East Michigan News

The Eastern Michigan University Eagles are set to host the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships at Bowen Field House in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The event, scheduled for February 28 to March 1, will see the Eagles compete against teams from across the conference.

In last year's MAC Indoor Championships, the Eastern Michigan women's team secured their ninth title, driven by strong performances from athletes like Paige Marchant and Saraiah Walkes. Marchant notably claimed three individual titles on the track. The men's team finished second behind Kent State.

Eastern Michigan's track and field program is historically successful in the MAC, with both men and women holding numerous championship titles. This year, they aim for a first indoor three-peat in women's history since Kent State achieved it between 2012-2014.

Recently, at the Silverston Invitational hosted by Michigan on February 21, EMU athletes delivered notable performances with nine first-place finishes and several personal records. Nicolette Lewis' victory in the women's weight throw was a highlight.

The Eagles also boast several top-five conference marks this season across various events. Notably, Bamidele Ajayi ranks fourth in the men's 200m with a time of 21.67 seconds.

According to rankings from the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), EMU's women's team leads in the MAC while regionally ranking tenth in the Great Lakes Region.

EMU's coaching staff has seen changes ahead of this season with Chris Best and Sterling Roberts taking on new roles as Directors of Cross Country/Track & Field for women’s and men’s teams respectively.

Following these championships, athletes may advance to compete at national levels such as the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships scheduled for March 14-15 in Virginia Beach if they qualify.

For continuous updates on EMU cross country/track & field activities, fans are encouraged to visit EMUEagles.com or follow their social media channels.