TF2K22: EMU Dominates

The women of Eastern Michigan scored 140.7 points as it won the GVSU Holiday Open, Friday, Dec. 3 at Grand Valley State University.

Nine-teen women's teams travelled to Allendale, Michigan, to begin their collegiate seasons. Hillsdale and Grand Valley State placed second and third with 62.5 and 61 points respectively. Big Ten program Michigan State placed fourth with 58.75 points.

Eastern Michigan got a win in the 60-meter hurdles as Alyse Wade won the event at the GVSU Holiday Open for the second time in her career. She took her first championship at 8.65 in 2018 at her first collegiate meet. This time she won at 8.71.

Her teammates Angel Gazaway (8.81) and Brenna Cavanaugh (9.06) scored points in the final finishing third and sixth respectively. Lewis' Natasha Bernett placed second in the race at 8.73.

Michigan State dominated the 60 meters, with Brooke Bogan taking first at 7.41. She too is a two-time winner, taking first in 2019 at 7.55. Bogan's teammate Ava Qe'Neisha Young scored a second place finish in her first ever collegiate meet at 7.54. Three Eastern Michigan sprinters placed fifth, sixth and seventh with Kilani Harvey clocking in ay 7.62, Alyson Davis finishing at 7.65 and Keypathwa Gibson crossing the finish line at 7.73.

Harvey, a sophomore, was a runner-up in the 200 meters at 25.19, behind Lewis' Jada Hoffman who won at 24.78. Eastern Michigan scored points in that race as Saraiah Walkes (25.38) placed fourth, Davis (25.46) was fifth and Gazaway (25.68) was eighth.

Mair Edwards won the 400 meters for Eastern Michigan. The junior won at 56.14, while her teammate Tiffany Cernej-Garcia took second at 57.51. More of the same happened in the 800 meters as freshman Chloe Musta claimed first in that race at 2:13.93.

Chevonne Wheeler teamed with Cernej-Garcia, Edwards and Gibson as Eastern Michigan won the 1,600-meter relay at a time of 3:48.14. Eastern Michigan's Quintella Johnson won the GVSU Holiday Open high jump competition for the second time with a mark of 1.69. She took first in 2019 at 1.70. The high jump competition had a three-way tie for second place as Reagan Dahlquist of Hillsdale, Olivet nazarene's Lynette Latocha, Michigan State's Avery Budz and Hillsdale's Alexie Day all jumped 1.64.

Nina Ward finished in a sixth placed tie in the high jump with five other competitors. She went home with a win for Eastern Michigan in the long jump. She captured first place at 5.63. The seven of the top eight spots in the competition were held by athletes in the Mid American Conference, which included Amara Okpalaoka's second place jump of 5.62. The following competitors in the top eight were Sarah Daniel of Central Michigan (5.59), Camiyah James also of Central Michigan (5.44), Eastern Michigan's Nyla Joseph-Guevara (5.41), Central Michigan's Jaci Rife (5.37), Autumn Glover of Michigan State (5.34) and Eastern Michigan's Brenna Cavanagh (5.32).

Senior Alisha St. Louis grabbed first for Eastern Michigan in the triple jump at 11.84.

Another Big Ten program, Wisconsin made a presence in the 5,000 meters. Shea Ruhly led the Badgers who had five competitors in the top six. Ruhly won at 16:21.08, Her temmates Lucinda Crouch and Alexas Westley were second and third at 16:23.92 and 16:26.55 respectively. Daniel Orie was fourth at 16.26.55 and Stella Gillman was sixth at 16.36.15.

Host Grand Valley State received a win from Emma Richards' throw of 15.16 in the shot put.

Eastern Michigan 140.7

Hillsdale 62.5

Grand Valley State 61

Michigan State 58.75

Central Michigan 52.5

Wisconsin 50

Lewis 26.2

Olivet Nazarene 24.75

Toledo 18

Indianapolis 17

Davenport 13.7

Stanislaus State 10

Northwood 9

Wingate 5.2

Trine 4

Southern Indiana 2

Cornerstone 1.5

Ferris State 1.2

Calvin 1