The University of Akron Athletics
Barber and Garcia Jou earn MAC Athlete of the Week honors
March 31 | Track & Field
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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Akron track and field standouts junior Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) and senior Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) were tabbed by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's and Women's Track and Field Athletes of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.
The accolades are the first for Barber and Garcia Jou during the outdoor campaign after the duo each garnered recognition four times during the indoor season.
Barber picked up where he left off in the indoor campaign posting a world-leading outdoor mark in 2015 en route to setting a new school-, meet and Canadian National record eclipsing 19-4.25 (5.90m) to win the pole vault invitational at the Texas Relays last Saturday, March 28, in Austin, Texas.
Barber employed some strategy en route to the title as after clearing 19-0.24 (5.80m) on his second attempt, he decided to pass on all three attempts at 19-2.25 (5.85m). The tactic worked as Sam Kendricks and Tennessee's Jake Blankenship each failed to clear 19-2.25 before Barber soared past 19-4.25 (5.90m) on his second attempt.
Having won the event, Barber again sought to surpass 6.0m (19-8.25) for the first time in his career. He nearly cleared the height on his first attempt, but was unable best the mark in his three attempts.
Garcia Jou posted a school-record jump of 6-0.75 (1.85m) to finish second in the women's high jump at the Texas Relays this past Saturday, March 28. She tied with South Dakota's Megan Gliser and finished behind only five-time Olympian Amy Acuff, who surpassed 6-2 (1.88m).
The accolades are fifth overall this season for both Barber and Garcia Jou. Collectively, the Zips have been honored 18 times on the campaign.
Akron returns to competition this Thursday, April 2, hosting the Northeast Ohio Quad at the Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex.
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