Sports

Track & Field Concludes Outdoor Regular Season With Pair of In-State Competitions

TFFRS Rankings | USTFCCCA Rankings YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Entering the final week of outdoor regular-season competition, the Eastern Michigan University track & field programs are slated to compete at the Hillsdale College Last Chance, hosted by Hillsdale College, at the Outdoor Track at Hayden Park, Wednesday, May 7, and again Friday, May 9, at […]

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1 month ago

May 6, 2025

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TFFRS Rankings | USTFCCCA Rankings

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)

– Entering the final week of outdoor regular-season competition, the Eastern Michigan University track & field programs are slated to compete at the Hillsdale College Last Chance, hosted by Hillsdale College, at the Outdoor Track at Hayden Park, Wednesday, May 7, and again Friday, May 9, at the Len Paddock Open, hosted by the University of Michigan, at the U-M Track & Field Stadium.

Both meets will start at 11 a.m. and conclude in the early evening hours.

Fans can access all live results and watch links on the EMU Track & Field Schedule Page. Those looking to attend the Hillsdale College Last Chance can access meet information, a schedule, and performance list here and do so for the Len Paddock Open here. Also, stay posted to EMUEagles.com for a post-meet recap with final results attached and follow EMU cross country/track & field social media on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF for more track & field content.

SINGH TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK X2

Gabe Singh (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Northview/Oakland) was recently tabbed MAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after bettering his conference-best 400m hurdles time to 50.62 seconds, finishing first at the Jesse Owens Classic, hosted by Ohio State University, May 2-3. His time ranks second in the Great Lakes Region, 17th on the East Qualifying List, 36th in the nation, and third in EMU program history. He cruised to a first-place finish by a wide margin as he finished .51 seconds ahead of the runner-up (51.13) for his first win in the event this season. Singh bested five other MAC sutdent-athletes in the race and finished ahead of two Power Four student-athletes. He posted the fastest time in the region, sixth-best time on the East Qualifying List, and 14th-fastest time in the nation over the weekend.

The honor marks the second of the season for Singh as he previously garnered the accolade after running what was then a conference-best 400m hurdles mark of 50.67 seconds, placing third at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M University, April 11–12.

The award is Eastern Michigan’s fourth of the outdoor season and brings the team’s total to seven on the 2024-25 campaign as Lachlan Cornelius (Brisbane, Australia/Anglican Church Grammar School) most recently earned the award, April 29, before Singh and Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy) each earned it, April 15, prior to Lucky Fiaku (Nimo, Nigeria/Busy International Secondary) (field) and Josephine Oloye (Iwaro-Oka, Nigeria/Geomi Secondary School/Tayelolu Memorial) (track) garnering the award in the indoor season, Dec. 10, and Carson McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Deer Lakes) (track) earning the recognition, Feb. 11.

SINGH’S HISTORIC RUN IN 400M HURDLES

Singh’s run in the 400m hurdles this season is approaching historic levels as he is just .72 seconds shy of tying for the MAC record (49.90) set by Central Michigan University’s Al Washington in 1988, .54 seconds away from tying for the EMU program record, held by Jeff Dils (1979), and .16 seconds from tying former Eagle and Olympian Eric Alejandro (Rio de Janeiro – 2016) for the second-best time in program history (50.51 – 2008).

SARAIAH WALKES: 1/1

Walkes leads the MAC in the 100m (11.61), 200m (23.30), and 400m (52.88). She is the only female sprinter out of all 33 NCAA Division I Track & Field Conferences to lead her respective conference in all three events.

LAST TIME OUT: AT JESSE OWENS CLASSIC, MAY 2-3

For the men, senior Brendan Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) and Fiaku set the top high jump mark in the MAC with jumps of 2.12m (06-11.50), good for eighth in program history while marking the first edit to the event’s top-10 list since former Eagle Xavier Clais posted a 2.14m (07-01.25 – Program No. 4) jump in the 2009 season. Singh bettered his conference-best time in the 400m hurdles, placing first in 50.62.

On the women’s side, freshman Ashtan Winfrey (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus Africentric Early College) put on a show in the long jump in front of a hometown crowd, leaping 5.83m (19-01.50) for the best mark of the meet, a personal-best, and the eighth-best jump in the MAC this season. Also finishing in the top 10 for the long jump was Nene Garner (Powell, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), who jumped a personal-best 5.48m (17-11.75), as well as Shamoya Clemetson (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier), who finished with a 5.30m (17-04.75) mark.

Due to poor weather in Columbus, multiple events were not completed, including the 110m hurdles, 200m dash, 400m dash, discus throw, triple jump, and 4x100m relay.

LAST TIME OUT: AT DUKE TWILIGHT, MAY 4

For the men, junior Kian Wiles (Hull, England/St. Mary’s College) improved his MAC-leading time in the 1500m run by nearly three seconds, finishing 12th in 3:40.73, jumping the distance runner to fourth in EMU laurels. Cornelius finished sixth in the 800m run with a 1:49.62.

On the women’s side, senior Chloie Musta (Mesick, Mich./Cadillac) had a strong showing in the 800m run, finishing 12th out of 38 runners in a career-best 2:08.08, placing her third in the MAC this season and sixth in EMU history.

Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands/American School of The Hague) saw action in the 5000m, placing 27th in 16:51.44.

TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: MEN

The men currently hold 23 marks that rank inside the MAC top five and seven that slot first in the conference.

Event Name         Mark Rank

400m   Bamidele Ajayi            46.85     1

400m   Olawole Olanrewaju       47.18      2

800m   Lachlan Cornelius     1:48.38     1

800m   Kian Wiles 1:48.77 2

800m   Carson McCoy       1:49.90     4

1500m   Kian Wiles        3:40.73     1

1500m   Lachlan Cornelius     3:49.22     2

1500m   Jimmy Geller         3:50.41      5

5000m   Ronan Codyre   14:24.03      5

10000m   Joey Furlong 30:47.08 4

110mH   Michael Hawkins     14.40     3

400mH   Gabe Singh     50.62     1

400mH   Michael Hawkins     52.16     3

4x100m   Ajayi, King, Bass, Gage               41.07     3

4x400m   Olanrewaju, Ajayi, Roberts, Singh         3:07.35     1

HJ   Brendan Hill       2.12m     1

HJ                    Lucky Fiaku                                         2.12m              1

LJ   Formula Thompson       7.34m     3

TJ   Eric Haddock Jr.     14.44m     4

HT   Jake McEachern     61.57m     3

JT                    Samuel Jeffery                                    53.33m            5

DEC      Samuel Jeffery                                     6641 Pts             4

DEC                Cason Doolittle                                    5614 Pts             5

TOP CONFERENCE MARKS: WOMEN

The Eastern women hold 11 marks that rank inside the MAC top five and four that slot first in the conference.

Event Name         Mark Rank

100m   Saraiah Walkes   11.61 1

200m   Saraiah Walkes   23.30      1

400m   Saraiah Walkes         52.88      1

800m     Chloie Musta                                        2:08.08              3

5000m   Marta Moreno     16:12.80     5

10000m   Sofia Ivanko   35:13:83 5

100mH Shamoya Clemetson 13.78 3

4x100mH   Walkes, Arscott, Alowonle, Garraway 46.07 5

4x400m   Walkes, Arscott, Oloye, Henderson 3:39.06 1

TJ   Kyra Buffen     12.60m    3

JT                    Erica King                                            41.17m            5

USTFCCCA RANKINGS

Both the men’s and women’s programs are ranked in the conference and regional standings by the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches’ Association of America (USTFCCCA) in the sixth Track & Field Rating Index of the season, released May 6.

The women rank second in the MAC with a score of 650.09 and rank 12th in the region, posting a rating of 201.88, improving one spot in the conference rankings and two in the regional from the previous checkpoint (April 29). The Eastern men remain in the No. 3 spot in the MAC for a third consecutive week with a score of 1165.88 and stand as the 11th-best team in the Great Lakes Region with a score of 330.69, moving up two spots from the last checkpoint.

USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: MEN

The Eastern men check into the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings in 12 events and rank inside the top 25 in the 400m hurdles, led by Singh with a time of 50.62, a time that serves as a MAC-best and checks into both the East Qualifying and National Top-50 List. Just outside of the top-25 at No. 26 is the high jump squad, led by Hill and Fiaku’s 2.12m bounce, also ranking on East Qualifying and National Top-50 List.

USTFCCCA EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS: WOMEN

The Eastern women are also ranked in 12 events by the USTFCCCA, including a 16th ranked triple jump squad led by Kyra Buffen (Columbus, Ga./Buford/Benedict), with a distance of 12.60m (41-04.25).

EAST QUALIFYING LIST

Eastern Michigan has a total of six student-athletes on the East Qualifying List. For the men, Singh holds the highest spot, standing 17th with a 50.62 400m hurdles time. Hill and Fiaku each slot 26th on the list in the high jump with a 2.12m (6-11.50) bounce. Wiles’ 3:40.73 1500m checks in at No. 40, and Samuel Jeffery (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley Secondary) ranks 44th in the decathlon with a score of 6,641 points.

For the women, Walkes owns two times on the list, with her highest ranking coming in the 400m as she slots 36th with a time of 52.88. She also stands 41st on the list in the 200m (23.30). Buffen checks in at No. 43 on the leaderboards with a 12.60m (41-04.25) triple jump.

PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: MEN

The men posted four top-10 marks at the Jesse Owens Classic and Duke Twilight, May 2-4. Singh had the highest mark on the top-10 leaderboards as he bettered his program No. 3 400m hurdles time to 50.62. At the Duke Twilight, Wiles topped his 1500m PR by nearly three seconds, finishing in 3:40.73 and moving up to fourth on the all-time list. While Hill and Fiaku’s 2.12m (06-11.50) high jumps tie for the eighth-best on the program ledgers and are the highest jump from an Eagle since 2009. Overall, the men have set 23 program top-10 marks in the outdoor campaign.

PROGRAM TOP-10 MARKS: WOMEN

The women grabbed three top-10 marks at the Jesse Owens Classic and Duke Twilight, May 2-4. Musta led the way as she set a career-best in the 800m with a time of 2:08.08, moving her up to sixth in program annals. The hammer throw saw a pair of top-10 marks as Isabella Brent (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child) improved her program No.7 mark to 55.10m (180-09) and Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins) moved up to eighth with a 51.48m (168-10) PR. Overall, the women’s team has set 21 program top-10 marks in the outdoor season.

