Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, May 10
DeKalb, Ill.
All Day
Central Michigan University
at
Mid-American Conference
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Big Moments lead to Medals for Seniors Turner, Daniel at MAC Championships; Turner Sets CMU Steeple Record
5/10/2024 10:40:00 PM | Track & Field
CMU Seniors Anya Turner and Sarah Daniel each medaled on Friday at the MAC Outdoor Championships; Turner sets 3000m Steeple Record
DeKALB, Ill. — A Friday full of memorable moments for Central Michigan Track and Field.
Anya Turner and Sarah Daniel each medaled on Friday at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Northern Illinois, commemorating two successful careers in the Maroon and Gold for the seniors.
Turner placed 2nd in the 3000m Steeplechase, not only for a silver medal, but also claiming the CMU program record in the event. She finished the race in 10:13.78, which bested the previous record of 10:20.47 (held by Alyssa Dyer).
"Anya has come a long way," Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton said of the Farmington senior. "She lost her first outdoor season to COVID-19, so her first real outdoor track season she ran like 11:28 (minutes), 11:30 in the steeplechase; fast forward to now, to run 10:13, break the school record and place 2nd in the fastest MAC steeplechase to ever happen, it just shows how much perseverance and hard work pays off in the end.
"She's hilarious and a good teammate, she's been a captain for a couple of years. It's so awesome when awesome people accomplish their goals."
Daniel placed 3rd in the long jump with a season-best mark of 6.01m.
"I am incredibly proud of Sarah," Swieton said. "She is such a fighter and such a good teammate … she's got everything (off the track) together and still figures out how to put it together on the track; she's a gamer, so we always know when it comes down to it, she's going to get it done at the MAC meet.
"It's just so cool to watch it happen and come to fruition, and to end with a medal… I couldn't be more proud, and we're definitely going to miss her."
Also for CMU in the field events were Emily McLean, who finished 9th in the shot put with a mark of 13.63m. Gracie Merrick was 14th, followed by Ereka Risner in 16th.
Chippewa pole vaulters Sarah Griffin and Emily Yoshino tied for 11th with season-best heights of 3.50m.
In the running events, Peyton Korytkowski finished 9th in the 100 meter hurdles qualifiers. Emma Fountain finished 19th in the 400m preliminaries, while Kaitlynn Rush was 15th in the 100m.
Alongside Turner in the steeplechase were freshmen Emma Janesak and Emma Netzel, who finished 18th and 20th, respectively.
Freshman Chesney Wilke ran a personal best 2:12.25 to finish 10th in the 800m, as did Jessie Gibbins to finish 14th. Ericka Bigham finished 20th.
"I think the biggest thing is just to give it everything you have," said Swieton. "Today, we had people that maybe didn't score but had season-bests, all-time bests or PRs, and if you can end the season on that note where you can do the best you've done ever or in a long time, that's a really good way to end it.
"Everyone sees the excitement in the medals, but there's also the excitement for those who maybe haven't PR'ed in two years and PR'ed today, or are coming back from injury and got it done today. If they leave it all on the line tomorrow, I think things will go well."
The Chippewas will wrap up MAC competition on Saturday, when the relay events, finals for running events, the 5000m and discus throw will take place with CMU competitors.
Competing in the 4x100 relay are Rush, Payton Sabourin, Korytkowski and Daniel, and in the 4x400 is Sabourin, Fountain, Bigham and Korytkowski.
Turner and Natalie Newcombe will compete in the 1500m finals, as will Sabourin and Munderloh in the 400 meter hurdles finals.
Newcombe and Jelena Prescott are slated to race in the 5000m, while Merrick caps off the field events in the discus throw.
Anya Turner and Sarah Daniel each medaled on Friday at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Northern Illinois, commemorating two successful careers in the Maroon and Gold for the seniors.
Turner placed 2nd in the 3000m Steeplechase, not only for a silver medal, but also claiming the CMU program record in the event. She finished the race in 10:13.78, which bested the previous record of 10:20.47 (held by Alyssa Dyer).
"Anya has come a long way," Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton said of the Farmington senior. "She lost her first outdoor season to COVID-19, so her first real outdoor track season she ran like 11:28 (minutes), 11:30 in the steeplechase; fast forward to now, to run 10:13, break the school record and place 2nd in the fastest MAC steeplechase to ever happen, it just shows how much perseverance and hard work pays off in the end.
"She's hilarious and a good teammate, she's been a captain for a couple of years. It's so awesome when awesome people accomplish their goals."
Daniel placed 3rd in the long jump with a season-best mark of 6.01m.
"I am incredibly proud of Sarah," Swieton said. "She is such a fighter and such a good teammate … she's got everything (off the track) together and still figures out how to put it together on the track; she's a gamer, so we always know when it comes down to it, she's going to get it done at the MAC meet.
"It's just so cool to watch it happen and come to fruition, and to end with a medal… I couldn't be more proud, and we're definitely going to miss her."
Also for CMU in the field events were Emily McLean, who finished 9th in the shot put with a mark of 13.63m. Gracie Merrick was 14th, followed by Ereka Risner in 16th.
Chippewa pole vaulters Sarah Griffin and Emily Yoshino tied for 11th with season-best heights of 3.50m.
In the running events, Peyton Korytkowski finished 9th in the 100 meter hurdles qualifiers. Emma Fountain finished 19th in the 400m preliminaries, while Kaitlynn Rush was 15th in the 100m.
Alongside Turner in the steeplechase were freshmen Emma Janesak and Emma Netzel, who finished 18th and 20th, respectively.
Freshman Chesney Wilke ran a personal best 2:12.25 to finish 10th in the 800m, as did Jessie Gibbins to finish 14th. Ericka Bigham finished 20th.
"I think the biggest thing is just to give it everything you have," said Swieton. "Today, we had people that maybe didn't score but had season-bests, all-time bests or PRs, and if you can end the season on that note where you can do the best you've done ever or in a long time, that's a really good way to end it.
"Everyone sees the excitement in the medals, but there's also the excitement for those who maybe haven't PR'ed in two years and PR'ed today, or are coming back from injury and got it done today. If they leave it all on the line tomorrow, I think things will go well."
The Chippewas will wrap up MAC competition on Saturday, when the relay events, finals for running events, the 5000m and discus throw will take place with CMU competitors.
Competing in the 4x100 relay are Rush, Payton Sabourin, Korytkowski and Daniel, and in the 4x400 is Sabourin, Fountain, Bigham and Korytkowski.
Turner and Natalie Newcombe will compete in the 1500m finals, as will Sabourin and Munderloh in the 400 meter hurdles finals.
Newcombe and Jelena Prescott are slated to race in the 5000m, while Merrick caps off the field events in the discus throw.
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Vault/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Vault
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