The Eastern Michigan University track and field teams officially brought their 2026 outdoor campaign to a close this past week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships East Preliminary Round. Hosted by the University of Kentucky from May 27 through May 30, the meet served as the penultimate stage of the collegiate season, bringing together the top talent from across the eastern United States.
Nine total student-athletes earned the right to compete in Lexington, representing a cross-section of the program’s strengths in sprinting, middle-distance running, jumping, and throwing. While the weekend marked the end of the competitive calendar for the Eagles, the results underscored a season defined by historical upward mobility within the program’s all-time record books.
Women’s sprints and relays shine
Walkes and the 4x400m records
On the track, Saraiah Walkes continued to cement her legacy as one of the premier sprinters in Eastern Michigan history. Competing in the first round of the 200m, Walkes clocked a time of 23.59 seconds, finishing 36th overall in a highly competitive field. This performance further solidifies her standing as the second-fastest performer in EMU history for the event, trailing only the legendary Sevatheda Fynes.
The women’s success extended to the 4x400m relay, where the quartet of Walkes, Uduak Udosoh, Demetria Henderson, and Josephine Oloye delivered a standout performance in the quarterfinals. The team posted a time of 3:35.05, which now stands as the second-fastest time in program history. Notably, this relay squad has been dominant all year, as the only mark faster than their Lexington performance is their own school record of 3:33.86, set earlier this season at the Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Open.
Field excellence in the triple jump
In the field events, sophomore Mariah Taylor represented the Eagles in the triple jump. Taylor finished 29th in the preliminary round with a leap of 12.51m (41-00.50). This mark is significant as it would rank seventh all-time at EMU. Taylor’s appearance at the East Preliminaries capped off a record-breaking year for the sophomore, who entered the meet as the current program record holder with a season-best leap of 12.92m.
Men’s middle distance and field dominance
Wiles continues postseason push
Leading the way for the men’s track entries was Kian Wiles, who competed in the 1500m. Wiles finished 23rd overall with a time of 3:46.12. His appearance at the NCAA East Preliminary Round followed a highly successful conference campaign where he claimed the 1500m title at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outdoor Championships. Wiles leaves the 2026 season as the No. 2 performer all-time at Eastern in the 1500m, thanks to a season-best time of 3:39.87.
Throwers leave their mark
The Eagles’ throwers also saw significant action in Lexington. Jake McEachern competed in the hammer throw, placing 23rd with a toss of 63.36m (207-10). This specific preliminary throw is strong enough to rank 10th on the EMU all-time list, though McEachern’s season best of 64.29 meters already sits at No. 6 in program history.
Freshman Ray Glory-Ejoyokah made his mark in the discus, recording a throw of 51.06m (167-6) to finish 42nd. Despite being in the early stages of his collegiate career, Glory-Ejoyokah has already climbed the ranks, with his preliminary performance ranking as the ninth-best in school history. His season best of 55.02m currently holds the No. 4 spot on the EMU all-time list.
Oliveira closes out jump season
Rounding out the men’s field performances, Gabe Oliveira competed in the triple jump, finishing 27th with a leap of 15.30m (50-02.50). Oliveira’s consistency throughout the year was evident, as his season-best mark of 15.54m ranks seventh on the program's outdoor triple jump list.
A season of historical marks
The 2026 NCAA East Preliminary Round served as a fitting conclusion to a season where the Eagles frequently challenged long-standing school records. With nine student-athletes qualifying for the regional round and multiple performers moving into the top ten of the all-time lists, the program continues to demonstrate its ability to compete at a high level on the national stage. Fans can continue to follow the progress of EMU cross country and track and field through the university's official athletic website and social media channels.
