Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
GVSU Holiday Open
Chippewas Find the Podium in Five Events at the GVSU Holiday Open
12/5/2025 9:39:00 PM | Track & Field
Central Michigan finds the top-10 in 16 events, top three in five.
ALLENDALE, Mich. — Central Michigan Track and Field kicked off its season at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open Friday afternoon.
The Chippewas' earned a spot on the podium in five events and finished top-ten in 11 more, in a strong season opening performance spearheaded by freshmen.
Graduate transfer Linnearia Richards, Danica Shamion, Libby Munderloh, and Robyn Watts took home second place in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 3:55.74.
The 400 girls really showed up and did very well, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jenny Swieton said, That was our best event of the day. To open your season with a PR, which a lot of those girls did is awesome.
Emily Yoshino tied for second place in the pole vault in a 17-woman field, clearing 3.72m on her first attempt. Fellow Vaulters Riley Nielsen and freshman Jane Paddock were each able to clear 3.27m. Riley Kerr cleared 1.58m in the high jump, and Hailey Hill closed out the jumpers with a distance of 5.15m in the long jump.
Riley Kerr in the high jump had a good day. It was awesome to see the pole vaulters over some bars to start off the season.
Victoria Merrick ked the way for the throwers, earning third place in the shot put with a distance of 12.88m. Ereka Risner and Emily McLean were the other two throwers representing the maroon and gold and met 12.64m and 12.46m for fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Richards earned her second podium appearance of the day in the 60m hurdles, posting a finals qualifying time of 8.84, before crossing the line third in the finals.
Shamion took home the Chippewas' final podium appearance, finishing the 400 in 57.69. Munderloh and Watts took fourth and sixth in the event.
Freshman standout Kyah Hoffman found her way on the indoor All-Time Top 10 list in the 5000 with a seventh place finish, edging out All-American Chippewa Great Chris Cooper by a hundredth of a second to cross the line at 17:01.30. Freshmen Grace VanderKooi and Eva Thompson rounded out the top three Chippewas in the event. Vanderkooi crossed 11th at 17:17.4, and Thompson logged 17th at 17:25.4,
Freshman Ella Sweatt led the way in the 200, taking tenth place with a 25.28 finishing time. Sophia Garland followed for 11th at 25.36.
Senior Jessie Gibbins and junior Maya Guikema led the Chippewas in the 3000, earning fifth and eighth overall with times of 9:59.2 and 10.02.5, respectively.
Sky Austin led the sprinters in the 60m dash with 20th place, Mireya Bemjamin took 21st, and Sweatt took 23rd. Sophomore Dior Newson rounded out the pack at eight seconds flat for 27th place.
Central Michigan Track and Field will return to action Jan. 16 back in Mount Pleasant for the Jack Skoog Open.
Players Mentioned