UP NEXT

Eastern will enter post-season competition with the MAC Outdoor Championships, hosted by Ohio University, at Goldsberry Track, in Athens, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17.

FOLLOW US

For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.

Previously Noted

LACHLAN CORNELIUS NAMED MAC TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Cornelius was named Men’s MAC Track Athlete of the Week, April 29, for his performance at the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet, hosted by Grand Valley State.

Cornelius placed first in 800m invitational in a MAC-best and personal standard 1:48.38, his time is the fastest by an Eastern student-athlete since Eastern Michigan legend and former United States Olympian (1996 – Atlanta) Paul McMullen ran the distance in 1:46.48 in 1995, the second-fastest time in program history while Cornelius’ mark stands eighth on the program leaderboards.

Cornelius’ time topped his previous conference-best mark (1:49.25) by nearly one full second as his time currently ranks sixth in the Great Lakes Region and 43rd on the East Qualifying List.

AT HILLSDALE TUNE-UP, APRIL 26

The 1500m was a strong race for the Eagles, led by AJ Hawkins‘ (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) first-place finish in a personal-best 4:06.2, all four Eagles set career-best marks in the race including Aaron Schwieterman‘s (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) 4:03.03 that earned him third place.

Erica King (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette Township) earned a win in the javelin throw for the second time in her collegiate career as she set a personal-best with a 41.17m (135-01) toss, a mark that stands fifth in the MAC, seventh in program history, and 12th in the Great Lakes Region. Clemetson earned a career-best in the event with a 30.21m (99-01) mark, just one of her three PRs on the day as she also set new standards in the 200m (seventh – 25.79) and the 100m hurdles (first – 13.78). Her 100m hurdles time stands third in the MAC and 14th in the region.

AT GVSU EXTRA WEEKEND, APRIL 26

Wiles followed in second in the 800m in a career-best 1:48.77 that ranks him second in the conference behind Cornelius.

Cornelius’ time ranks sixth in the Great Lakes Region and 42nd on the East Qualifying List. For Wiles, his time stands ninth in the region.

Anna Bathellier (Ile d’Yeu, France/College Les Sicardieres) and Cora Henderson (Courtice, Ontario/Courtice Secondary) each competed in the 800m invitational. Bathellier placed sixth in 2:14.43 while Henderson finished closely behind in seventh in an outdoor season-best 2:14.55.

AT WAKE FOREST INVITATIONAL, APRIL 18

Musta ran a MAC-best 800m, finishing seventh out of 63 competitors in a personal best 2:08.50. Her time ranks seventh in program history and improved her top-10 standing by three spots from 10th to seventh. Cornelius placed third out of 73 in the 800m in a MAC-best and personal-best 1:49.25, a time that also ranks ninth in the Great Lakes Region.

AT GEORGIA TECH INVITATIONAL, APRIL 18-19

Walkes placed second out of 85 student-athletes in the 100m dash in a season-best 11.61. Her time stands as the fastest in the MAC this season and 11th in the Great Lakes Region. Ajah Arscott (Plantation, Fla./Taravella) turned in a strong showing in the same race with a 12th-place finish in 11.92. For the second straight week, the 4x400m relay team of Olanrewaju, Ajayi, Roberts, and Singh ran a MAC-best time as they bettered their previous conference-best (3:08.39) by 1.04 seconds, placing first out of 29 teams in 3:07.35. Their time stands third in the Great Lakes Region and 36th on the East Qualifying List.

Walkes continued to lead a 4x400m squad of herself, Arscott, Oloye, and Demetria Henderson (Tampa, Fla./Freedom), to a third-place outing out of 27 teams in a MAC-best 3:39.06, a time that also ranks as the ninth-fastest in program laurels and is the first edit to the program top-10 list since 2018. Furthermore, the time ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Region.

AT ELAINE LEIGH INVITATIONAL, APRIL 19

Liv Hatch (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) placed first out of 14 competitors in the 3000m steeplechase in a personal-best 11:44.23. Her time was over 12 seconds faster than the second-place finisher (11:56.65) at the Elaine Leigh Invite.

AT 44 FARMS TEAM INVITATIONAL AND CHIPPEWA CHALLENGE: APRIL 11-13

Walkes and Singh both finished with Mid-American Conference-best times to highlight the Eastern Michigan University track and field teams action at the Texas A&M 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M University, at E.B. Cushing Stadium.

At the Chippewa Challenge, hosted by Central Michigan University, April 12, freshman Mia Biehl (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) set a personal best in the 400m dash with a 58.42 mark, placing fourth in the event. Senior Nyla Joseph-Guevara (Coral Springs, Fla./Fort Lauderdale) placed second in the long jump with a leap of 5.40m (17-08.75), and Brent finished second in the hammer throw with a 52.42m (172-0.0) mark.

SINGH AND WALKES NAMED MAC TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Track athletes Singh and Walkes were named Men’s and Women’s MAC Track Athlete of the Week, respectively, April 15, for their performances at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, Friday-Saturday, April 11-12.

