Central Michigan University Athletics
Sunday, May 4
Durham, NC
All Day
Central Michigan University
at
Duke Twilight
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Paupore sets 5000m Record, Newcombe Advances in Record Books at Duke
5/4/2025 11:53:00 PM | Track & Field
Paupore breaks Chris Cooper's 38-year 5000m record to place 3rd at Duke Twilight
DURHAM, N.C. — An evening to remember for Emily Paupore and Natalie Newcombe.
Central Michigan track and field seniors Paupore (Negaunee, Mich. / Negaunee) and Newcombe (Mecosta, Mich. / Chippewa Hills) made one of their last collegiate meets one for the books on Sunday night, competing alongside each other in the 5000m invitational at the Duke Twilight meet.
Paupore went on to break Chris Cooper's 1987 CMU record, finishing 3rd of 35 runners in 15:57.14. Newcombe followed quickly behind in 16:03.15, finishing 7th and advancing to third all-time in the Chippewa record books.
"Records are meant to be broken," Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton said. "The confidence that they gained from being able to push themselves to new places tonight and to be able to do it together is what it's all about, that's why we do what we do."
The race was pivotal for the pair, who are aiming to qualify for the first round of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The NCAA East Preliminaries are set to take place in Jacksonville, Fla. from May 28-30, Paupore ranks 2nd in the league, 42nd in the region and 84th in NCAA Division I. Newcombe ranks 3rd in the league and 56th in the region.
"It's not their first rodeo," said Swieton. "I know they knew it was going to hurt and that they needed to be confident in those moments, and trust themselves."
Just one week remains in the regular track and field season before before the Mid-American Conference Championships on May 15-17 in Athens, then NCAA Preliminaries and Championships. The Chippewa track and field squad will compete at Michigan's Len Paddock Invitational on May 9.
"Before the race I just told them to have fun," Swieton said. "When it came down to the end of the race they just competed and that is what allowed them to close so well. The whole race from start to finish, I was so proud of their willingness to put themselves out there and go for it. When I could tell it was hurting but they were still pushing I knew it was going to go well, and once they started to just compete it was the icing on the cake.
"It's definitely a core memory."
Paupore and Newcombe, who have been racing together since their arrival as freshmen in 2020, have become a dynamic duo on the track through their time at CMU, training, competing and breaking through the record books together while also becoming best friends. The pair are set to graduate from CMU in the coming week while competing in the final regular season meets of their collegiate careers.
"(Emily and Natalie) doing it together is everything," Swieton said. "They truly are better together and one hundred percent supportive of one another. They make each other better every day!"
Central Michigan track and field seniors Paupore (Negaunee, Mich. / Negaunee) and Newcombe (Mecosta, Mich. / Chippewa Hills) made one of their last collegiate meets one for the books on Sunday night, competing alongside each other in the 5000m invitational at the Duke Twilight meet.
Paupore went on to break Chris Cooper's 1987 CMU record, finishing 3rd of 35 runners in 15:57.14. Newcombe followed quickly behind in 16:03.15, finishing 7th and advancing to third all-time in the Chippewa record books.
"Records are meant to be broken," Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton said. "The confidence that they gained from being able to push themselves to new places tonight and to be able to do it together is what it's all about, that's why we do what we do."
The race was pivotal for the pair, who are aiming to qualify for the first round of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The NCAA East Preliminaries are set to take place in Jacksonville, Fla. from May 28-30, Paupore ranks 2nd in the league, 42nd in the region and 84th in NCAA Division I. Newcombe ranks 3rd in the league and 56th in the region.
"It's not their first rodeo," said Swieton. "I know they knew it was going to hurt and that they needed to be confident in those moments, and trust themselves."
Just one week remains in the regular track and field season before before the Mid-American Conference Championships on May 15-17 in Athens, then NCAA Preliminaries and Championships. The Chippewa track and field squad will compete at Michigan's Len Paddock Invitational on May 9.
"Before the race I just told them to have fun," Swieton said. "When it came down to the end of the race they just competed and that is what allowed them to close so well. The whole race from start to finish, I was so proud of their willingness to put themselves out there and go for it. When I could tell it was hurting but they were still pushing I knew it was going to go well, and once they started to just compete it was the icing on the cake.
"It's definitely a core memory."
Paupore and Newcombe, who have been racing together since their arrival as freshmen in 2020, have become a dynamic duo on the track through their time at CMU, training, competing and breaking through the record books together while also becoming best friends. The pair are set to graduate from CMU in the coming week while competing in the final regular season meets of their collegiate careers.
"(Emily and Natalie) doing it together is everything," Swieton said. "They truly are better together and one hundred percent supportive of one another. They make each other better every day!"
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
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