The University of Akron Athletics
USTFCCCA names Barber its Division I National Athlete of the Week
January 13 | Track & Field
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NEW ORLEANS, La. - On the strength of a record-breaking start to his 2015 campaign, Akron junior pole vaulter Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) has been selected by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as its Division I Male National Athlete of the Week, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The accolade is the first of the season for Barber and represents the second time during his distinguished Zips' career in which he has been so honored by the USTFCCCA.
"It is a great honor for him," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "He very much deserves it. He really came through living up to all the pressure and hype of his national record and the Pole Vault Convention Competition."
Competing at the Akron Pole Vault Convention last Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Stile Athletics Field House, Barber established a new facility record surpassing 19-0.25 (5.80m) on his first attempt. His performance helped him best Sam Kendricks (Nike), the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Outdoor Champion to win the competition.
With his efforts, Barber now owns the top-two jumps in the world in 2015 after surpassing 19-3 (5.87m) on Jan. 3 at the Texas Expo Vault in Belton, Texas.
Barber then attempted to set a new collegiate record as the bar was set at 19-4.25. He narrowly missed clearing the height on his second run at the bar.
That mark ties Barber for the fourth-best jump in collegiate history and puts him within five centimeters of the 15-year-old college record set by Jacob Davis of Texas on March 6, 1999.
The Akron Track and Field team returns to action this Friday, Jan. 16, entertaining rival Kent State in a dual meet starting at 7 p.m. at the Stile Athletics Field House.
Players Mentioned
