Track Team Competes at EMU Open (Jan. 15)
1/15/2000 12:00:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Jan. 15, 2000
Ypsilanti, MI - The men's and women's track teams had very successful outings at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday. Several Rockets set season or personal bests as well as moving into contending spots in the early Mid-American Conference Rankings.
Newcomer Bi Hong Yong (Bejing, China) opened his season with a winning leap of 7-0.25 in the high jump. The Rockets now have the top two high jumpers in the conference with Hong Yong and junior Kevin Grant (Toronto, Ontario). Grant jumped 6-10.75 a week ago at the University of Michigan. Grant is also the conference's leading long jumper.
Returning Mid-American Conference Champion Ioannos Appostolides (Nicosia, Cyprus) opened his senior campaign with a new MAC leading throw of 56-10.75 in the 35-pound weight. Appostolides was the collegiate champion at the meet.
Also claiming an individual title was senior William Adjei (Legon, Ghana) who won the triple jump with a leap of 46-11. Adjei is currently the leasing triple jumper in the conference as well with his 47-5 jump one week ago.
On the women's side, the Rockets had several outstanding performances in different areas of the program. All-MAC performer Julia Ford (Detroit, MI) ran a strong race in the 400-meters, finishing 2nd in 57.34 while senior jump specialist, Michelle DeLatour (Cincinnati, OH), finished 2nd in the long jump (18-6.5) and 5th in the triple jump (36-7).
A pair of talented newcomers also led the Rockets with their performances. Sophomore Cydney Edmunds (Spokane, WA) finished 2nd in the shot put (42-3.5) and freshman Kia Minkkinen (Turku, Finland) finished 3rd in the mile in 4:58.25. Minkkinen's time in the mile is the second-fastest time in school history.
Both the men's and women's squads will travel to arch-rival Bowling Green on January 22, 2000 for a non-scored invitational.
Top Individuals (Eastern Michigan Open, January 15, 2000): No Team Scores
Men: 60-meters: 4. Jesse Byrd 7.08, 5. John Agostinelli 7.22 400-meters: 2. Paul Sezhue 49.47 (1st collegian) 3000-meters: 11. Dave Marhefka 8:55.99 High Jump: 1. Bi Hong Yong 7-0.25, 6. Kevin Grant 6-6 Long Jump: 7. Eldred Lewis 21-9, 9. Jason Munsch 20-1.50 Triple Jump: 1. William Adjei 46-11, 3. Eldred Lewis 45-2.25, 7. Andrew Zehnder 41-8.5 35# Weight: 5. Ioannos Appostolides 56-10.75 (1st collegian)
Women: 60-meters: 6. Marie Jean-Baptiste 7.92, 8. Me'Shia Moton 8.10 200-meters: 7. Marie Jean-Baptiste 26.35, 9. Me'Shia Moton 26.80 400-meters: 2. Julia Ford 57.34 Mile: 3. Kia Minkkinen 4:58.25, 4. Emily Loroupe 5:20.78, 5. Jodi Harrington 5:20.90 3000-meters: 4. Devin Huck 10:47.11 Long Jump: 2. Michelle DeLatour 18-6.5 Triple Jump: 5. Michelle DeLatour 36-7 Shot Put: 2. Cyd Edmunds 42-3.25 High Jump: 3. Lindy Hartley 5-4 4 x 400m: 2. (Tahira Vaughn, Julia Ford, Megan Palm, Me'Shia Moton) 4:09.88
