Chippewas Gear Up For MAC Championships

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Central Michigan track & field team is headed to Muncie, Ind. for its most-important competition of the year, the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships.

The three-day meet is scheduled to begin on Thursday at Ball State's University Track.

The Chippewa women are looking to complete the double, winning the team title after claiming the crown at the MAC Indoor Championships in February. It was the first indoor crown for the Chippewa women since 2004; their last outdoor MAC title also came in 2004.

"I think we're in a really good place going into the MAC meet," Chippewa director of track & field Jenny Swieton said. "We have the ability to score in all of the event areas, which will be helpful.

"When we were entering (the season), we were pretty strategic with not trying to get too much out of any one person, so the things they can do, they can do really well. I think we have a lot of athletes that can be potential MAC champions on both the men's and women's side. We just want to continue to get better every day, and do what we can to make that happen."

TOP SEEDS
Several Chippewas hold the best time, distance or height in their respective event.

On the women's side, CMU's Megan O'Neil has the best time (34:22.09) in the MAC in the 10,000 meters. She is ranked third in the 5,000. CMU's Janelle Perry and Nadia Williams rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the long jump. Perry's top mark is 21 feet, 2 ½ inches. Williams' best is 20-9. Perry also ranks second in the 100-meter hurdles.

Other Chippewa women ranked No. 2 are Siobhan Szerencsits, pole vault; Megan McElroy, javelin; Quiara Wheeler, hammer throw. CMU's Marissa Dunn ranks No. 3 in the hammer throw, as do teammates Gabriella Beauvais, 400 meters; Erin Howard, shot put.

CMU's Hannah Davis is ranked fourth in the 5,000, while Howard (discus), Williams (200) and Samantha Cuneo (400) are ranked fifth.

Three Chippewa men are ranked No. 1, led by senior Shane Moffo, who is No. 1 with a 13.87-second finish in the 110 hurdles, where he will look to repeat as the champion. Also for CMU, Jackson Blanchard ranks No. 1 in the 400 at 52.33 seconds, and Logan Targgart ranks first in the hammer throw, 214-8. Targgart, like Moffo, is the defending champion in his event.

Also for the Chippewa men, Kevin Weiler ranks No. 2 in the shot put; Joseph Avery ranks No. 3 in the javelin; Jack Dodge is No. 4 in the both the 200 and the 400; Connor Covert ranks No. 4 in the hammer throw and No. 5 in the men's discus.

In the relay events, CMU is ranked No. 2 in both genders in the 4x400, and No. 5 in both genders in the 4x100.

NEXT
Several Chippewas will continue their respective seasons by competing in the first round of the NCAA Track & Field Championships, which begin on May 23.

Some have already qualified, and several others are good bets to do so at the MAC Championships.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gabriella Beauvais

Jackson Blanchard

Connor Covert

Samantha Cuneo

Hannah Davis

Jack Dodge

Marissa Dunn

Erin Howard

Megan McElroy

Shane Moffo

Megan O'Neil

Janelle Perry

Siobhan Szerencsits

Logan Targgart

Kevin Weiler

Quiara Wheeler

Nadia Williams