Chippewas add senior high jumper to MAC Championship qualifier list
With only one week until the culmination of the Indoor Track and Field season at the Mid-American Conference Championship meet in Akron, the Grand Valley State Tune-Up was the Chippewas’ last chance to qualify for the meet.
The only Chippewa to qualify for the MAC Championship Friday was senior jumper Matt Mueller, who finished second in the high jump. Mueller is the 30th Chippewa to qualify for next week's meet.
Final preparations for the MAC Championship will be made this week at practices.
“The work is in the barn, now we are in a bit of a maintenance period,” said Head Coach Mark Guthrie. “(Next weekend) we will run, jump and throw and see what it gets us.”
Preparations this week for the championship will focus more on the runner’s mentality rather than any last minute physical training.
“You are not going to get anything out of a workout this week,” Guthrie said. “The focus will be on the mental approach, making sure everyone is on point and know what they have to do individually.”
The MAC Championship will be held in Akron, Ohio on Feb. 26 and 27. The women will face the entire field of all 12 MAC teams, while the men will only face Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Kent State.
“Just compete. That’s all we are asking them to do,” Guthrie said. “Be ready to go on the day and don’t back down.”
CMU top-five finishes
Senior Matt Mueller placed second in the men’s high jump (2.05 meters), which qualified him for the MAC Championship. Freshman Aaron Taylor followed in fifth (1.95 meters)
Juniors Malik Vasquez (48.99) and Quincy Briggs (49.12) finished first and second in the 400-meter run.
Freshman Emily Helfrich placed second in the women’s high jump (1.61 meters).
Sophomore Berkley Edwards finished second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.97 seconds. Edwards transferred from Minnesota and also plans to play running back for the football team.
He is the younger brother of NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards and older brother of Chippewa wide receiver signee Bailey Edwards.
Sophomore Ali Taha finished second (6.84 meters) in the men’s long jump.
Freshman Gabriella Beauvais finished second in the 200-meter dash (24.96 seconds).
Freshman Aaron Taylor and sophomore Shane Moffo finished tied for third in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.38 seconds.
Sophomore Kyla Walton placed third (57.93) in the women’s 400-meter run.
Junior Tony Armstrong placed fourth in the men’s Pole Vault (4.21 meters).
Freshman Ijeoma Agomo finished fifth (9.90 meters) in the women’s triple jump.
