The University of Akron Athletics
Track Takes Second Place at All-Ohio Indoor Championships
January 22 | Track & Field
KENT, Ohio - For the second straight week, University of Akron sophomore Willie Brown broke the school record in the 800 as the Zips men's and women's track and field teams each finished second at the All-Ohio Indoor Championships Saturday at Kent State Field House.
After setting the standard in the 800 last weekend at the Kent Duals at Stile Athletics Field House, Brown broke his own record with a winning time of 1:50.65 Saturday, which was nearly one full second faster than his previous mark of 1:51.37. He was one of five individual winners on the day for the men's team, which finished 23 points behind winner Ohio State.
The Zips were led by double winner Phil Ferguson, who captured first place in both the 200 and 400. The junior matched a PR with a time of 21.23 in the 200 and posted a new PR with a time of 47.80 in the 400. UA finished 1-2-5 in the pole vault competition, led by senior Mike Uhle, who cleared 16-09.25. Junior Dan Garrett finished just behind, clearing 16-05.25 while senior Kenny Owens topped 16-01.25.
Senior Mike McCall was the fifth winner on the day for the men's team. McCall cleared 7-00.25 to take first place in the high jump.
Furthermore, the Zips had four additional individuals finish runner up. Collister Fahie took second place in the triple jump (48-09.50) and Max Hiltner finished second in the mile (4:14.93). UA finished 2-4 in the 60 meters with Marcus Ferguson taking second place with a time of 6.87 while Fahie crossed the line at 6.93. Akron also finished 2-3-4 in the long jump with Tyshaun Peoples leading the way with a leap of 24-10.00. Daryl Baptiste (24-07.25) and Fahie (24-01.00) followed closely behind.
UA's 4x400 team of J'Lani Pryce, Brown, KC LaCross and Phil Ferguson took third place with a time of 3:16.04 and Jamey Robson finished fifth in the heptathlon with 4,576 points. The freshman placed third in the pole vault (13-05.25) and shot put (40-04.25), fourth in the long jump (21-02.50) and 60 meters (7.46), and sixth in the 60 hurdles (9.71), 1000 meters (3:00.54) and high jump (5-11.25).
Nick Banke placed sixth in the shot put (55-04.75) and seventh in the weight throw (59-10.25). Scott Meyers took seventh in the 5,000 meters (14:57.11) while Daniel Jackisch (8:29, 63) and Joe McCoy (8:33.48) placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 3,000 meters.
Cassie Schenck and Kim Lorentz each posted a PR to lead the women's team to a 1-2 finish in the 3,000 meter dash. Schenck's winning time of 9:46.47 shattered her previous best of 10:01.59 set in 2009 while Lorentz, the reigning Mid-American Conference Athlete of the Week, clocked in at 9:47.83, which was nearly three seconds better than her previous best of 9:50.47; also set in 2009.
Led by a winning leap of 19-02.00 by Brittany Cheese, the Zips finished 1-3-6 in the long jump. Katherine Lee finished third with a season-high jump of 18-02.25 while DeVonne Howard placed sixth with a mark of 17-08.75. Cheese also placed sixth in the 60 hurdles (8.76).
It was also a big day for Felicia Close, who finished third in the pentathlon with 3,560 points. The senior recorded a PR in the 800 with a winning time of 2:24.06 and placed second in the 60 hurdles (9.00) and long jump (17-06.75). Close also took fourth place in the shot put (35-11.50) and seventh place in the high jump (4-11.50). Kent State's Diana Dumitrescu won the pentathlon with 3,945 points.
Also turning in strong performances for the women's team were freshman Ariane Beaumont-Courteau, who cleared 13-01.75 in the pole vault for a second-place finish, and senior LaTalia Jones, who finished third in the 60 meter (7.64) and fourth in the 200 meter (25.26). Rounding out the list of Akron scorers were sophomore Abigail Kuelling, who placed fifth in the high jump (5-03.25); sophomore Katie Wise, who took eighth in the triple jump (35-10.50); and freshman Shauniece Steele, who finished eighth in the 400 (57.27). Lee also finished fourth in the pole vault, clearing 12-11.50.
The UA men's and women's teams will next compete at the Penn State National next weekend in University Park, Pa. The two-day event gets underway next Friday, Jan. 28.
