Track and Field Shines at Chippewa Challenge

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Good weather with even better company.

Central Michigan Track and Field hosted the second annual Chippewa Challenge on the recently renovated Lyle Bennett Outdoor Track on Saturday, welcoming schools from around the state of Michigan to compete in a one-day meet.

The Chippewas, now three weeks into the 2025 outdoor season, came out with five event wins, 18 top-three finishes and 35 personal records, as well as three updates to the CMU record books.

"It was great to host again," said Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton. "The meet was a little bigger than last year's and was more competitive, which is so much fun. The weather was absolutely perfect, too.

"The team took full advantage of being at home, and the weather. They really are starting to break through, we had so many more top level performances than I could mention, and everyone had a lot of fun."

Emily Paupore and Natalie Newcombe added their names to the outdoor 1500m books, clocking in at 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively. Paupore won the race in 4:20.24, followed shortly by Newcombe in 4:23.97.

"Like a lot of the team, Emily and Natalie have been putting in work," Swieton said. "The fact that they could come out and run that fast while so tired was very impressive, their experience showed."

Joining Paupore and Newcombe in the 1500m were Emma Janesak (4^th), Emma Netzel (7^th), Nikki Carothers (8^th), Miranda McNeil (11^th), Ambria Nagel (16^th), Mara Szuper (17^th) and Lauren Hasty (18^th).

Olivia East placed 2^nd in the 800m, followed by Emma Janesak (5^th), Netzel (9^th), McNeil (11^th), Nagel (12^th) and Hasty (13^th). Carothers competed in the 3000S, finishing 3^rd in 11:35.75.

The Chippewa sprinters and hurdlers came up big, accounting for six of CMU's top-three finishes and 12 personal bests.

Kaitlynn Rush finished 2^nd in the 100m, alongside Sky Austin (8^th), Dior Newson (9^th) and Mireya Benjamin (10^th).

Danica Shamion won the 400m with a personal-best time, joined by Sophia Garland (3^rd) and Grace Jenkins (5^th).

Garland went on to win the 200m, with Austin in 3^rd, Newson 5^th, Shamion 8^th, Benjamin 13^th and Watts 17^th, as well as Grace Williamson, who had a special moment in her senior season.

Williamson, originally a jumper, faced consistent injuries through her career which left her struggling to compete. She took to the track for the first time on Saturday, competing in the 200m alongside her teammates.

"Watching Grace compete was one of the highlights of the day," Swieton said. "She is the best example of perseverance, she is a leader on our team in every way."

For the Chippewa hurdlers were Jada Pride, Ciara Rosenzweig and Libby Munderloh. Pride competed in both the 100mH and 400mH, finishing 9^th and 10^th, respectively, while Rosensweig finished 7^th in the 100mH and Munderloh finished 2^nd in the 400mH.

The CMU 4x400 relay team of East, Lois Creasey, Munderloh and Chesney Wilke placed 4^th with a time of 3:57.88.

Gracie Merrick competed in three events for the Chippewa throwers, attaining top-three finishes in two. She threw a personal-best 32.43m in javelin to finish 2^nd, and was 3^rd of 13^th in Discus. The sophomore placed 6^th in the shot put, alongside Emily McLean, who led the Chippewas in third, Ereka Risner in eighth, and Amyah Chosa in 13^th.

Risner competed alongside Grace Hill in the hammer throw, finishing 7^th and 10^th, respectively, with a PR for Hill.

Joey Taverna, representing Men's Cross Country, ran the 3000 steeplechase in 9:30.00, the eighth-fastest men's steeple on record for CMU. He won the race, followed by freshman Miciah Smith in third.

Also competing for CMU Men's Cross Country were Jason Fredricks, Greg Janesak, Nick Cockerel, Blake Chipman and Steven Porter.

Fredricks finished 2^nd in the 5000m, followed by Janesak in 9^th and Cockerel in 10^th, all three running personal-best times.

Chipman and Porter competed in the 1500m and 800m. Chipman finished 4^th and 10^th, Porter 23^rd and 15^th.

"The guys had an amazing day today," Swieton said. "They have been working hard as well and each week they get a little better. Joey's steeple performance was such a huge step forward for him, it was so good to see.

"Anytime you crack the top ten, it is a good day!"

The Chippewas look onward to another weekend on the road, splitting their time between Wake Forest and Indiana State this following weekend.

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Players Mentioned

Sky Austin

Mireya Benjamin

Nikki Carothers

Amyah Chosa

Lois Creasey

Olivia East

Sophia Garland

Lauren Hasty

Grace Hill

Emma Janesak

Grace Jenkins

Emily McLean

Miranda McNeil

Gracie Merrick

Libby Munderloh

Ambria Nagel

Emma Netzel

Natalie Newcombe

Dior Newson

Emily Paupore

Jada Pride

Ereka Risner

Ciara Rosenzweig

Kaitlynn Rush

Danica Shamion

Mara Szuper

Chesney Wilke

Grace Williamson