MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Western Michigan track and field team put together its best team finish since 2012 at the MAC Outdoor Championships, earning third place with 81 points. This is also the first time since 2018 that the Broncos have had three individual MAC Champions.
Akron (135.50), Kent State (113.50), WMU (81), Ball State (76) and Eastern Michigan (75) were the top-five teams at the conference meet.
After a pair of strong days to open the meet, the Brown and Gold didn't slow down on the final day.
Mabinty Kebe earned her third straight MAC Championship in the 400-meter hurdles, winning the event by more than a second. She crossed the finish line in a time of 57.66. Kebe became the first Bronco to win three MAC titles since Victoria Chatman (2012, 2010, 2009). She wasn't done there, as she earned six more points in the 100-meter hurdles. Kebe secured third place with a time of 13.75.
Not to be outdone,
Laurine Elisa Marimon added another MAC title to the mix by winning the triple jump. Her leap of 13.16 meters would've been a new school record, but the jump was not wind legal. She is the first WMU athlete to win the triple jump since Joy Eloms in 2008.
Anichka Malachi was also strong in the event, earning a top mark of 11.57 meters.
From there, the Broncos continued to rack up the points.
Soniya Jones posted a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter dash, breaking her own school record with a time of 11.48.
Lillian Zelasko then finished fourth in the 5K, registering a time of 16:21.91. That added five points to the team total.
Ava Kurczewski (16:47.84),
Lily Overton (16:48.55) and
Lara Machado Pereira (17:51.46) also posted great times. Kurczewski is now ninth in program history.
The Brown and Gold also placed fourth in the 4x100 relay. The quartet of
Laurie-Ann Desormes, Jones,
Mickaliliah Vassell and Kebe earned a time of 45.96.
Western Michigan had three others finish sixth in their respective events. That began with
Sierra Sommers, as she opened the day with a great showing in the discus. She posted a top throw of 46.43 meters.
Tess Van Dyk just missed out on scoring, recording a mark of 42.10 meters.
Lane Hagens was just behind her with a throw of 41.71 meters.
Emma Henkel continued the scoring train with a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 800 and 1500. She crossed the finish line in a time of 2:10.86 in the 800 and secured a time of 4:26.63 in the 1500. That 1500 time pushed her to seventh in program history.
To end the day, WMU's quartet in the 4x400 relay was able to earn a time of 3:48.30. That just missed out on scoring in the event.
UP NEXT
The Broncos will wait to see who qualifies for the NCAA East Preliminary Meet. Regional competition is set for May 28 and 30 in Lexington, Ky.
