READING, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Track and Field backed up a strong opening day with several stellar efforts on the way to a fifth-place team finish at the 2025 MAC Indoor Championships. With depth in the sprints, and podium finishes in hurdles, jumps, distance, relays, and throws, the Eagles were a couple points in a multi away from scoring in all areas of the meet.
Ni'Male Greenwood set a new Championship Record and claimed gold in the 60 Meters and won his section in the 200 Meter Dash to claim silver.
The seven seconds of the 60 meter dash was certainly a highlight for the Eagles. Eastern had never earned an indoor medal in a sprint at the championships, but they qualified three for the final. Greenwood ran a program-best 6.83 to hold off a strong challenge from Misericordia's Richard Billings. Billings also broke the Meet record, but finished .01 behind for silver.
James Ugorji finished fifth and
Jason Bateman came across in sixth to give the Eagles 17 points in the event. It is the only time in program history the Eagles have put three individuals on the podium and the most points scored in a single event since Evan Wildermuth and Toni Oladeji took first and second in the 2019 Championships.
Ugorji and Greenwood also climbed up on the podium after the 200. Ugorji finished fifth in the event.
Ryle Mellinger came through with a flat-track program record an d a third-place finish in the mile. In seventh after 400 meters, the junior came through his first half mile in 2:19 and change. He ran negative splits on each of his final four laps to grab Eastern's first medal in the event ever.
Robert Walton ran to fifth place in a very competitive 800 Meter Field, and
Ian Hopkins and
Daniel Franklin finished fifth and eighth in the Hurdles.
Lawrence Day took sixth in the High Jump and
Jeric Lewis finished seventh in the Triple Jump.
Derrick Swain also made history when he became the first Eastern man to reach a Championship final inside. He reached the final with a 13.57 meter effort on his second toss, and that mark was enough for an eighth place finish when he stepped into the ring for his final effort. The first-year delivered the first 14-meter effort in program history to move up a spot and claim two points for his team. Eastern had never had a top-20 finish indoors in the Shot.
The Eagles also picked up single points in the 4 x800 and 4 x 400 Meter relays.
The 65 points are the most for an Eastern Men's team at an indoor Championship since the team scored 84.5 and also finished fifth in 2019.
With his time in the 60, Greenwood is currently tied for 17th in the country in the event and is currently in position to qualify for the Division III Championships.
