- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Allendale Today
By the People, for the People
Central Michigan Track & Field Logs Sixth Top-10 Result at GVSU Big Meet
Chippewas add personal bests in sprints, hurdles, and distance events on final day of competition.
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Central Michigan Track & Field concluded a successful weekend at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet on Saturday, adding a top-10 finish in the 4000m distance medley relay and several individual personal bests in sprints, hurdles, and distance events.
Why it matters
The strong performances across multiple events bode well for the Chippewas as they prepare to compete in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships in a couple of weeks.
The details
The 4000m distance medley relay team of Maya Guikema, Eva Thompson, Jessie Gibbins, and Grace VanderKooi finished eighth with a time of 11:50.25, which ranks 10th best in program history. Sprinter Linnearia Richards won the 60m hurdles in 8.70 seconds, while teammate Sophia Garland took second in the 60m dash with a time of 7.64 seconds. In distance events, Kate Jenkins placed third in the 3000m with a personal best of 9:56.92, and Danica Shamion set a personal record of 25.15 seconds in the 200m, good for third place.
- The GVSU Big Meet took place on February 14-15, 2026.
- The Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships are scheduled for February 27-28, 2026.
The players
Central Michigan Track & Field
The track and field program at Central Michigan University.
Jenny Swieton
The Director of Track & Field at Central Michigan University.
Maya Guikema
A member of the Chippewas' 4000m distance medley relay team.
Eva Thompson
A member of the Chippewas' 4000m distance medley relay team.
Jessie Gibbins
A member of the Chippewas' 4000m distance medley relay team.
Grace VanderKooi
A member of the Chippewas' 4000m distance medley relay team.
Linnearia Richards
A sprinter for the Chippewas who won the 60m hurdles.
Sophia Garland
A sprinter for the Chippewas who finished second in the 60m dash.
Kate Jenkins
A distance runner for the Chippewas who placed third in the 3000m with a personal best.
Danica Shamion
A sprinter for the Chippewas who set a personal record in the 200m.
What they’re saying
“I'm really proud of how everybody competed this weekend. Performances like we had this weekend bodes well going into the MAC Championships in a couple of weeks.”
— Jenny Swieton, Director of Track & Field (cmuchippewas.com)
What’s next
The Chippewas will compete next at the University of Michigan's Silverston Invitational on February 20, 2026, before hosting the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships on February 27-28, 2026.
The takeaway
Central Michigan Track & Field demonstrated its depth and versatility across sprints, hurdles, and distance events at the GVSU Big Meet, setting the stage for a strong showing at the upcoming MAC Indoor Championships.
