The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs made the short trip to Ann Arbor on Friday, Feb. 20, to compete in the Silverston Invitational. Hosted by the University of Michigan at the U-M Indoor Track Building, the meet served as a final high-stakes tune-up before the conference championships. The Eagles walked away with an individual event win, multiple podium finishes, and several personal bests, signaling they are in peak form heading into the postseason.
Buratczuk and Clemetson dominate the high jump
The highlight of the evening for the women’s team was a dominant showing in the high jump. Natalie Buratczuk secured the event victory with a clearance of 1.65m. She was closely followed by teammate Shamoya Clemetson, who earned second place by clearing 1.60m, giving the Eagles a 1-2 finish in the event.
Beyond the high jump, the women’s roster saw strong performances across the board. In the sprints, Jaeden Garraway turned heads by running a personal best of 7.75 in the 60m dash finals to lead the EMU results. On the track's longer distances, the Eagles controlled the mile, with Erika Van Loton finishing at 5:15.95 and Frankie Moore at 5:26.59 leading the results, while Cara Weber clocked a personal best of 5:34.59.
The field events also showcased EMU’s depth. Kaydence Doxley and Alimot Alowonle finished fourth and fifth in the long jump, respectively, with marks of 5.46m and 5.44m. In the pole vault, Megan Rybitski cleared 3.70m for a fourth-place finish, and Aleah Johnson took fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 15.71m.
Men’s squad shows strength in throws and hurdles
On the men’s side, the Eagles proved to be a force in the throwing circle and on the hurdles. DeMarrio Roetherford led the charge in the weight throw, earning a second-place finish with an impressive toss of 18.88m. He was joined on the podium by Ray Glory-Ejoyokah, who took third place with a mark of 17.89m.
The hurdles and sprints also saw consistent production. Mill Coleman III had a busy afternoon, finishing third in the 60m hurdles finals with a time of 8.38 after clocking an 8.29 in the prelims. Coleman also participated in the 60m dash prelims, posting a time of 7.08, just ahead of teammate Peyton Caldwell, who ran a personal best of 7.13.
In the vertical jumps, Sam Vesperman cleared 4.60m to take third place in the pole vault, followed by Nathan Gaspersic in fourth at 4.45m. Cason Doolittle also contributed a strong performance, leading the EMU high jump results with a 1.85m clearance and taking third in the shot put results with a toss of 11.59m.
Setting the stage for the MAC Championships
The Silverston Invitational provided the necessary momentum as the programs prepare for the most critical portion of the indoor season. The combination of event wins and personal records suggests that the Eagles are hitting their stride at the perfect moment.
Next on the schedule is the 2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships. The event will be hosted by Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. With the top performers from Ann Arbor looking to carry their success north, the Eagles will aim to contend for conference titles and improve upon their already impressive season marks.
