Track and field fights off MAC competition at home meet
The Central Michigan University men’s track and field team could not get the one extra point it needed. Meanwhile, the women’s track and field team could not get one extra first-place finish.
The Chippewa men tied with Eastern Michigan University at 74, while the women fell to the Eagles 115-96. In the second meet of their triangular, the women beat Western Michigan University.
Mark Guthrie, director of track and field, liked the men’s effort against what he called some tough Mid-American Conference competition.
“Ninety five percent of the meet was really good," Guthrie said. "I thought everybody took care of their business and competed really well. I couldn't be happier for where we’re at. I thought it was great competition and a great event. It’s crazy after all of that that it’s still tied.”
The CMU men notched seven first-place finishes, including two from junior thrower and co-captain Cole Walderzak. Notching a personal best in the weight throw, Walderzak posted a mark of 64’3.25’’ and won the shot put at 57’1’’.
“Throwing-wise, we still have a lot of technique things to find tune,” Walderzk said. “As a team overall I think we can do a better job of communicating with each other. Overall, we still have a lot of things group-to-group that we need to work on but I we are real close.”
The Chippewa men also took home first place finishes from Malik Vasquez in the 400-meters (49.14), Dillon Brooks in the 60-meter dash (6.92), Silas DeKalita in the 3000-meters (8:36.60), high jumper Matt Mueller (6’7.50’’), and Tony Armstrong in the pole vault (15’1’’).
The women tallied just three first-place finishes on Friday. Sprinter Tina Davis’ fastest time in the 60-meter dash (7.55) keeps her among the top runners in the MAC.
The CMU women also received wins in the 4x400-meter relay and in the 400-meter dash from Bridget Doughty.
The co-captain credited Guthrie for her performance.
“I was well prepared going into it and coach really knows what he’s doing,” Doughty said. “We trust him with the workouts and I was pretty confident going into it. We didn’t have a lot of success all around with the whole team but it was so much fun running against Eastern and Western. You know these girls and you recognize almost every face. It was just a lot of fun today.”
CMU heads to South Bend, Ind. next week to take part in the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame University. It will be the Chippewas first two-day meet of the year against substantial Division I competition.
“Next week is a different situation,” Guthrie said. “It is a non-scored meet and it is a chance to go against some of the best people in the country on a big track and to really see what we have got. This week the concept was about team. We want to be faster, farther, and keep competing with tenacity.”
