Home Cookin'

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Nine first-place finishes, a celebration of some of the very best in program history, and some new championship rings highlighted the annual Central Michigan Track & Field Jack Skoog Open on Friday at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track.

It was CMU's lone home meet, indoors or outdoors, of the season, and it unfolded before an overflow crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Eastern Michigan, Spring Arbor and Saginaw Valley State also partook in the meet. No team scores were kept.

"(The crowd) was huge," CMU director of cross country/track & field Jenny Swieton said. "I think you get some really big performances out of the student-athletes when they have the home crowd behind with them. That was obviously evident. We had a lot of great performances across the board."

The program honored Chippewa All-Americans from the past 20 years along with the 2005 men's track & field team that swept the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships. Members of the CMU women's team received their rings commemorating their 2019 MAC indoor title.

"I knew everybody was going to be excited to get their rings, but people seemed really excited (when they got them), which was a lot of fun," Swieton said. "I think bringing back the All-Americans and the former championship teams is awesome just to get them back together. They get to see their old teammates that they haven't seen in a while."

Results
CMU took the top four spots in the women's weight throw with Quiara Wheeler taking first with a throw of 64 feet, 5 ¾ inches. Maya Bennett placed second, 61-1 ¼; Marissa Dunn was third, 59-2 ¾; and Mohogany Wells placed fourth, 57-9 ¾.

The Chippewas' Nadia Williams won the women's long jump at 21-0, and Ja'La Taylor won the women's triple jump, 37-6 ¾.

Kasey Staley won the women's pole vault, 11-11 ¾ and the Chippewa women also got victories from Calli Stemple in the high jump, 5-7; Reghan Draper in the 60-meter dash (7.84 seconds); Lauren Beckman in the 3,000 (10:38).

CMU's Logan Targgart won the men's weight throw at 71-4, which is just 7 inches off the program record. Connor Covert placed in fifth at 62-7 ¾.

The Chippewas' Isaac Sadzewicz won the men's pole vault at 16-¾.

CMU seconds: Siobhan Szerencsits, women's pole vault; Lexie Jorgens, women's 3,000; Mark Beckman, men's mile; Lauren Beckman, women's mile; Parker Aerts, men's 60; Ana Garcia Arias, women's 800; Gage Shellenbarger, men's high jump; Tyra Daniels, women's 200; Alexa Davis, women's 600.

Home Cookin'
The Chippewas put up some of their best marks of the season while competing in front of friends, family and fans.

"I think it puts us in a good frame of mind," said Swieton of competing at home. "It lets us come out, have fun with it, do the best we possibly can, compete, and show off to some people. It also gives you that confidence moving forward for the best of the season."

Said Targgart, a senior: "It was nice to have that energy. I haven't competed at home in about two years so it was nice, felt good. We're kind of getting into that middle of the season where bodies are starting to feel a lot better."

Said Sadzewicz: "It's cool because we only have one home meet a year so you come in, you get ready to go, and feel the energy out of the crowd, it's great. Especially when you practice here. It's your home turf so you get that extra excitement and it lines up (to be) a good meet."

Ring Ceremony
The ring ceremony commemorating the women's squad's 2019 indoor league title allowed the athletes and coaches to reflect on their accomplishments.

"I feel like this really reminds us to be motivated, and support one another," Nadia Williams said.

Said Wheeler: "It reminds us to keep working hard, that we're better than we think we are, and I'm excited (for the upcoming meets)."

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

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Parker Aerts

Connor Covert

Isaac Sadzewicz

Gage Shellenbarger

Logan Targgart