The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Rifle Sets Records at Mid-Atlantic Conference Open
October 01 | Rifle
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The University of Akron rifle squad capped off the two-day Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) Invitational with a victory over rival Navy on Sunday. The Zips fell just short of the Midshipman in Saturday's opening action.
Akron downed the host squad by two points in Sunday's action, recording a team record 4610 points to Navy's 4608. UA also set new school records in both disciplines in Sunday's match, shooting 2279 in the smallbore and 2331 in the air rifle.
"As a team we have wanted this for years and the performance of our athletes earned this hard fought contest," coach Newt Engle said. "The challenge now will be to maintain our level of intensity and keep moving forward from here."
Victoria Brown and John Hupp led the way in Sunday's smallbore with personal bests of 573 each, good for a share of second place. Sarah Benjamin was just two points behind with a 571. The team smallbore score of 2279 was four points better then the previous record set in 2006.
Benjamin's 589 in Sunday's air rifle placed in her a tie for first with Navy's Ryan Williams, with Benjamin taking the centered shots tie-breaker. Former NCAA champion Jenna Compton was third with a 584 and Nicole Dietrich shot a new personal best 580. Akron's 2331 team score was four points better than the record set last season at the University of the Sciences.
In Saturday's opening day of competition, the Zips took second with a score of 4567 behind Navy's 4591. Brown (571), Benjamin (569), and Hupp (568) led the way in the smallbore for Akron. Senior Ryan Stein finished third in the air rifle with a 584. Benjamin and Hupp were right behind with 583 and 582, respectively.
Akron will have its home-opener on Saturday against John Jay College at 9:00 a.m. at Schrank Hall South.