Singh placed third in the 400m hurdles out of 32 competitors in 50.67. His time stands as the best in the MAC and the Great Lakes Region, while standing eighth on the East Qualifying List, and 15th in the country. Furthermore, Singh’s time stands as the best in the MAC by 2.56 seconds, the fastest in the region by 1.1 seconds, and third in program laurels. Additionally, he was the highest finisher from a group of five schools in the event.

Singh went on to anchor a 4x400m relay team that finished sixth out of 16 teams in a MAC-best 3:08.39, a time that stands over two seconds faster than the second-fastest time in the conference. The mark also stands as the second fastest in the region, and 33rd on the East Qualifying List.

Walkes ran two MAC-best times, personal bests, and program/Great Lakes Region top-three marks. She placed seventh out of 66 in the 200m dash in 23.30, and fifth out of 39 in the 400m in 52.88 at the 44 Farms Team Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, April 11–12. Walkes’ 400m time stands as the fastest in the Great Lakes Region while her 200m mark ranks third. Both times rank inside the top 25 on the East Qualifying List as well, with her 400m mark standing 19th, and her 200m time ranking 25th. Nationally, Walkes ranks 31st in the 400m and 49th in the 200m. Moreover, she was the highest finisher from a group of five school in each of her races.

AT SPARTAN INVITATIONAL: APRIL 4

The Eastern Michigan track and field teams turned in a total of 21 personal bests and 17 top-three finishes while in action at the nearby Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State, at Ralph Young Field Friday, April 4. 13 Eagles on the women’s side turned in career highs in their respective events, with Lena Korte (Clinton, Mich./Clinton/Concordia) throwing a personal best 47.76m (156-08) in the hammer throw while Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle) placed first in the unseeded 1500m run with a personal best time of 4:56.63. Overall, the women earned eight top-three finishes. On the men’s side, 11 Eagles set personal bests to go with nine top-three showings, Joey Furlong (Deer Park, Ill./Barrington) ran the MAC’s second-best 5000m time in 14:51.98.

AT TEXAS RELAYS, BOBCAT INVITATIONAL, AND RALEIGH RELAYS: MARCH 27-29

The Eastern women posted two top-three finishes while the two programs combined for 12 personal-best marks, with the men posting eight and the women grabbing four, and five program top-10 marks as the women earned three and the men secured two.

RETURNING MAC CHAMPS – OUTDOOR SEASON

The Eagles return Buffen and Formula Thompson (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College/Nebraska) who both won the triple jump at the 2024 MAC Outdoor Championships. Buffen won the event with a 12.64m (05.75) bound, a mark that stands as the fourth-best in program history. She also became the first Eastern woman to win the event at the outdoor championships since 1999.

Thompson became the first EMU male jumper to win the triple jump at the outdoor championships since United States Olympian Donald Scott did so in the 2015 campaign, as Thompson claimed gold with a 15.57m (51-01.00) jump, a mark that sits sixth in the program top-10 leaderboards.

ALL-MAC RETURNERS – OUTDOOR SEASON

The Eagles return seven All-MAC athletes from the outdoor season.

Women’s All-MAC Returners

Kyra Buffen – First Team

Paige Marchant – Second Team

Saraiah Walkes – Second Team

Josephine Oloye – Second Team

Men’s All-MAC Returners

Formula Thompson – First Team

Gabe Singh – Second Team

Jake McEachern – Second Team

NCAA EAST PRELIMS RETURNERS

The men’s squad returns three student-athletes who qualified for the 2024 NCAA East Prelims in Thompson, who punched his ticket in the triple jump, Mabin, who earned his entry in the 110m hurdles, and Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) who qualified in the hammer throw.

The women return Buffen, who saw action in the triple jump after winning an individual MAC title in the event and Anita Zaro (Timirsoara, Romania/Faculty of Physical Education and Sport) who ran in the 3000m steeplechase.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

McEachern won the hammer throw (67.32m – 220-10), shot put (15.93m – 52-03.16), and discus (49.22m – 161-05) events at the Canadian U20 Track & Field Championships. Joining him in competing nationally was Thompson, who saw action at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in the long and triple jump. Mabin also earned himself a spot at the USA U20 Track & Field Championships in the 110m hurdles.

2024 MAC OUTDOORS FINISH

The Eastern women placed second with 126.5 points while the men slotted third with 121 points. The women’s second-place finish at the meet marked its 11th straight season doing so while the men’s marked the 12th consecutive year it has finished inside the top-three. Kent State claimed the women’s title with 137.5 points and Akron won the men’s, scoring 189.

NEW COACHES

The Eagles have adjusted their coaching staff ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Chris Best and Sterling Roberts have been promoted to Directors of Cross Country/Track & Field. Best will take on the head coaching duties for the women’s team while Roberts will do so for the men’s. Sue Parks opted to return to hands-on coaching duties and will serve as an Associate Head Coach while still acting as the Head Women’s Cross Country Coach. Eastern added two newcomers to the coaching staff in Austin Whitelaw (distance) and Nia Henderson (throws). Whitelaw comes to Ypsilanti after most recently serving as an assistant track & field/cross country coach as well as recruiting coordinator for the University of Connecticut (2022-24). Henderson brings five years of NAIA coaching experience with her as she oversaw nine NAIA All-Americans at nearby Madonna University. She was also named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.

