Chippewa Track & Field Hosts Annual Skoog On Friday

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan Track & Field team will host the Jack Skoog Invitational on Friday at the Jack Skoog Track & Field Complex.

It is CMU's lone home meet, indoors or outdoors, of the season. Field events begin at 3:30 p.m., running events at 5 p.m.

Oakland, Eastern Michigan, Saginaw Valley State and Spring Arbor are scheduled join the Chippewas.

A Celebration
The meet serves as a very special day, not only for CMU track & field, but for Chippewa Athletics in general.

A full nine-event schedule for both genders is on the docket, along with the following:

• Senior student-athletes on the team will be introduced along with their respective parents/family representatives

• The annual Fastest Kid in Mount Pleasant races will be contested. The races will crown a champion in three divisions: Age 5-under, age 6-8, and age 9-12.

• Members of the 2005 CMU men's team, which won MAC indoor and outdoor championships, will be introduced and honored.

• Chippewas who earned All-America honors from 2000-2019 will be recognized and those in attendance will be introduced.

• Members of the CMU women's squad will receive rings to commemorate their 2019 MAC indoor championship.

"The kids are so excited, they want to see the rings – they're super fired up," CMU director of track & field Jenny Swieton said. "I think it's a good time of year to remember what we accomplished last year; (and) to give us a little extra boost of energy moving forward in the season and remember how good it felt to win that championship."

Calendar Change
Over the last few seasons, the Skoog took place earlier in the indoor season, typically immediately at the beginning of the winter semester.

This year's meet comes midway through the schedule.

"I think the cool thing about (this meet) is the people that are coming are really trying to accomplish something," Swieton said. "Towards the end of January, early February that's when you start to try to check some boxes performance wise. The competition should be great and we're pretty excited for that."

Home Game
The Chippewa athletes will look to take advantage of the juice that the home crowd may provide.

"(Having a home crowd) makes a huge difference," Swieton said. "Any time you know people are rooting for you, you kind of find that extra gear, or an extra bit of power. Having alumni back is going to be huge. A lot of parents will be here, and it's always fun to compete in front of your parents."

Swieton said she is hoping for a good crowd, as is typical for the Skoog. Last year, it was standing room only.

"I hope everybody across campus and in the community checks it out," she said. "It's definitely a fun (meet) especially for new people to track and field. They don't realize how exciting track and field is until they come out to a meet. Hopefully we get all the fans we had in the past, as well as some new ones.

"I just want (fans) to come out and have a good time. I want them to enjoy watching our student-athletes and other student-athletes compete. I want them to laugh and cheer for the fastest kid in Mount Pleasant. I want the people who are being honored to feel special and respected. I just want to show everyone how fun track & field can be."

Competing
As far as competition goes, the philosophy is the same, Swieton said.

"I just want everyone on the team to go out, like last weekend, and compete to the best of their ability," she said. "The more competitive we get, the grittier we get; the more comfortable we get with being uncomfortable, the better we'll be as a team."

Ranked Chippewas
Three Chippewas are ranked nationally.

• Nadia Williams is ranked third in the women's long jump at 21 feet, 1 ¼ inches.

• Logan Targgart is 15^th in the men's weight throw at 69-5 ¼.

• Quiara Wheeler is ranked 34^th in the women's weight throw at 64-9 ¼. Last week at the Can Am International at Eastern Michigan, Wheeler broke her own program record in the event.

Next
CMU will travel to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Logan Targgart

Quiara Wheeler

Nadia Williams