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Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Eastern Michigan University

Women Head to Allendale for “Mike Lints” Open

Eagles had success at Grand Valley meet in ‘09, hope to have a repeat performance

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ALLENDALE, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University Eagles will travel to Allendale, Mich. for the “Mike Lints” Open at Grand Valley, Jan. 15. In the squad's first meet away from Ypsilanti this season, EMU takes comfort in heading north to GVSU. During last season's trip to Grand Valley,  the Eagles enjoyed 10 top-five finishes, including a Beverly Elcock victory in the 800-meter run. The following week, the Eagles will head to Ann Arbor, Mich. for the two-day Harvey-Simmons Invite.

» 2010 SEASON KICKS OFF: The Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team will kick off the 33rd season of indoor track Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, when it hosts the annual EMU Invitational. The first year of women's indoor and outdoor track at Eastern was the 1976-77 season. During the inaugural season, the Eagles went 1-1, beating rival Bowling Green in dual action but falling to in-state rival Central Michigan. EMU also finished first at the Western Michigan Invitational.

» LAST TIME OUT: At Eastern's first meet of the season, the EMU Invitational, sophomore Angela Scarber and freshman Ashlee Abraham led the Eagles to an impressive nine first-place finishes. Scarber came up with a personal-best throw of 52-02.50 in the shot put, one of her two field victories, while Abraham coasted to a 7.57 second, first-place finish in her first ever collegiate race.

» OFF TO A FAST START: Aside from Abraham and Scarber getting out the blocks fast this season, six other Eagles earned wins in individual events in the team's lone meet this season. Christina Farrow (800-meter run), Naomi Andre (mile run),  Asia Rawls (400-meter dash) and Jessica Novakowski (pole vault) Jasmine Gates and Brittany Lockhart (both high jump) all earned victories at the EMU Invitational.

» PARKS LEADS CHARGES: Head coach Sue Parks returns for her fourth season to lead the Eastern Michigan women's track and field program. In her first two years Parks has seen the squad improve from 12th at both the indoor and outdoor conference championship to seventh indoors and ninth outdoors just last season. Joining her will be third-year assistant coach John Guarino and second-year graduate assistant Shean Perry. Additionally, newcomer Andy Nicholas was added to the squad as throws coach.

» WHAT'S HAPPENIN', CAP'N?: Seniors Jasmine Gates, Brittany Lockhart, Jessica Novakowski (junior eligibility), and Shade St. Louis were elected as 2010 captains for the indoor season. Each athlete has shown tremendous leadership roles in the classroom as well as on the track and in the field. Gates and St. Louis were also 2009 All-MAC performers.

» EAGLES ADD TO STAFF: Both the men's and women's track team have added an additional member to the coaching ranks as Andy Nicholas takes over as the throws coach for each program. Nicholas is quite familiar with the MAC and its track and field programs. A 2007 graduate of Kent State, he was a back-to-back MAC champion in the hammer throw and an All-American during his senior season.

» EAGLE REWIND: After respective ninth and eighth place finishes at the MAC Championship during the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2009, Eastern Michigan University women's track and field team hopes to make continuous improvements like they have in past seasons. The Eagles had finished 12th at both championships in 2007 before jumping to seventh and ninth place in 2008.

» EMU ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB: The EMU athletic Web site, featuring  information on all 21 varsity athletic teams, is: www.emueagles.com.  Also follow EMU athletics on Twitter: EMUAthletics.
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