men's side). I think the people came into outdoor season really motivated but knew it was going to take a lot to move up in the ranks," Swieton said. "On the women's side, we won the title, and with that comes a little bit of pressure. We we're navigating on how to handle that pressure, that experience, and how to stay on top of their game for a really long year. I think that there were some ups and downs, but it was a great season. That is one of the more rewarding seasons that I've had as a coach as far as athletes buckling down through adversity and doing everything that they could. Anytime people put the team before their individual performances, then you know somethings going right."
Akron won both the men's and women's championships. The men's team scored 199 points, the women's team scored 120 points. The CMU women's team finished in second place 117.5 points, a mere two and a half points behind Akron. The CMU men's team finished in fifth with 92 points.
"For both the men's and women's teams, it was a great meet for us," CMU Director of Track & Field Jenny Swieton said. "The men's team definitely scored more points than they were projected. They kept the energy high and did really well. They know that we don't have the depth yet, but that'll come with time. I'm really impressed with all the effort they put forward. They all gave everything they could and that was really exciting to see.
"The same goes on the women's side. Everything went perfect in indoor track, the star were aligned. We learned more from this experience. We had to fight harder, and scrape and claw for every point. Not everything went perfect, but everyone kept their composure and did everything they could. I'm more proud of this performance, even then just winning the championships because everything went right in indoors. We've dealt with a lot of stuff, their held their head high, and gave everything we could."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Blanchard's time in the 400 meter hurdles was 52.26. Blanchard is the first CMU 400 men's champion since Barry Alexia won it in 1978.
"He competed like a veteran, which is awesome to see out of a freshman," Swieton said. "He took care of business, he did everything he could, and ran really fast."
Dante Lander finished seventh in the 400 hurdles at 54.02.
Calli Stemple mark in the women's high jump was 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches. She is the first league champion in the high jump since Erika Schroll won it back in 2010.
"This was a huge performance for her," Swieton said. "I think that she competed well under pressure, which is awesome to see. It's really hard to do, especially in an event like high jump. But I don't think we're surprised (that she won). We knew that was capable, and to actually get it done in an event like that is very impressive."
Alexandria Robinson placed fifth in the high jump at 5 feet, 5 ¼ inches.
Megan O'Neil, the MAC women's 10,000 meter champion, placed second in the women's 5,000 meters at 16:48.43. Hannah Davis placed fifth in the women's 5,000 at 17:01.29.
Gabriella Beauvais and Samantha Cuneo placed third and fifth place in the women's 400. Beauvais ran 53.78, Cuneo ran 53.95. Beauvais also finished in fifth in the women's 200 meters at 24.11. The MAC Long Jump Champion Nadia Williams placed sixth in the women's 200 at 24.18.
Jack Dodge and Benjamin Hayes placed third and fifth in the men's 400 meters, Dodge ran 46.98, Hayes ran 47.83. Dodge also placed fifth in the 200 meters, 21.30 seconds.
The women's 4x400 team that consisted of Simonae Dismuke, Cuneo, Beauvais, Cuneo, and Jayden Williams placed second, 3:42.98.
The men's 4 by 400 team that consisted of Dodge, Hayes, Blanchard, and Lander placed third, 3:14.07.
Other finishers include Shane Moffo placed second in the men's 110 meter hurdles, 14.07; Erin Howard placed third in the women's discus, 173 feet, 7 inches; AJ Ferns placed fourth in the men's pole vaults, 16 feet, 1 ¼ inches; Connor Covert placed fourth in the men's discus, 154 feet; Janelle Perry placed fourth in the women's 100 meter hurdles, 13.66; Emmett Smrcka placed fifth in the men's 800 meters, 1:52.46; Jeron Kelley placed sixth in the men's 100 meters, 10:71; Chandler Lorf placed eighth in the men's mile, 4:03.30.
END OF THE SEASON
Both the men's and women's team have several athletes who qualified for the first rounds of the NCAA Track & Field Championship, starting on May 23.
For the athletes who aren't competing at the NCAA first round's, their season is over.
"We were on both sides of the spectrum (for both the men's and women's teams). I don't think we accomplished what we wanted to indoor (on the men's side). I think the people came into outdoor season really motivated but knew it was going to take a lot to move up in the ranks," Swieton said. "On the women's side, we won the title, and with that comes a little bit of pressure. We we're navigating on how to handle that pressure, that experience, and how to stay on top of their game for a really long year. I think that there were some ups and downs, but it was a great season. That is one of the more rewarding seasons that I've had as a coach as far as athletes buckling down through adversity and doing everything that they could. Anytime people put the team before their individual performances, then you know somethings going right."
Players Mentioned
Jumps/Sprints
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ MTF
Throws
/ MTF
Long Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Long Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ MTF
Long Sprints
/ MTF
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ MTF
Hurdles
/ MTF
Distance/XC
/ MTF
Hurdles
/ MTF
Distance/XC
/ Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Multi-Events
/ Track & Field
Distance/XC
/ MTF
High Jump
/ Track & Field
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Jumps/Sprints
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