The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Cooks and Garcia Jou earn sixth-place finishes on final day of NCAA Championship
June 13 | Track & Field
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RESULTS | RESULTS (PDF) | FINAL TEAM SCORES | PHOTO GALLERY
EUGENE, Ore. – Seniors Alexis Cooks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) capped off their respective outdoor careers for the University of Akron track and field team with a pair of sixth-place performances in the women's discus and high jump, respectively, on the final day of the NCAA Track and Field Championship on Saturday, June 13, in Eugene, Ore.
By virtue of their efforts, the Zips completed the NCAA Championship with seven points to post a 32nd-place team finish.
"It was good solid week for the Zips being able to come out of here with seven All-America awards," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "To garner a top-12 finish for the men and a strong performance for the women is a great thing for our program."
Garcia Jou passed on the competition's opening height of 5-7.25 (1.72m) in the women's high jump before clearing both 5-9.25 (1.77m) and 5-11.25 (1.81m) on her first jumps at both marks.
Garcia Jou sought to surpass the six-foot barrier at 6-0.50 (1.84m) but was unable to clear the bar in each of her three attempts. By virtue of her sixth-place finish, Garcia Jou became a two-time All-American garnering first-team All-America accolades.
"Claudia kept doing a great job all season and although she might be a little bit disappointed today, she continues to be part of an elite group of athletes," said Mitchell. "For her to come here this year and get two All-American honors is quite a tribute to her."
Cooks stood in second place after the opening flight of the women's discus as she registered a throw of 181-7 on her second of three attempts.
Moving into the championship round, Cooks rocketed a throw of 182-1 on her second of three opportunities. Her efforts resulted in a sixth-place finish and enabled Cooks to become a six-time All-American. Earlier in the NCAA Championship she collected first- and second-team All-America honors in the shot put and hammer, respectively.
"What a way for Alexis to end her outdoor career with three All-American honors this week scoring in the shot put and discus, while turning in her best throw of the year in the discus," stated Mitchell.
Saturday's competition marked the final competitions of the NCAA campaign for the Zips. Akron concluded the four-day event with the Zips turning in seven performances that garnered first- or second-team All-America recognition.
The Akron men's track and field squad concluded 2015 with the eighth-best combined indoor-outdoor team finish at NCAA Championship.
SATURDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Finals: High Jump: Claudia Garcia Jou (sixth-5-11.25/1.81m); Discus: Alexis Cooks (sixth-182-1/55.51m)
FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Finals: 800 Meters: Clayton Murphy (third-1:49.52); Discus: Phil Jagers (18th/181-8/55.38)
THURSDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Finals: Hammer: Alexis Cooks (12th-196-7); Pole Vault: Caroline Hasse (12th-13/9.25/4.20m); Shot Put: Alexis Cooks (eighth-55-1)
WEDNESDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Semifinals: 4x100 Relay: Julius Ruby, D.J. Williamson, Miles Baldwin and Anthony Young (21st-41.38); 800 Meters: Clayton Murphy (sixth-1:47.29)
Finals: Pole Vault: Shawn Barber (first-18-4.50/5.60m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (24th-23-2.50/7.07m)
