Pole Vault Leads the Chippewas on Day One of MAC Championships

ATHENS, Ohio — Central Michigan sits seventh in the 2025 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships after the event's first day Thursday.

The pole vault put the Chippewas on the board as Emily Yoshino took the fifth spot, clearing 3.85 meters, followed by Riley Nielsen in eighth at 3.70 meters. Nielsen's personal-best performance landed 10^th in the program's all-time top ten listing while Yoshino's career mark of 3.92 meters remains fifth.

"It's the first time they've both cleared that height in the same meet, which is super exciting," Head Coach Jenny Swieton said. "It's kind of been one or the other so far so for them both to do it on the same day is a fun step."

Kaitlynn Rush knocked nearly a quarter of a second off her career 200-meter mark in Thursday's trials with a 24.33-second attempt, just three one-hundredths of a second from the program's top ten ranking, good for 14^th in the qualifying field.

"Until last week, I feel Kaitlynn didn't believe she was a 200 runner, but I think last week she decided to go all out and realized she has the ability in that event."

Gracie Merrick marked a personal best by more than five feet with a 36.33-meter fling of the javelin, just short of qualifying for the finals in the event in 11^th.

"It's really good to start the meet with some PRs. Obviously at conference, marks and PRs aren't necessarily what it's all about, but if we can come in and do our best during the championship season, then we know we're doing something right."

Central Michigan Track & Field returns to Ohio University's Goldsberry Track Friday afternoon. Shot put kicks off the day in the field for the Chippewas at 3 p.m. ET, the 100-meter hurdles open up the track at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Follow Central Michigan Track & Field:
TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

— CMU —

Pole Vault Leads the Chippewas on Day One of MAC Championships

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gracie Merrick

Riley Nielsen

Kaitlynn Rush

Emily Yoshino