The University of Akron Athletics
Zips To Continue Indoor Season At Penn State National This Weekend
January 24 | Track & Field
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field program will have the opportunity to compete against individuals from some of the best schools across the East Coast and a number of high-level professional athletes this weekend at the Penn State National.
The two-day, unscored meet begins with multi events starting at Noon Friday and continues with a mixture of finals and preliminary running events throughout the afternoon. Field event finals are split across the two days with the seeded running event finals starting Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Penn State Athletics will provide a live results feed on-line.
In addition to the host Nittany Lions, the Zips will be competing against individuals from East Carolina, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Temple, Saint Joseph's, Syracuse and more. In all, Akron will send 36 men and women to compete at Ashenfelter Indoor Track on the campus of Penn State University.
The Zips men's team, which is listed No. 14 in the country in the Collegiate Dual Meet rankings according to Track and Field News, is coming off an 80-71 victory over local rival Kent State last weekend in Stile Athletics Field House.
It has been a historical couple of weeks for UA freshman and the nation's No. 1-ranked pole vaulter Shawn Barber, who smashed the school's indoor record at the Eastern Michigan Triangular with a jump of 18-04.50 then took down the facility record by clearing 18-02.75 at the Kent Duals. Barber (field) and teammate Gabriel Genovesi (track) – who was a double winner in the 800-meters and 4x400 relay team last weekend – were named Mid-American Conference athletes of the week Tuesday. Genovesi enters the week ranked sixth in the country in the 800m after finishing in 1:50.87 against the Golden Flashes.
Alexis Cooks, the MAC's reigning Female Field Athlete of the Week, and defending conference hammer throw champion Brittany Funk are ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in the nation, respectively, in the weight throw to highlight the Zips' women competitors.