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Class 4 girls’ track & field: Millbrook’s Washington wins high jump | Winchester Star

LYNCHBURG — With the sun beating down on a day in which temperatures reached the mid 80s, Millbrook High School sophomore Janai Washington moved around gingerly as she tried to balance a bag of ice on her neck following her run in the 4×400-meter relay on Saturday at the Class 4 state track & field meet […]

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32 seconds ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LYNCHBURG — With the sun beating down on a day in which temperatures reached the mid 80s, Millbrook High School sophomore Janai Washington moved around gingerly as she tried to balance a bag of ice on her neck following her run in the 4×400-meter relay on Saturday at the Class 4 state track & field meet at Liberty University in Lynchburg.

As for what happened earlier in the day, few girls were moving faster. And absolutely no one soared higher.

Washington set a personal record to win the high jump by two inches with a mark of 5 feet, 4 inches; improved on her seed by five spots to take fourth in the 200 meters in 25.14 seconds after setting a PR by 0.43 (25.10) in Friday’s preliminaries; and ran a solid 1:03.36 as the opening leg on Millbrook’s second-place 4×400 team.

“[The state title] feels really good, because I’ve worked so long [to improve] for high jump, and I didn’t know what I could do for a while,” said an emotional Washington after the 4×400. “That God gave me the strength to be able to do something like that, it feels amazing, honestly.”

The four girls on the relay team — Washington, junior Ella Mannarino and seniors Savannah Florek and Jada Arrington — combined to score 37 points, good for sixth place and the highest finish among local high schools. Arrington scored points in the 200 and 400 for the fourth time in her career by taking second (24.91) and third (57.30), respectively, in those events.

Defending champion Blacksburg led 33 scoring teams by compiling 111.5 points, 52 more than runner-up Atlee (59.5). Led by 3,200-meter champion and junior Kate Konyar, James Wood tied for 11th with 20 points. Sherando tied for 28th with 3 points and Handley did not score.

The Judges only had senior defending 100-meter champion and 2024 200 silver medalist Emeryce Worrell compete in the 4×100. She did not compete in Friday’s prelimaries so she could play in the Region 4D championship soccer game at Handley.

The girls’ high jump competition was very much a toss-up heading into Saturday. There were 25 girls entered — 10 had a seed mark of 5-2, two had seed marks in between 5-0 and 5-2, 12 had seed marks of 5-0 and two came in at 4-10 — though only 23 actually competed on Saturday.

Washington was one of the girls whose best mark this spring was 5-0. That was the mark at which the competition started, which meant most of the girls were going to have perform their best immediately off the bat. Eleven of them weren’t able to clear the bar in three attempts.

Washington cleared 5-0 on her first attempt, but she couldn’t surpass 5-2 on her first two attempts. When she did it on her third, she bounced on the mat and held her hands to her mouth as she looked toward the Millbrook coaching staff and her supporters. The last time she cleared 5-2 was the Region 4D indoor meet.

“It felt good to know [my previous 5-2] wasn’t a mistake,” Washington said. “I could do it again.”

Washington was one of three people who cleared 5-2. She then cleared 5-4 on her second attempt, and she bounced even higher off the mat as she made the same motion with her hands and looked over at the Millbrook contingent. When no else cleared 5-4, she was a state champion, an accomplishment that was celebrated by several other high jumpers, including Sherando’s McKenna Hardy and Mercedes Silver and Handley’s Elisabeth Pitcock.

“It’s a really good community for the high jump,” Washington said. “We’re all so close because we know how it feels to go really high, and then you can get stuck at a point. I just love the high jump community. They’re all amazing.”

For them and Millbrook coach Jamie McCarty, Washington was amazing to watch.

“We knew that there was more there, and she kind of got that monkey off her back today,” McCarty said. “Once she was over 5-2, 5-4 was great. And she had a couple of really good jumps even at 5-6.”

McCarty said Washington truly deserves what she accomplished this weekend.

“It’s just the amount of work that she’s put in just in general,” McCarty said. “Not just as a high jumper, but as a leader for us, and as a sprinter for us. That improvement has been amazing. She’s been a great leadoff leg for our 4×4. She’s kind of assumed that role of, ‘We know Jada’s leaving. Who wants to be the next person to step up?’ I feel like she’s kind of taken that by the horns and said, ‘All right, I can be that person.'”

Washington wasn’t expecting to do as well as she did in the 200.

“I’ve been training to get faster,” Washington said. “Everything I’ve worked for all season has finally come into place. It felt good for it to come at states.”

McCarty said having Arrington in the same heat on Friday likely helped. On Saturday, they ran next to each other in lanes 1 and 2 in the 200, with Washington able to look at Arrington ahead of her in lane 2.

“[Washington] chases [Arrington] in practice all the time, so it was almost like a practice day for her being in there with Jada,” McCarty said. “She knew if she could hang close to her [in the prelims], she could give herself a shot [at the finals], and that’s what she did.”

Washington was glad the seniors Florek and Arrington could end on a strong note with the 4×400 team. In achieving a time of 4:04.42, Milbrook improved on its season-best time by 1.52 seconds and bested its time from the indoor state meet, when the Pioneers took third in 4:04.89. Blackburg won on Saturday with a 3:56.79.

