The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships
Akron captures Men's Indoor MAC Track Champioship; Women finish second
February 28 | Track & Field
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Akron men's track and field team came together as one to overcome an early second-day deficit en route to claiming the Zips second consecutive and fourth overall Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The outcome of the meet came down to the final race, the 4x400 relay where the quartet of sophomore Miles Baldwin (Cincinnati, Ohio), sophomore Mike Ohiembor (Dayton, Ohio), senior Sean Weems (Maple Heights, Ohio) and sophomore Brent Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio) crossed the line first in 3:17.44 to catapult the Zips into the championship.
The Akron women's squad narrowly missed making it a clean sweep for the Zips finishing three points behind Eastern Michigan for the women's team title.
"It was bittersweet between the men and women," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "The men did a great job coming from behind against a very hot Eastern Michigan team. It came down to the last event for both teams in the 4 x 400 relay. Despite our women running their best time of the year, they just came up four one-hundredths of a second short. The men capped off their team championship with a great win in the event."
Akron sophomore Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) was tabbed as the Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet capturing the 800 meters in 1:53.10, while junior Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) was honored as the Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet after setting a conference-record mark of 19-0.25 (5.80m) to win the men's pole vault.
"I was very happy with my performances," said Murphy. "My goal was to win 20 points for the team and that plan was successful. As far as the team title is concerned, it is very exciting to be here for two years and win two indoor MAC titles. I am very excited to see what this team can do outdoors and the next few seasons."
Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell was tabbed as the conference's men's Coach of the Year for the ninth time following the Zips' dramatic triumph.
"I am very proud of how both the men and women performed and stayed tough through so many hard battles," said Mitchell. "Clayton (Murphy) was very deserving of outstanding track performance of the meet and Shawn (Barber) shined again with his award as well."
Gray also captured a championship winning the men's 400 meters in 49.23.
"I felt great about my performance," Gray explained. "I couldn't have done it without the support of my team. They definitely pushed me through the finish line, both for the 400 meters, and the 4x400m relay. At one point we were 40 points down and we started to turn it around and the guys started feeding off each other. It was a team effort and I couldn't have been prouder of the guys."
Garnering titles in the women's competition were seniors Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) in the high jump (6-0.50) and Rachel Christian (Columbus, Ohio) in the 60-meter dash (7.49). Christian's time was the third-fastest in program history.
In the men's competition, Akron finished first with 152 points, followed by Eastern Michigan (142.50 points), Kent State (91.50 points), Buffalo (73 points) and Central Michigan (64 points).
On the women's side, Eastern Michigan claimed the title with 110.75 points with Akron (107.75 points), Kent State (90.75), Northern Illinois (79 points), Buffalo (50 points), Toledo (48 points), Western Michigan (45 points), Central Michigan (39.75 points), Bowling Green (35 points), Miami (26 points), Ball State (22 points) and Ohio (nine points) follow the Eagles in the final tabulations.
The women's team race also came down to 4x400 relay as less than two seconds separated third through sixth place, where the Zips' team of sophomore Desiree Garland (Duquesne, Pa.), sophomore Daziah Green (Canton, Ohio), senior Shauniece Steele (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior Skyler Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished in 3:50.57.
Murphy defended his title in the men's mile crossing the line first in 4:09.09, while sophomore Dan Zupan (Berea, Ohio) posted a fourth-place finish in 4:12.42.
In the opening event in second-day action in the heptathlon, junior Quentin Cieslinski (Madison, Ohio), freshman Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and senior John Dahlstrand (Erie, Pa.) posted times of 8.42, 8.45 and 9.01 in the 60-meter hurdles.
The pole vault followed with Cieslinski, Dahlstrand and Latimer cleared 14-4.50, 11-5.00 and 11-5.00, respectively. The 1,000-meter run closed out the heptathlon with Cieslinski and Latimer recording times of 2:52.92 and 3:00.75.
The Akron trio of Latimer, Cieslinski and Dahlstrand finished the seven-event competition earning fourth-, fifth- and eight-place finishes with cumulative scores of 5,246, 5,224 and 3,919, respectively.
The Zips collected second- and sixth-place performances in the women's triple jump as sophomore Weronika Gaudyn (Cracow, Poland) and senior Iyisha Weaver (Philadelphia, Pa.) soared to jumps of 41-6.00 and 38-9.50.
Junior Casey Slane (Marion, Ohio) placed seventh in the men's shot put with a throw of 53-3.00, while junior Alexis Cooks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was third in the women's shot put (52-6.50).
Latimer was the Zips' top finisher in the high jump clearing 6-6.75 to place eighth.
Sophomore Natalie Zidd (Hinckley, Ohio) crossed the line in 4:59.91 to finish eighth in the women's mile, while also placing sixth in the 800 meters (2:15.77).
