LYNCHBURG, Va. – It may have been cold and snowy outside, but the athletes of EMU Track & Field were nice and warm inside the Liberty University Indoor Track Complex in Lynchburg for the Liberty Kickoff Invitational on Thursday and Friday to open up their 2025-26 indoor campaign. The Royals put their training to the test against a deep field that included several Division I schools as well as ODAC rivals Lynchburg, Hampden-Sydney, Hollins, and Randolph, Roanoke, and Sweet Briar.
The men's team made a season-opening statement with a strong performance, especially in the field events.
Filipo Toelau, a first-year from Harrisonburg., led the way with a school record performance. In his first-ever meet for the Royals, Toelau ran a school record time of 8.21 in the 60-meter hurdles. That was one of 11 EMU All-Time Top 10 performances on the weekend for the Royal men.
Highlights
- SPRINTS
- 60m Dash: First-year Donnell Turner was the top Royal in the 60m, crossing the line in 7.03. placing him second in EMU history for the event.
- 200m Dash: Turner also showed out in the 200m, sprinting one lap of the track in 22.55, which places him fourth on EMU's all-time list. Ahsan Abul-Qasim, also a first-year, came in right behind him in 22.56, slotting into fifth place in EMU history for the indoor 200m.
- 300m Dash: In his first race since winning ODAC 400-meter hurdle title last outdoor season, Nick Arnold placed 11th overall in a personal record time of 35.32. The Greensboro, N.C., resident improved upon his #3 EMU all-time placing in the event. Josh Joseph, a first-year from Suffolk, Va., now ranks 10th in EMU history after running a time of 38.02 in his first college race.
- 60m Hurdles: Toelau's school record time was good for seventh in the prelims, advancing him to the final alongside D1 athletes from Virginia, Duke, Liberty and High Point as well another ODAC hurdler from Roanoke. Toelau maintained seventh place with an 8.28, edging out the Roanoke runner.
- JUMPS
- Long Jump: Abul-Qasim, hailing from Front Royal, Va., wasted no time adding his name to the EMU record book. Abul-Qasim's best jump of 6.93m (22'8.75") puts him second in EMU history for the indoor long jump, and it was also good for second place in the meet, trailing only Osborne J'meriyon of Virginia Union.
- THROWS
- Weight Throw: Koran Rucker led the Royals in the weight throw with a mark of 14.87m, finishing 12th overall. The first-year from Philadelphia now resides in third on EMU's all-time list for the weight throw. Fellow first-year Silas Bates earned a mark of 11.51m (37'9"), placing him 10th in EMU history for the weight throw.
- Shot Put: Rucker made the finals of the shot put placing ninth overall. His best throw of 15.07m (49'5.25") lands him in third on EMU's all-time list for the indoor shot put. Bates wound up with a mark of 13.03m (42'8.75"), good for seventh in EMU history for the indoor shot put.
What's Next
EMU Track & Field's opening weekend continues this Sunday, Dec. 7 with a trip to Winchester for the Holiday Kickoff Open, hosted by Shenandoah University. It will be the Royals' last meet before an extended break from competition for the holidays. The meet at Wilkins Athletics & Events Center in Winchester will begin at 11 a.m.