Charlottesville crossed the finish line before Milbrook on Saturday, but the Black Knights used a grouping that wasn’t permissable due to runners having maxed out their total running events for the meet, and they were disqualified.

Headed to Norfolk State, Arrington closed her high school career out by passing two people completely on the last lap of the 4×400 and running a split of 58.14, the second-fastest anchor leg of the event. This year marked the first time Arrington ran in a relay at a state outdoor meet after doing the 100, 200 and 400 each of her first three years.

“I love chasing [people],” said Arrington when asked about the 4×400. “I always get [the team] in a better place than what we’re already in.”

McCarty praised each member of the relay, noting that Arrington and Washington were run down after having run the 200 about a half hour before on a hot day.

“Every one of them has a different strength,” McCarty said. “The way we’ve structured, it fit together perfect. Ella (1:02.40) and Savannah (1:00.53) both ran really, really great legs. I can’t say enough about both of them. Ella coming over from soccer and being able to get a couple weeks of training in, we see the difference versus her from the last time she ran on it.”

Konyar led the 3,200 throughout the race and won with a time of 11:02.34, 3.26 seconds ahead of Blacksburg freshman Lola Olsen (11:05.60), for the first state of her career. Later, Konyar placed sixth in the 1,600 (5:17.67) in the fast heat while Colonels senior Ruby Ostrander, who ran in the first heat, placed fifth in 5:16.64.

On Friday, Konyar and Ostrander teamed with junior Katelyn Palmer and sophomore Ally Oliver to place seventh in the 4×800 in 9:47.76.

James Wood also led by Erin Link (eighth in the shot put, 33-11) and four girls who each took 10th — senior Olivia Boyce (long jump, 16-5.75); junior Isabelle French (100 hurdles, 16.18), junior Alina Kieffer (3,200, 11:38.52) and Emma Messick (discus, 96-2), who was the only freshman in the 18-girl discus competition on Friday. Messick’s best mark this year is 104-11, and she’s qualified for New Balance Nationals.

Sherando’s only points came on Friday from the senior Hardy. She took sixth in the triple jump (34-10.25).

The sophomore Pitcock had Handley’s highest finish in the meet, tying for 11th in the high jump (5-0).

For more coverage on the Class 4 meet, see Tuesday’s edition of The Winchester Star.

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Capitola Wharf Master Plan Update

By Heidi Johnston An online survey of the seven proposed concepts that model the future for the Capitola Wharf closed May 31, 2025. Following the Capitola Wharf Master Plan Community Meeting May 20, and other outreach efforts, city staff will present what they’ve evaluated to the City Council and then direct Fuse Architecture + Building […]

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22 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Heidi Johnston

An online survey of the seven proposed concepts that model the future for the Capitola Wharf closed May 31, 2025.

Following the Capitola Wharf Master Plan Community Meeting May 20, and other outreach efforts, city staff will present what they’ve evaluated to the City Council and then direct Fuse Architecture + Building to execute projects to meet the needs of the community.

Capitola Wharf Times Publishing Group Inc tpgonlinedaily.com

Main Beach Volleyball Club serves their dink on the issue.

Courtney Christiansen works with Fuse Architecture. She writes, “We are conducting a survey in conjunction with the City of Capitola to gather as many opinions/votes as possible regarding the master long term plan for the Capitola Wharf — We have prepared seven (7) separate scenarios that have been presented to the public as feasible options for the future of the Capitola Wharf.”

Paul S. was fishing for halibut at the wharf on Memorial Day. He said, “I got educated about it. One of the things that I really want is music and food back on the wharf, because that’s what it was, before it got demolished, it was fun.”

Tina operates the bait and tackle shop. She states, “I think that option 6 and 7 are the best. One and two, I believe, will put us out of business. Three, possibly because they’re going to take down the boat hoist. I really want something out here. I would love to have music on the weekends again. That would be awesome, not only for our local community, but for the tourists to come out here to experience this.”

Winnie took some time to comment while waiting for the fish to bite. “As far as the redesign of the pier, first, I’d like it to be really safe. The infrastructure has shown that it’s collapsed a couple times. I definitely think it could be more interactive and accessible. I do think that we should pay homage to the fishing people who are here.”

A Main Beach Volleyball player hosting a fundraising bake-sale with her team said, “I was at the meeting with my school, but I did not vote yet.” A quick survey of the seven-girl team indicated a preference for a restaurant and stage.

Devon Salter, Owner, Capitola Reef

“We should have three or four food trucks instead of brick and mortar because why build something that can get destroyed?” says a Village resident.

Devon, owner of Capitola Reef, a shop in the Village, makes a point, “I walk the wharf almost every morning. And it’s kind of really nice the way it is. Not a whole lot of things out there. The water rescue makes perfect sense. Those guys have to come all the way from the Santa Cruz harbor if something happens out here. That happens quite often. I think boat and bait makes a whole lot of sense. I just don’t think a restaurant makes sense. Food trucks, I’d rather not see that.”

Devon’s concern is that food trucks could deplete revenue from existing restaurants. He suggests pop-ups on the wharf by local establishments.