In the women's 60-meter hurdles, Willis placed third with a run of 8.58, while in the men's race, senior Kyle Walker (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished second in 8.07.
Latimer cleared 6-6.75 to garner an eighth-place effort in the men's high jump.
Sophomore Matt Rowland (Bellevue, Ohio) picked up valuable points in the men's pole vault eclipsing 17-0 to finish second.
Green clocked a 57.17 mark in the women's 400 meters to place fourth.
Juniors Bryce Cheek (Lewis Center, Ohio) and Julius Ruby (Trotwood, Ohio) crossed the line in second and third, respectively, with times of 6.84 and 6.90.
Christian was the Zips' top finisher in the women's 200 (25.22), while in the men's race, sophomore Alante Oliver (Dayton, Ohio) and Ruby registered second- and fourth-place efforts in 22.09 and 22.18.
Turning in the third-fastest time (8:20.15) in program history in the men's 3,000 meters, senior Kyle Cochrun (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) finished second.
"I am extremely thrilled and honored to finally break a record of a legend here at Akron (Stevie Large, Akron NCAA Champion), but extremely disappointed to not win the team title," said senior Brittany Funk (Jeromesville, Ohio). "That was the biggest goal of the weekend, but I have been very honored and thankful to be a part of this program."
The Zips now must awaiting the announcement of the field for the NCAA Championship to see which Akron student-athletes have qualified for the championship to be hosted by the University of Arkansas, March 13-14.
AKRON MEN'S RESULTS:
Heptathlon: Jordan Latimer (fourth-5,246) Quentin Cieslinski (fifth-5,224*) and John Dahlstrand (eighth-3,919); Shot Put: Casey Slane (seventh-53-3.00*); High Jump: Jordan Latimer (eighth-6-6.75) John Dahlstrand (ninth-6-4.75) and Quentin Cieslinski (11th-6-2.75); Triple Jump: Mike Ohiembor (third-49-6.50), Joe Oduho (sixth-46-4.0*) and John Dahlstrand (seventh-45-1); Mile: Clayton Murphy (first-4:09.09), Dan Zupan (fourth-4:12.42) and Garrett Crichlow (ninth-4:18.18*); Pole Vault: Shawn Barber (first-19-0.25), Matt Rowland (second-17-0) and Byron Spruill (ninth-15-0.25); 60-meter hurdles: Kyle Walker (second-8.07); 400-meters: Brent Gray (first-49.23) and Miles Baldwin (third-49.51); 60-meter dash: Bryce Cheek (second-6.84) and Julius Ruby (third-6.90); 800-meters: Clayton Murphy (first-1:53.10) and Dan Zupan (seventh-1:56.38); 200-meter dash: Alante Oliver (second-22.09), Julius Ruby (fourth-22.18), and Taron Slone (sixth-22.46); 3,000-meters: Kyle Cochrun (second-8:20.15), Aaron Howkins (eighth-8:43.40) and Dan Zupan (12th-8:57.37*); 4x400 Relay: Miles Baldwin, Mike Ohiembor, Sean Weems and Brent Gray (first-3:17.44).
AKRON WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Triple Jump: Weronika Gaudyn (second-41-6.00) and Iyisha Weaver (sixth-38-9.50); Shot Put: Alexis Cooks (third-52-6.50) and Megan Dornisch (ninth-46-7.50); Mile: Natalie Zidd (eighth-4:59.91) and Kayla Whitlow (10th-5:00.87); 60-meter hurdles: Skyler Willis (third-8.58); 400-meters: Daziah Green (fourth-57.17) and Shauniece Steele (sixth-57.57); High Jump: Claudia Garcia Jou (first-6-0.50), Ashleigh Nalty (fifth-5-8*), and Skyler Willis (18th-5-2.25); 60-meter dash: Rachel Christian (first-7.49*); 800-meters: Natalie Zidd (sixth-2:15.77); 200-meter dash: Rachel Christian (seventh-25.08); 4x400 Relay: Desiree Garland, Daziah Green, Shauniece Steele and Skyler Willis (sixth-3:50.57).
* = career-best time/mark
AKRON 2015 MAC CHAMPIONS
Shawn Barber – men's pole vault (19-0.25)
Rachel Christian – women's 60 meters (7.49)
Claudia Garcia Jour – women's high jump (6-0.50)
Brent Gray – men's 400 meters (49.23)
Brittany Funk – women's weight throw (71-8)
Clayton Murphy – men's 800 meters (1:53.10); men's mile (4:09.09)
Men's 4x400 Relay – Miles Baldwin, Mike Ohiembor, Sean Weems and Brent Gray
Players Mentioned
