WINCHESTER, Va. – EMU Track & Field returned to action on Sunday from their extended holiday break to compete in the Kaye and JJ Smith Invitational hosted by Shenandoah University. It is safe to say that the Royals shook off the rust with solid performances across the board.

Bellamy Immanuel and Jowell Gonzalez-Santiago led the Royal men with two event wins apiece. Immanuel captured the gold in the 800-meter run and the one-mile run, while first-year Gonzalez-Santiago emerged victorious in the long jump and the 200-meter dash. For the women's team, Angel David, also a first-year athlete, won the triple jump. In total, 8 Royals finished in the top three in their events, and the Royals combined for 28 top-eight finishes across all events.

FULL MEET RESULTS

Highlights – Men

• DISTANCE/MID-DISTANCE
  • Immanuel posted times of 2:02.13 in the 800m and 4:26.39 in the mile run.
  • Abenezer Abebe also shined in the 800m, crossing the line in sixth place with a time of 2:12.81.
  • Jansen Miller led the pack of Royals in the 3000-meter run, finishing eighth and completing the 15-lap race in 9:34.46.
• SPRINTS
  • Gonzalez-Santiago sprinted one lap around the track in 22.95 seconds to break the tape in the 200m.
  • Damon Morgan advanced to the final in the 60-meter dash, clocking in at 7.12 seconds to finish fourth.
  • Shaddai Bailey represented the Royals in the 60-meter hurdles, placing fourth overall in a time of 9.45 seconds.
• JUMPS
  • Gonzalez-Santiago leaped into the sand pit with a high mark of 6.45m (21'-1.75"), outjumping the runner-up by seven and a half inches.
  • First-year Micah Mast posted a personal best height of 3.80m (12'-5.5") in the pole vault to place fifth overall.
• THROWS
  • Christian Schmidt stood out for EMU in the shot put with a best throw of 12.93m (42'-5"), an indoor PR.

Highlights – Women

• DISTANCE/MID-DISTANCE
  • The Royal women placed fourth through seventh in the one-mile run, led by Jenna Weaver's fourth-place time of 5:39.11. Halie Mast (fifth/5:39.75), Elili Asefa (sixth/5:39.93), and Lucy Unzicker (seventh/5:44.89) completed the EMU quartet in the event.
  • Asefa's best performance of the meet came in the 800m, finishing third and clocking in at 2:36.22 to secure the bronze.
• SPRINTS
  • Sha'Dymon Blanton placed third in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 10.02 seconds.
• JUMPS
  • David's winning mark in the triple jump was 10.48m (34'-4.5").  
  • Faith Schultz took home third place in the long jump, landing in the sand pit at 4.73m (15'-6").
• THROWS
  • Senior Kate Landis scored a point for the Royals in the shot put, placing eighth with a best throw of 9.46m (31'-0.25").

What's Next
The EMU Track & Field team will split up and travel to two meets on Saturday, Jan. 20. A contingent of sprinters will go to the SPIRE Midwest Open in Geneva, Ohio, while another group of athletes will stay in-state for the Finn Pincus Invitational in Salem, Va.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU track & field, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.