TOP PHOTO: Signage encourages participation

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News – Water Polo Australia

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Set to be held in Singapore from 11-24 July 2025, WPA has today announced a 15-strong women’s team to compete at the event. Headlined by 10 Paris Olympic silver medalists, the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers team for […]

Published

25 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

Set to be held in Singapore from 11-24 July 2025, WPA has today announced a 15-strong women’s team to compete at the event.

Headlined by 10 Paris Olympic silver medalists, the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers team for the World Championships is a great mix of youth and experience.

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Head Coach Bec Rippon said: “Our team for the world Championships is a mix of athletes who have been around for numerous Olympic cycles, athletes who were part of our squad in the lead up to Paris, and some new players who have joined us for the new Olympic cycle.

“It’s a nice, balanced team, who have been bringing some great energy to every session, and I look forward to seeing what we can produce in Singapore,” Rippon said.

Almost one year on since the historic silver medal performance in Paris, Rippon said it’s been great to have the majority of the team back together.

“It is nice having some of the Paris group back and to now see how they connect with the newer players that have been working hard in Australia and overseas,” Rippon said.

“They bring with them some great experience and energy, as we approach the new Olympic cycle,” she said.

Currently in camp on the Gold Coast for three weeks, the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers will next head to Perth, where they will host the USA and Italian women’s teams for a training camp and official test matches (details for tickets on sale will be available soon).

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to trial some new things that we’ve been working on, and to try things without being under the same pressure of being at a World Championships,” Rippon said.

“We are really happy to have both of those teams in Australia – we always have great battles with the US and such a strong history with them so it will be great to see how we’re matching up.

“And we will play the Italians at the World Championships, so it will be a really good chance to check in and measure up against each other before Singapore,” she said.

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships will be held in Singapore from 11-24 July, with the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers set to play their first game on Friday 11 July against the host nation, Singapore.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Team

Abby Andrews (QLD)

Charlize Andrews (QLD)

Hayley Ballesty (NSW)

Tenealle Fasala (QLD)

Sienna Green (NSW)

Bronte Halligan (NSW)

Sienna Hearn (NSW)

Danijela Jackovich (NSW)

Tilly Kearns (NSW)

Alexie Lambert (NSW)

Genevieve Longman (NSW)

Olivia Mitchell (NSW)

Gabi Palm (QLD)

Pippa Pedley (WA)

Alice Williams (QLD)

Reserves: Claire Durston (NSW), Jessica Emerson (QLD), Nioka Thomas (NSW)

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Schedule

Friday 11 July | Australia v Singapore | 9:10pm AEST

Sunday 13 July | Australia v Italy | 7:35pm AEST

Tuesday 15 July | Australian v New Zealand | 7:35pm AEST

Thursday 17 July | Women’s Crossovers

Saturday 19 July | Women’s Quarterfinals and Classification

Monday 21 July | Women’s Semi Finals and Classification

Wednesday 23 July | Women’s Medal Matches and Classification

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Surging York Suburban boys’ volleyball team stamps spot in PIAA semifinals

The Trojans swept Holy Redeemer in Saturday’s state quarterfinal showdown, setting up another match with Manheim Central on Tuesday. York Suburban student lives out her childhood dream of wrestling York Suburban wrestler Angela Imorhoa wrestles to claim her spot at the state level tournament in March at the Giant Center, Hershey. The York Suburban boys’ […]

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37 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Trojans swept Holy Redeemer in Saturday’s state quarterfinal showdown, setting up another match with Manheim Central on Tuesday.

The York Suburban boys’ volleyball team took lofty goals into the 2025 campaign, but the Trojans knew they lacked the big-moment experience of some of their peers. They knew they’d have to be thrown in the fire and learn on the fly to get where they wanted to go.

It looks like Oliver Good’s program is all caught up.

The Trojans are back in the PIAA semifinals after sweeping Holy Redeemer on Saturday afternoon at Exeter Township High School. The 25-19, 25-22, 25-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Royals was the latest signature moment in a season filled with statements.

York Suburban, which has just four seniors on its 25-man roster, never approached this point a year ago. Last year’s team went 9-8, missed the York-Adams League tournament and went one-and-done in the district playoffs. Saturday’s sweep brought Good’s group to 18-4 this spring.

“I think this was something the seniors and juniors really wanted, to kind of re-establish the expectations and traditions of our program,” Good said. “Last year, we had a really inexperienced team getting experience in big matches when they weren’t ready for it, but they stuck with it and they worked really hard all offseason.

“Their goal was to get back here, and we knew it was a possibility, but only through a lot of hard work and teamwork.”

Now the Trojans will face the measuring stick that has come to define their season. Manheim Central, which beat Suburban in a regular-season showdown May 5 and in the District 3-2A final May 29, awaits in the PIAA semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Penn Manor High School in Millersville. The Barons swept District 1’s Dock Mennonite 25-14, 25-17, 25-12 on Saturday morning.

Prior to this year, York Suburban made its last state tournament in 2022 and its last semifinal in 2021. The Trojans have reached the final twice, earning silver medals in 2012 and 2019. They’ve won three straight PIAA showdowns against Holy Redeemer since a first-round loss in 2014.

