2008 Woodie Awards
Junior pole vaulter looks to defeat Kent State rival
By: D.J. Palomares
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports
Junior Marcus Breidinger was unable to get over the 16-feet, 9-inch bar in last season's Mid-American Conference Championships, finishing second to Kent State sophomore Jeremy Brading.
Breidinger heads back to the MAC Championships Friday after setting a personal best of 17'1'' at the Jack Skoog Open last weekend. He was named MAC track and field athlete of the week and looks forward to a rematch with Brading.
"It should be a fun competition," Breidinger said. "We like to compete against each other. It's not like I have a grudge against him for beating me, but I would like to get him back."
Central finished fifth out of six teams last season at the championships in Akron. This season's meet begins at 10 a.m. Friday and continues Saturday at Bob Parks Track in Ypsilanti.
"We have worked hard all year," said junior Marcell Maxwell. "I'm pretty sure we are going to surprise some people this weekend. I'm thinking our team is going to place top three, because we're young and ready."
Maxwell was the only Chippewa sprinter to qualify for the finals in the 60-meter dash in last season's meet. Sophomore Nana Adomako missed the finals in the event by less then two-tenths of a second as a freshman. Maxwell and Adomako will compete in the 60 and 200.
"It's pretty simple - we have to score for our team," Maxwell said. "I want to place top three, if not first, in the 60 and 200."
Eastern Michigan is the two-time defending MAC champion. Junior Jacob Dubois could become the first three-time champion in the 800 with a first-place finish for the Eagles.
CMU senior Abraham Mach looks to stop Dubois with his performance in the 800.
"My goal is just to qualify in the 800 on Friday and then race for the championship on Saturday," he said.
Mach also will compete with the 4x400 meter relay team. The relay runners finished last in 2007, but CMU has four new runners competing.
"I think we are a contender," Mach said. "I believe we can win the event, and if not we can place near the top."
sports@cm-life.com
Breidinger heads back to the MAC Championships Friday after setting a personal best of 17'1'' at the Jack Skoog Open last weekend. He was named MAC track and field athlete of the week and looks forward to a rematch with Brading.
"It should be a fun competition," Breidinger said. "We like to compete against each other. It's not like I have a grudge against him for beating me, but I would like to get him back."
Central finished fifth out of six teams last season at the championships in Akron. This season's meet begins at 10 a.m. Friday and continues Saturday at Bob Parks Track in Ypsilanti.
"We have worked hard all year," said junior Marcell Maxwell. "I'm pretty sure we are going to surprise some people this weekend. I'm thinking our team is going to place top three, because we're young and ready."
Maxwell was the only Chippewa sprinter to qualify for the finals in the 60-meter dash in last season's meet. Sophomore Nana Adomako missed the finals in the event by less then two-tenths of a second as a freshman. Maxwell and Adomako will compete in the 60 and 200.
"It's pretty simple - we have to score for our team," Maxwell said. "I want to place top three, if not first, in the 60 and 200."
Eastern Michigan is the two-time defending MAC champion. Junior Jacob Dubois could become the first three-time champion in the 800 with a first-place finish for the Eagles.
CMU senior Abraham Mach looks to stop Dubois with his performance in the 800.
"My goal is just to qualify in the 800 on Friday and then race for the championship on Saturday," he said.
Mach also will compete with the 4x400 meter relay team. The relay runners finished last in 2007, but CMU has four new runners competing.
"I think we are a contender," Mach said. "I believe we can win the event, and if not we can place near the top."
sports@cm-life.com
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