In front of hundreds of alumni, family and friends, the Eastern Michigan University men's track and field team won their 12th Mid-American Conference title and third in a row.
The Eagles accumulated 207 points during the two-day meet to outdistance the second-place finisher, the University of Akron, by 83 points, setting a new MAC meet record for the largest margin of victory. The meet took place Feb. 29 and March 1 at Bob Parks Track in Bowen Field House.
 |
THE DANDY DOZEN: The EMU men's track and field
team celebrates its 12th indoor Mid-American
Conference championship March 1 at Bowen Field
House. The Eagles scored 207 points, easily
outdistancing runner-up Akron, with 83 points. The
margin was the largest in the history of the indoor MAC
meet. |
Curtis Vollmar and Josh Karanja were named the Most Valuable Performers while Clint Allen garnered the Most Outstanding Performance award. Head coach Brad Fairchild was named the Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.
The Eagles tallied eight total victories in individual events and relays. Vollmar was a double champion for the Green and White, winning the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. He also finished fifth in the mile. Karanja finished second in the 3,000 and 5,000, and finished third in the mile. Allen was the champion in the 60-meter dash, finishing in a time of 6.69 seconds.
The 60-meter hurdle final was an exciting race to watch. There were two false starts and one disqualification, but senior Eric Alejandro claimed top honors, running a career-best time of 7.93 seconds. David Brent won the mile in a time of 4:14.88. Brad Waidmann tied for first place in the heptathlon.
The relay team of Alejandro, Darrin Trammell, Ackeem Forde and Nate Blackwell turned in a time of 3:16.63 for the top spot. The distance medley relay team of Jake DuBois, Blackwell, Blake Figgins and Brent won in a time of 9:57.89.
Not only did the Eagles win eight events, but in seven events, they scored the maximum number of people (three). Blackwell won the silver medal in the 400 meters, running the event in a time of 49.10 seconds. Forde finished right behind him in 49.12 seconds. Alejandro was next in fourth, finishing in a time of 49.25 seconds.
The Eagles finished 2-3-4 in the 800 meters, with DuBois leading the way in a time of 1:53.01. Figgins was third with a time of 1:54.41 while Brent was fourth in 1:54.86.
Besides Vollmar and Karanja in the 3,000 meters, Kyle Mena took third in a time of 8:25.22. In the 5,000, Josh Perrin finished fourth in a time of 14:54.54.
Alejandro was not the lone placer for the Eagles in the hurdles, as Tymell Dodd claimed the bronze medal in a time of 8.29 seconds. Kevin Lanier finished fourth in a time of 8.30 seconds.
In the jumps,Oliver Walther finished second in both the long and triple jump, while Xavier Clais finished third in the high jump.