Junior Trent Weinstein led the charge Saturday with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Truett Miller and junior Billy Doyle notched seven kills apiece, with Miller adding eight digs, and sophomore Robert Berry chipped in six kills. Senior setters Drew Wilt and Turner Hare tallied 19 and 13 assists, respectively. Sophomore libero Evan Guyer matched Weinstein with 10 kills; Hare equaled Miller with eight.

Josh Rocha piled up 29 kills for the Royals, but Good credited Doyle and Berry, the Trojans’ middle hitters, with making Rocha work for his numbers. The coach was also pleased to see both players contribute to the attack.

“I think that our middles did a nice job of kind of slowing down their hitters, because if we don’t get in their face, (Rocha) gets a kill every time,” Good said. “I thought they stuck to our game plan, and Robert and Billy also got involved more offensively, which certainly helps when we keep all of our hitters involved. I think that’s when we play our best volleyball, is when we get contributions from everybody across our front row.”

Suburban executed its plan in the opening frame and held a comfortable lead for most of the first set. Rocha came alive in Set 2, allowing Holy Redeemer to keep pace, but the Trojans found their way to the finish line and took a 2-0 lead. The Royals played like the more desperate team for most of Set 3 and appeared on track to extend the match when they went up 18-14. Suburban, though, called a timeout to reset and went on a run after junior Gaetano Davis came on to serve. Good’s team seized the lead, stole the set and swept the match.

Saturday marked Suburban’s 14th sweep of the season. Outside of the Trojans’ four losses — two against Manheim Central, one each against Central York and Northeastern — only four other foes have taken a set against Good’s team. Suburban won the last three sets against District 12’s Lansdale Catholic in Tuesday’s first round after dropping the opening frame, providing a jolt of momentum that carried into the quarterfinals.

All four PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals were decided in sweeps Saturday, and the four semifinalists have comprised the top four in the statewide coaches’ poll since mid-April. Top-ranked Meadville (District 10) and third-ranked Shaler (District 7, reigning 3A state champ) will square off Tuesday on the opposite side of the bracket from No. 2 Manheim Central and No. 4 Suburban. (Holy Redeemer spent most of the season ranked fifth; the Royals were sixth this week.)

Good attributes much of his team’s success to the leadership of its four seniors — Hare, Wilt, Simon Bellenbaum and Finn Martin — and experienced juniors. With the veterans creating a positive environment, the younger players have had an easier time regrouping from the season’s highs and lows. Preparation and determination have brought the program back to this point.

“I think that, having a young team, we have some highs and lows,” Good said. “And one thing that we’re pushing for as a program is just to stay true to ourselves and, whatever the situation, play our game as opposed to getting stressed out in the big moment and doing something that we aren’t trained for.”

The Trojans have certainly trained themselves for another showdown with the Barons. Now they’ll look to put it all together at the perfect time.

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100 years later: The Maccabiah returns to Tel Aviv-Jaffa

The official and spectacular opening ceremony of the 2025 Maccabiah Games will take place on Thursday, July 10, at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. The event will be hosted by Anna Aronov and Assi Azar, and will feature performances by top Israeli artists including Itay Levi, Yuval Raphael, Eden Golan, Idan Raichel, Shahar Saul, and Netta […]

Published

42 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It was also announced that the ceremonial torch will be carried to the stage by two decorated athletes and 2025 Maccabiah ambassadors: Paralympic athlete Asaf Yasur and judoka Raz Hershko.

In a symbolic return, the Maccabiah Games will once again be held in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, nearly 100 years after the city hosted the inaugural event. Alongside Jerusalem, Herzliya, and Haifa, Tel Aviv-Jaffa will host competitions in a variety of sports, including beach volleyball, surfing, artistic and apparatus gymnastics, 3×3 basketball, and rugby.

For the first time, the Games will feature an experiential sports complex called “Maccabiah Expo City – Israel’s Sports City.” This five-day event, running from July 14 to 18, will include interactive sports activities, live performances, competitions, family attractions, and exhibitions focused on innovation and technology.

Ron Huldai, Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, welcomed the return of the Games to the city, stating, “Tel Aviv-Jaffa is proud to host the Maccabiah—an international sporting event that connects Jewish communities from around the world and strengthens the bond with Israel. Our city, a beacon of freedom, openness, and progress, is the natural stage for a celebration of sportsmanship and global Jewish unity. Especially in these times, sports remind us of the power of partnership, pride, and connection—values that have guided the Jewish people for generations and are embodied here in Tel Aviv-Jaffa and the State of Israel.”

Assaf Goren, Chairman of the Maccabiah, emphasized the broader significance of this year’s event: “The 2025 Maccabiah is a symbol of hope, recovery, and our resilience as a people after one of the most difficult periods in our generation. With a record number of host cities and participating authorities, the Maccabiah makes a direct contribution to Israel’s economy and tourism during a challenging time. We are thrilled by the enthusiastic global response and look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes who will come to compete, explore, and experience Israel – now more than ever.”

He added, “I want to thank our many partners, especially the Government of Israel, led by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, as well as the national institutions and commercial sponsors whose support helps make the Maccabiah such a powerful event. The 2025 Games will highlight the vital connection between the State of Israel and the Jewish diaspora, offering hope for the future while honoring the memory of October 7 and the Swords of Iron War.”

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Photos: WIAA state track and field championships June 6-7 |

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56 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

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