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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior Gerald Gersham (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield) had a career day Saturday, Jan. 9, as the men's track and field team opened the 2010 season with the EMU Open Invitational at Bob Parks Track inside Bowen Field House.
Gersham, a 2009 Mid-American Conference champion and NCAA qualifier, set a school record in the shot put after hurling the 16-pound apparatus a career-best 62-01.25 feet, a mark good enough to make him a provisional NCAA qualifier in the event. The previous school record of 61-10.00 feet was established by David Adamek in 2006. Gersham also took home top honors in the weight throw.
Eastern's victories wouldn't stop with Gersham. Senior sprinter Clint Allen (Muskegon, Mich.-Oakland View) also had an outstanding performance in the 60-meter dash. Allen's time of 6.72 not only won the race for the Eagles, but was just .01 seconds shy of the time needed to qualify for NCAA provisionals. The clip marked the best season-opening 60-meter dash time in Allen's collegiate career.
Perhaps the most exciting race of the day was the final race of the day. In the men's 4x400-meter relay, it was EMU who edged out cross-county foe University of Michigan by a little more than half a second to claim top honors. Allen started the relay for the Eagles, but fell behind by nearly five meters before passing the baton. During the third leg of the race, senior Blake Figgins (Detroit, Mich.-Mumford) was able to regroup and pull his team even with the anchor leg remaining. From there, it was Akeem Forde (Haynesville, Barbados-Colleridge & Parry School) who would hang on and narrowly secure the victory, embracing his 4x400-meter squad after crossing the finish line.
Forde was also instrumental in the earlier 200-meter dash, taking home first place in that even as well with a time of 22.28 seconds. Eastern freshman Jairus Saunders had an impressive showing in his first collegiate meet, finishing third behind Forde with a time of 22.53.
In other races, Figgins and Nathan Blackwell (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Central) would finish one and two, respectively, in the 800-meter run, while Curtis Volmar (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) coasted to victory in the 3,000-meter run.
Aside from Gersham's dominance in the field events, Xavier Clais (Hanvillers, France) leapt to a victory with a high jump of 6-10.25 feet. Senior Oliver Walther (Erfurt, Germany / Pierre-de-Coubertin Gymnasium) was the long jump winner with a jump of 23-03.25.
In total, Eastern won nine events at the non-scoring meet which featured competition from Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois University, as well as the University of Detroit Mercy, Concordia University, Oakland University, Siena Heights University, the Mid-Michigan Track Club, cross-county rivals University of Michigan, and several unattached athletes.
The Eagles return to action Friday, Jan. 15, as the Chippewas of Central Michigan University make the trek from Mount Pleasant for the dual meet. Action is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
