Merrick, Turner and Newcombe into Chippewa Record Book at Grand Valley, Ohio State

Friday, April 19

Columbus, OH

TBA

Central Michigan University

Ohio State University

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Merrick, Turner and Newcombe into Chippewa Record Book at Grand Valley, Ohio State

4/19/2024 11:11:00 PM | Track & Field

Results (GVSU)Results (Ohio State)

Freshman Merrick throws 10th-longest discus at GVSU, Newcombe 6th-fastest, Turner 2nd-fastest 1500m at Ohio State

By: Katherine Schultz

ALLENDALE, Mich. / COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big steps forward for Central Michigan Track and Field.

CMU kicked off its two-meet weekend slate on Friday with strong performances at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Classic and Grand Valley State's Al Owens Classic, highlighted by three Chippewa student-athletes breaking through in the CMU record books.

Gracie Merrick set the tone for CMU in the morning in the discus throw at GVSU, setting a personal best of over eight meters, 45.53m, not only to win the event, but to set the 10^th-best mark in the CMU record book. She took third in the open shot put, and will compete in the hammer throw and javelin on Saturday.

"I think the (throwers and jumpers) performances in the morning really got everyone excited," said Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jenny Swieton.

Anya Turner and Natalie Newcombe made strides at Ohio State in the 1500m in the evening; Turner ran the second-fastest time in program history with a time of 4:29.51.

Newcombe was shortly behind, in 4:31.12, good for 6^th in the record book.

Also for the CMU field athletes at Grand Valley were Claire Kavanagh, Emily McLean, Sarah Griffin and Lynette Cipolla.

Kavanagh finished 6^th in the discus throw; McLean was 5^th in the shot put invitational.

In the pole vault, Griffin took 6^th, and Cipolla, who also finished 8^th in the high jump, was 7^th.

11 other CMU track and field athletes competed alongside Turner and Newcombe at Ohio State.

In the 1500m, Chesney Wilke was 31^st, Jessie Gibbins 42^nd and Maija Rettelle finished 46^th.

Payton Sabourin, Emma Francis and Libby Munderloh competed in the 400h, finishing 5^th, 10^th and 16^th, respectively.

Kara Terakedis led CMU in the 5000m in 20^th place, followed by Jelena Prescott (24^th), Kate Jenkins (30^th) and Annie Bennett (35^th).

Sarah Daniel made a season-best mark of 5.77m in the long jump, wrapping up the Chippewas' first day in Columbus.

"Everyone that competed today learned something that can help them to continue to improve," Swieton said of her team's efforts on Friday. "That is the most important thing."

CMU is set to wrap up both meets on Saturday, with Merrick competing at Grand Valley and more track events to come at Ohio State.

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