Sophomore runner sets new school track record

Coming into the 3,000-meter run at the Eastern Michigan Classic on Saturday, Aiman Scullion expected to run fast. He didn’t expect to break a school record though.

“I was planning on running a fast race,” the sophomore said. “I just didn’t know how fast it would be.”

Scullion crossed the finish line in 8 minutes, 18.36 seconds, edging the school indoor record by a tenth of a second.

“That (was) the performance of the meet,” coach Bill Lawson said. “And he looked good doing it.”

Scullion finished 2nd in the event behind Eastern Michigan’s Josh Karanja. Assistant coach Mark Croghan said Scullion ran the race perfectly.

“He moved up through the field, raced really well,” he said. “(He) executed the race plan brilliantly and put himself in a great position.”

Scullion’s run highlighted a day of strong performances by the Kent State indoor track teams in Ypsilanti.

“I would say a good majority of our athletes came and competed very hard and got a lot done,” Lawson said.

Senior Jaroslaw Zakrzewski joined fellow senior Shamel Smith by provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw. Zakrzewski’s toss of 65 feet, 1.75 inches also gave him the win.

Not to be outdone, teammate John Harper threw for a second place finish and a new personal best of 63-1.5.

In the sprints, sophomore Curtis Eaton Jr. outran Eastern Michigan’s Nate Blackwell for first in the 400-meter dash. Blackwell is ranked second in the Mid-American Conference behind Eaton in the 400.

Eaton’s time of 49.12 was slower than normal because of the track, Lawson said.

“This track at Eastern Michigan is a very tight 200 meter track,” he said. “The times will not be quite as fast.”

On the women’s team, senior Andrea Bryson took first in the 60-meter dash in 7.63 seconds. She also placed second in the 200-meter dash with a 25.62 sprint.

“Andrea Bryson had another good day,” Lawson said. “(An) all-around great performance.”

Sophomore Kelly Gephart set a new personal record of 5:05.05 while winning the one-mile run.

Competing unattached, senior redshirt LeVania Henderson tossed a first-place throw in the shot put with a 49-1.5 effort.

Overall, Lawson said the meet was a good setup for the MAC Indoor Championships in Eastern Michigan in two weeks.

“We’re going to be familiar with what’s going on, how long it takes to drive back and forth to the track,” he said. “I think now we have more familiarity with our surroundings and this will set us up to even do better in two weeks.”

Contact sports correspondent Josh Johnston at [email protected].