Track & Field Celebrates Seniors in Another Successful Skoog; Yoshino Vaults into All-Time Top-Five

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — "I don't think anyone cheers at a track meet more than they do at Skoog. It's a place where people can go and feel the rewards of competing."

Central Michigan Track & Field put on a show in its annual Jack Skoog Open Friday afternoon, winning eight events including top-three sweeps of the 600-meter, mile, 3,000-meter and shot put.

Sophomore Emily Yoshino (Dublin, Ohio / Coffman) cleared the bar set at 3.85 meters with ease to claim victory in the pole vault, which etched her name into a tie for fifth in CMU's all-time list for the event.

"That has been coming," Head Coach Jenny Swieton said of the early-meet result. "Curtis [Bell] has known for a while that she's capable."

For the eighth-year director of the CMU program, Yoshino's performance may be indicative of the aura the annual event provides.

"This has happened every year as long as I've been here, somebody always pops off at Skoog and then it's a game-changer for them. Last year, it was the mile: they destroyed the school record, then Emily [Paupore] goes on and wins the MAC in the 5k. I think it's something about the environment in this place. This year it was Emily [Yoshino], and I think it's awesome she got it."

Fellow second-year standout Chesney Wilke (Tecumseh, Mich. / Tecumseh) took home gold in both the mile and 600-meter events, with roughly two hours to recover from the former for the latter.

"This was the next step for her. She works out so well, she's super consistent, always does what she's supposed to do. She's a year older and a bit more confident. I think it's all starting to come together for her."

The roster's youth continued to produce throughout the day as freshmen Olivia East (Portsmouth, England / Mayfield) and Joanna Kelly (Ottawa Hills, Ohio / Ottawa Hills) claimed the 800-meter and 3,000-meter runs, respectively, to push the total to five event victories for CMU by either a freshman or sophomore.

Two staples of the program, honored in Friday's senior day festivities, took home gold in their signature events as well. Kaitlynn Rush (Southfield, Mich. / West Bloomfield) posted a 7.75-second 60-meter dash after outclassing the field with her 7.66-second qualifier run; Emily McLean (Sault Ste Marie, Mich. / Sault Area) led a top-four sweep with a 13.63-meter fling in shot put.

Nine Chippewas were recognized for senior day: Amelia Gouin (Shepherd, Mich. / Shepherd), Sarah Griffin (Lake Orion, Mich.), Lauren Hasty (Geneva, Ill. / Geneva), Lauren MacDonald (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Sacred Heart), Emily McLean, Natalie Newcombe (Mecosta, Mich. / Chippewa Hills), Emily Paupore (Negaunee, Mich. / Negaunee), Kaitlynn Rush and Grace Williamson (Sebewaing, Mich. / Unionville-Sebewaing).

"The fifth-year kids are COVID kids—they're kids we recruited under a whole different circumstance than we're in right now. The fact that they came for five years and stuck with it, through six COVID tests a week at 6 a.m. in order to practice and maybe compete in masks, is pretty awesome. I think it says a lot about the culture they've built here and how important Central Michigan, and this team, is to them.

"For the fourth-year seniors, culture is just as important. It's important to them to pass that down so it's not just going to leave with them, so they're definitely leaving this place better than the way they found it."

Central Michigan Track & Field makes visits to Eastern Michigan (Jan. 25) and Notre Dame (Jan. 31-Feb. 1) before returning for a second home indoor meet February 8 for the Chippewa Challenge.

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Track & Field Celebrates Seniors in Another Successful Skoog; Yoshino Vaults into All-Time Top-Five

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Players Mentioned

Olivia East

Amelia Gouin

Sarah Griffin

Lauren Hasty

Lauren MacDonald

Emily McLean

Natalie Newcombe

Emily Paupore

Kaitlynn Rush

Chesney Wilke

Grace Williamson

Emily Yoshino