The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
NCAA Regional
Akron Men Dominate First Day of MAC Outdoor Championships
May 12 | Track & Field
MAC Outdoor Championships Heat Sheets (PDF)
MAC Outdoor Championships Schedule of Events (PDF)
2011 MAC Outdoor Championships – Day One Results (HTML)
DeKALB, Ill. – Fueled by a dominating effort from the Zips' throwers, The University of Akron men's track team wrapped up the first day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships with a commanding lead over the rest of the pack through three events while the women currently sit in fourth place after four.
The Zips' men, who captured the league's indoor crown last February, are seeking their third outdoor title in four seasons, while the women are in search of their fifth outdoor championship in six years. The three-day event continues at 12 p.m. (ET) on Friday and Saturday. Live stats are available, courtesy of Northern Illinois University, and can be accessed throughout the weekend by clicking here.
On the strength of another championship performance from senior Tyler Sweet, who won his third league crown in the javelin in four years with a throw of 213-08, the Akron men accumulated 40 points collectively Thursday and lead Kent State and Eastern Michigan, who are tied for second place with 18 points apiece, by 22 points. Sweet's throw represents the fifth-longest mark in school history.
More than half of UA's points (21) came from the javelin competition alone with three Zips earning points. Following Sweet's 10-point throw, Nick Erdesky captured third place and six points with a toss of 189-10 while Bryan Jones went 189-00 to claim fourth place and five points.
Meanwhile in the hammer throw, junior Eric Hubbard recorded the third-best mark in school history for the second consecutive week with a toss of 199-09, which was good for second place and eight points. Hubbard bested his throw of 198-04, recorded at the Campbell/Wright Invitational at Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex last Friday, while at the same time posting his highest finish at the MAC Outdoors. Also scoring for the Zips in the hammer was sophomore Nick Banke, who finished eighth with a mark of 183-04.
The Zips' men also scored 10 points in the 10k with a 3-5 finish from Scott Meyers (32:16.07) and Heath Harris (32:24.80), respectively.
On the women's side, Valerie Wert and Brittany Funk turned in a pair of strong performances of their own, finishing 3-5 in the hammer. Wert, who won the event a year ago, recorded her best throw of the season – going 193-10 for a third-place finish, while Funk, a freshman, easily posted her strongest throw of her young career, going 182-04 to grab fifth place. Funk's previous high in the event had been 169-05, recorded at the Ashland Open last month.
Also earning points for the women's team was the pole vault duo of Katherine Lee, who placed third with a clearance of 12-08.00, and Ariane Beaumont-Courteau, who tied for fourth after clearing 12-03.50.
Three Zips also competed in the men's decathlon Thursday with Bjorn Johansson, who won the shot put with a toss of 46-03.50, sitting in sixth place after the first five events with 3,598 points. Jones finished day one just behind Johansson in seventh with 3,505 points, followed by Jamey Robson, who sits in ninth place with 3,262 points.
RESULTS – MID-AMERICAN CONFERNCE OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 12, 2011 | Huskie Stadium | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Ill.
TEAM SCORES
MEN (Three Events)
1. Akron (40); t-2. Kent State (18); t-2. Eastern Michigan (18); 4. Central Michigan (17); t-5. Miami (12); t-5. Buffalo (12).
WOMEN (Four Events)
1. Kent State (29); 2. Miami (25); 3. Buffalo (21); 4. Akron (20); 5. Toledo (15); 6. Ohio (14); 7. Eastern Michigan (10), 8. Western Michigan (9), 9. Bowling Green (8), 10. Central Michigan (5).
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
MEN
Hammer: 2. Eric Hubbard, 199-09 (8 points), 8. Nick Banke, 183-04 (1), 9. Austin Levering, 180-02; Javelin: 1. Tyler Sweet, 213-08 (10), 3. Nick Erdesky, 189-10 (6), 4. Bryan Jones, 189-00 (5); 10,000m: 3. Scott Meyers, 32:16.07 (6), 5. Heath Harris, 32:24.80 (4); 100 (Decathlon): 6. Jones, 11.16, 7. Jamey Robson, 11.18, 8. Bjorn Johansson, 11.21; Long Jump (Decathlon): 3. Jones, 22-05.75, t-8. Robson, 20-08.00, t-8. Johansson, 20-08.00, Shot Put (Decathlon): 1. Johansson, 46-03.50, 6. Jones, 38-06.25, 12. Robson, 35-08.75; High Jump (Decathlon): 7. Jones, 6-00.50, 10. Johansson, 5-11.25, 13. Robson, 5-10.00; 400m (Decathlon): 6. Johansson, 51.00, 10. Jones, 53.75, 11. Robson, 53.99.
WOMEN
Hammer: 3. Valerie Wert, 193-10 (6 points), 5. Brittany Funk, 182-04 (4), 14. Carley Ballow, 158-11; Pole Vault: 3. Katherine Lee, 12-08.00 (6), t-4. Ariane Beaumont-Courteau, 12-03.50 (4), 10. Alexandra Wood, 11-03.75; 10,000m: 14. Marissa Baranauskas, 39:09.79.
