The University of Akron Athletics
Stevi Large Makes Return Trip to NCAA
May 27 | Track & Field
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Akron sophomore Stevi Large broke her own school and Mid-American Conference record in the hammer, placing third in the the event at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track & Field Championships held at Missouri's Walton Stadium, to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Large (Sheridan, Ohio/Somerset HS) had a throw of 202-10 (61.83), which was three inches better than her previous best, set at the 2007 MAC Outdoor Championships. Large, who competed in this year's NCAA Indoor Championship in the weight throw and the shot put, added an 11th-place finish in the shot put with a distance of 157-7 (47.99).
Junior Crystal Goldsmith (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville HS) just missed an automatic bid to the NCAA Outdoors in the high jump. While she and two others tied for fourth with a vault of 12-11.75 (3.96), an NCAA rule was instituted to determine a distinct fifth-place finisher for automatic qualification. In the jump-off, Goldsmith, who turned in a career-effort clearing 12-11.75 for the second-best vault in UA history, was medically unable to continue and, even though one of her competitors, Indiana State's Kylie Hutson, did not clear a height, she earned the final bid from the Mideast Region.
Also in the pole vault, juniors Jennifer Peck (Maumee, Ohio/Springfield HS) and Jessica Miller (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) tied for 13th, each clearing their career-best height of 12-6 (3.81). Freshman Carrie Kayes (Green, Ohio/Green HS) placed 20th with a vault of 12-0 (3.66).
The Zips had a another student-athlete just miss an automatic bid Saturday when junior Ryan Jones (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS) placed sixth in the high jump. Jones, who placed ninth at last year's regional, was one of three competitors to clear 6-11 (2.11). However, the two others, who tied for fourth, cleared the height on their second attempt, while Jones accomplished the feat on his third. Jones, Goldsmith and Natalie Sako, who placed sixth in the women's high jump, will now wait to see if they could receive one of the few at-large berths to the NCAA Outdoors.
Akron senior Rachel Zubricky (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood HS) was the only UA runner to reach the regional final, placing eighth in the 1500 with a time of 4:25.80.
The Zips also had competitors in the men's shot put, men's triple jump and men's 4x400 relay on Saturday. In the shot, Auston Papay, who qualified for the NCAA Outdoors in the discus the previous day, placed 12th in the shot Saturday with a distance of 56-4.75 (17.19), followed by senior teammates Randall Hafner, who placed 15th with a distance of 55-7 (16.94), and Ray Weisenbarger, who placed 20th with a distance of 53-8.50 (16.37). In the triple jump, junior Careau Kelley placed 20th with a leap of 47-6.50 (14.49). Akron's 4x400 relay team was disqualified for stepping out of their lane.
Zips at the 2007 NCAA Mideast Regional Track & Field Championships
* – Automatically Advance to NCAA Outdoor Championships
FRIDAY (MAY 25)
Event Akron Participants Finish Result
Men's Hammer: Randall Hafner 13th 191-4 (58.33)
Women's High Jump: Natalie Sako 6th 5-9.25 (1.76)
Lisa Ravn 15th 5-7.25 (1.71)
Women's Shot Put: Stevi Large 23rd 44-8 (13.61)
Men's 4x100 Relay: James Howell, Aaron Dobson, 15th 40.54
James Manley, Anthony Thomas
Men's Discus: Auston Papay * 3rd 180-2 (54.92)
Randall Hafner 12th 168-0 (51.20)
Ray Weisenbarger 14th 166-8 (50.81)
Women's 1500: Rachel Zubricky (PRELIM) 12th 4:23.59 (advanced to final)
Women's 100 Hurdles: Jessica Bright (PRELIM) 29th 14.83
Men's Long Jump: Cadeau Kelley 23rd 23-2.50 (7.07)
Women's 100: Corine Gavin-Hall (PRELIM) 23rd 12.13
Men's 400: James Howell (PRELIM) 28th 48.06
Women's 800: Larisa Arcip (PRELIM) 15th 2:10.16
Men's 400 Hurdles: Mike Meditz (PRELIM) 17th 53.18
Men's 200: Anthony Thomas (PRELIM) 15th 21.41
Women's 200: Corine Gavin-Hall (PRELIM) 18th 24.50
SATURDAY (MAY 26)
Event Akron Participants Finish Result
Women's Hammer: Stevi Large * (UA and MAC Record) 3rd 202-10 (61.83)
Amy Lavalley NA (foul)
Men's High Jump: Ryan Jones 6th 6-11.00 (2.11)
Men's Shot Put: Auston Papay 12th 56-4.75 (17.19)
Randall Hafner 15th 55-7.00 (16.94)
Ray Weisenbarger 20th 53-8.50 (16.37)
Women's Pole Vault: Crystal Goldsmith 4th-t# 12-11.75 (3.96)
#-for NCAA, placed 6th after medically unable to continue in jump off
Jennifer Peck 13th-t 12-6.00 (3.81)
Jessica Miller 13th-t 12-6.00 (3.81)
Carrie Kayes 20th 12-0.00 (3.66)
Women's Discus: Stevi Large 11th 157-7 (47.99)
Men's Triple Jump: Cadeau Kelley 20th 47-6.50 (14.49)
Women's 1500: Rachel Zubricky (FINAL) 8th 4:25.80
Men's 4x400 Relay: Mike Meditz, Marcus Davis, DQ
Anthony Thomas, James Howell
Players Mentioned
