Track battles it out in Michigan
The Kent State men’s track and field team will look to put an end to Eastern Michigan’s eight-year winning streak today and tomorrow at the Mid-American Conference meet.
Eastern Michigan’s men’s team has won the indoor title every year since 1996. The men’s and women’s teams travel to Central Michigan to contend for the Mid-American Conference indoor title today and tomorrow.
Despite the Eagles dominance, Kent State coach Wendell McRaven expects other teams to challenge for the title. McRaven said the men’s biggest opponent this year is Central Michigan, while the women look to face stiff competition from Eastern Michigan and Akron.
“On paper, Central Michigan’s men’s team looks to be tough this year,” he said.
Twelve women’s teams and six men’s teams will compete at the meet. Kent State’s men’s team finished third last year.The men’s team is led by standout 800-meter runner Mike Inge, who broke the record for the 1,000 meters at last week’s Tune-Up with a time of 2:21.02.
Senior Adrian Ghioroaie leads the jumpers in the triple jump (52-2), which ranks eighth in the MAC and a provisional qualifying mark to the NCAA meet.
The women’s team also finished third last year. Senior Jennifer Fascione’s record 1,000-meter run of 2:50.63 at last week’s Tune-Up and sophomore Stephanie Hunt’s victorious 200-meter effort leads the women’s team.
Sophomore Erin Reese won the long jump and took second in the 55-meter hurdles. Jeanna Fascione, a senior 800-meter runner, is the conference’s top-ranked 800-meter runner, with a time of 2:09.64. The indoor and outdoor triple-jump champion of 2004, Colleen Ramharak, goes for her third MAC triple-jump title. Ramharak is ranked first with a mark of 42-11.75.
Contact track and field reporter Josh Echt at [email protected].