The University of Akron Athletics
Akron T&F Sweeps All-Ohio Championships
April 22 | Track & Field
Cincinnati – The University of Akron track and field teams swept the All-Ohio Championships, held this weekend at the University of Cincinnati's Gettler Stadium. Among the many highlights was Zip senior Mike Meditz breaking his own school record and winning the 400 hurdles with a time of 51.51.
Meditz additionally ran the lead leg of the 4x400 relay team. Although placing second at the meet with a time of 3:10.71, the quartet, including Brandon Wells, Howard Harris and James Howell, set a school record and propelled the men's team to their victory.
Akron's men, in fourth place after day one, used its second-place finish in the 4x400 relay – the last event of the day – to edge host Cincinnati 171.5 to 162.5. Third place on the men's side went to Ohio State (143.5), followed by Kent State (113), Ashland (80.5), Ohio (61), Miami (58.5), Findlay (12.5), Central State (8), Xavier (6) and Youngstown State (2).
The Zips women scored 174.5 points to win the 15-team field. Cincinnati's women's team placed second with 128.5 points followed by Ohio State (84.5), Bowling Green (79.5), Ohio (65.5), Toledo (60), Kent State (43.5), Findlay (43), Ashland (37.5), Youngstown (34), Dayton (23), Xaxier (16), Central State (14.5), Wooster (10) and Wright State (4).
Day one was highlighted by Akron taking the top three spots in the women's pole vault, in a field which included Big East indoor champion Tera Meier (Cincinnati). Jessica Miller won, followed by teammates Carrie Kayes and Crystal Goldsmith, all three clearing 12-5.50 (3.80) to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championship.
Auston Papay took third in the discus, throwing a season-best 178-6 (54.40). Randall Hafner came in fifth in the event with a distance of 168-5 (51.33), followed immediately by Ray Weisenbarger with a season-best throw of 167-2 (50-95). In the women's hammer, Stevi Large placed second with a throw of 194-9 (59.35).
Other highlights from day one included Heidi Gross placing third in the 3,000 Steeplechase (11:04.24), Weston Lott placing fifth in the pole vault (15-1; 4.60), Lauren Whitehill placing third in the javelin (131-2, 39.98).
There were numerous Zips to have outstanding performances Saturday. Leading the way was junior Cadeau Kelley, who won both the long jump and triple jump. Kelley improved on his national standings in the long jump with a leap of 24-3.5 (7.40), while having a season-best leap of 48-6.25 (14.79) in the triple. Johnny Adams followed Kelley in the long jump, placing second with a leap of 23-3.25, while placing fifth in the triple jump (43-10).
Harris nearly swept two events, winning the 200 meters with a time of 21.37 and placing second in the 100 with a time of 10.54 (two one-hundreths off the winning time by Cincinnati's John Bowie). Akron also had two other score in the 100 as Aaron Dobson placed fourth (10.70) and Anthony Thomas placed seventh (10.78). Dobson additionally placed fifth in the 200 while Thomas was seventh in the event. On the women's side, Corine Gavin-Hall placed second in both the 100 and 200 meters with times of 11.93 and 24.43, respectively. Gavin-Hall additionally helped Akron win the 4x100 relay (46.35), along with Tamala Perryman, Chantell Cargile and LaTalia Jones.
Head coach Dennis Mitchell pointed to performances in the women's 800 and 1500 as keys to a victory. The Zips took 1-2 in the 800 with Larisa Arcip winning with a time of 2:12.26 and Rachel Zubricky placing second with a time of 2:12.69. The duo also placed 1-2 in the 1500, while Akron also added a fourth and fifth place finish in the event. Arcip ran the metric mile in 4:27.79, while Zubricky turned in an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 4:26.99. Rounding out the Zips in the 1500 was Sediah Erskine (4:36.13) and Colleen Moran 4:36.86).
Two pleasant surprises to claim first place finishes were sophomore Allison Lawyer and freshman Zach Harper. Lawyer came through with a personal-record distance of 149-4 (45.52) to win the shot put, while Harper won the 110-meter high hurdles with a season-best time of 14.89. Senior A.J. Oyer placed second in the 110 high hurled with a time of 15.00.
Akron rolled up points on the men's side by taking three of the top five spots in the shot. Papay placed second, making a big leap in the national standings with a distance of 58-8.50. Hafner placed fourth, also making a jump in the national standings with a distance of 56-4. Weisenbarger placed fifth, having his best distance in the event (55-7), over three feet better than his pervious best.
Hafner kept the solid performance going with a season-best throw of 202-2 to place third in the hammer, which is 12 feet better than his previous best and an hefty improvement upon his national standing in the event.
Other highlights included Jessica Bright running her best time of the season in the 100 hurldes (14.35) and placing second in the event. Natalie Sako placed second in the high jump (5-10.75) while Lisa Ravn was fourth (5-7). Ryan Jones placed second in the men's high jump, despite clearing the same height (6-10.75) as winner Marious Iacovou of Ohio State.
Akron will split up next weekend with a portion of the team participating in the historic Penn Relays (April 26-28) and a portion traveling to Des Moines, Iowa for the Drake Relays (April 27-28).
