Eastern Michigan and Kent State claim MAC Champs

KENT, OH -- Preseason poll favorite Eastern Michigan men won the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, while Kent State edged poll favorite Ball State by 3.67 points to take the women's track crown in Kent, Ohio.

The men's first team All-mac team consists of Greg Corbitt,John Russell, and Tomasz Smialek of Akron; Steve Esler, Buffalo; Ian Searcy, Central Michigan; Nduka Awazie and Boaz Cheboiywo, Eastern Michigan; Keith Roberts and Brian Hallett of Kent State; Scott Mayle, Ohio; Exavier Darden, Toledo; Jason Evelyn and Rashad McDade of Western Michigan.

The men's second team All-MAC includes: Jamie Goodwin and Devin Shaffer of Akron; Ben Daniel and Paul Panning of Ball State; Clive Roberts and Dana Thomas of Central Michigan; Olayemi Olatunji, Jordan Desilets, Gavin Thompson, and Anthony Yalch of Eastern Michigan; Joe Baldwin, Toledo; and Kris Seats of Western Michigan.

Men's Most Valuable Performer went to Boaz Cheboiywo of Eastern Michigan. He won the mile, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter races, setting new MAC records in all three. Rashad McDade of Western Michigan had the Most Valuable Performance. McDade won the 200-meter and was runner up on the 400- meter dash. The Coach of the Year went to both Brad Fairchild of Eastern Michigan and Jim Knapp of Central Michigan.

On the women's side, the first team All-MAC list reads Beata Rudzinka and Kira Sims, Akron; Patricia Soman, Ball State; Kerri McClung, Bowling Green; Fallon Bailey and Jackie Bozin, Central Michigan, LaShannon Foster, Donielle Swany and Alex Church, Kent State; Erin Connelly, Miami; Everlyne Lagat and Briana Shook, Toledo; and Krisy Mahome, Western Michigan.

Women's second team All-MAC is Jennie Castle, Akron; Crystal Winfrey, Ball State; Mary Willems, Bowling Green; Laura Olson and Biaunca McFarland, Buffalo; Kathryn Davis, Central Michigan; Lela Nelson, Eastern Michigan; Foli James, Ohio; and Sarah Hinkley, Western Michigan.

The Most Valuable performer on the women's side is Patricia Soman. She won the long jump and the triple jump setting MAC records in both, and ending with 36 points. Briana Shook of Toledo had the Most Valuable Performance for her first place finishes in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter races. Shook set MAC records in both. Wendel McRaven of Kent State is the women's track Coach of the Year.

Two All-time records were set this weekend. In the women's weight throw, Donielle Swany of Kent State threw a 62-8, beating the old mark by more than two feet. John Russell of Akron had a flight of 17-6.50 in the men's pole vault to beat the All-time conference record by one quarter of an inch. Ian Searcy of Central Michigan set a MAC record in the 800-meter with a time of 1:49.62. Beata Rudzinska of Akron set a MAC record in the 800- meter as well. Her time of 2:06.27 was two seconds better than the previous year-old record. Everlyne Lagat of Toledo set a new mile conference record. She ran a 4:49.10, which was 90 seconds faster then the previous MAC record which held since 1999.

Men's results | Women's results

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