2015 was record-setting campaign for Akron Track and Field program

June 16 | Track & Field

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron track and field team recently completed another record-setting campaign as the Zips continued to rewrite the history of the program as the men's and women's squads recorded the 10th-best combined finish in the country for the 2015 indoor and outdoor seasons.

On the strength of a program-best 12th-place performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, the Akron men's track and field concluded 2015 with the ninth-best combined finish in the country.

The Zips' women's team captured their sixth overall Mid-American Conference Outdoor title in May, while the men's squad took home top honors during the indoor season for fourth time and second year in a row.

Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell was rewarded for his efforts this season as he was selected as the MAC Coach of the Year for the men during the indoor campaign and for the women at the outdoor championship.

The Zips' men's squad earned its highest-ever finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship, placing ninth with 16 points. Akron finished tied with USC and Iowa State.

The women's team wrapped up 2015 with the 22nd-best combined national showing. The Zips posted their best-ever indoor team performance matching Kansas State and Wisconsin for 18th place with 12 points at the NCAA Indoor Championship, while finishing tied for 32nd place at the NCAA Outdoor Championship with seven points equaling Kansas and Minnesota.

"It seemed like track was more BCS than BCS Football when you look at the elite top-25 schools in our sport," Mitchell commented. "To have Akron for the last couple of years crack into the middle of these so called "big name" programs is a dream come true."

Akron concluded the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, June 10-13, with the Zips turning in seven performances that garnered first- or second-team All-America recognition.

Junior Shawn Barber (Kingwood, Texas) in the men's pole vault, seniors Alexis Cooks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the discus and shot put, senior Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) in the women's high jump and sophomore Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) in the men's 800 meters were tabbed as first-team All-Americans.

Taking home second-team All-America laurels were Cooks in the women's hammer and redshirt sophomore Caroline Hasse (Potsdam, Germany) in the women's pole vault.

On the strength of his winning performance in the men's pole vault, Barber became Akron's first-ever three-time NCAA champion having previously captured titles at the NCAA Indoor Championship in 2014 and 2015. Barber added to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which now includes six individual national champions following his triumph.

Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Championship.

Collectively, the Zips established eight new school records on the men's side during the outdoor campaign, while setting five marks for the women.

Overall, Akron recorded 20 performances for the men and 13 for the women among the top-five on the all-time Zips' outdoor lists.

Earning first-team All-MAC accolades during the outdoor season on the women's side were seniors Rachel Christian (Columbus, Ohio), Jess Delic (Cresson, Pa.) and Garcia Jou, along with Hasse. The quartet won their respective competitions in the women's 100-meter dash, javelin, high jump and pole vault.

Taking home first-team laurels on the men's side was Barber, Latimer, senior Bryce Lemon (New Brighton, Pa.) and Murphy.

Barber won his third consecutive outdoor pole vault title, while Latimer and Lemon captured the men's long jump and javelin, respectively. Taking home the championship in the men's 1,500 meters for the second straight year was Murphy, who also won the 800-meter race.

The Zips also had eight student-athletes recognized with second-team honors. That list included; Cooks, redshirt junior Brent Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio), freshman Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Mike Ohiembor (Dayton, Ohio), sophomore Matt Rowland (Bellevue, Ohio), freshman Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio), senior Skyler Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Dan Zupan (Berea, Ohio).

During the indoor campaign, six Akron student-athletes collected first-team All-America recognition for the Zips in Barber in the men's pole vault, seniors Brittany Funk (Jeromesville, Ohio) in the weight throw, Garcia Jou in the women's high jump and Murphy in the men's 800 meters. Earning second-team honors for Akron was Cooks in the weight throw and freshman Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) in the men's long jump.

Collectively, the Zips established three new school records on the men's side during the indoor campaign, while setting two marks for the women.

Overall, Akron recorded 15 performances for the men and eight for the women among the top-five on the all-time Zips' outdoor lists.

Earning first-team accolades on the women's side were Christian, Funk and Garcia Jou as the trio won their respective competitions in the women's 60-meter dash, weight throw and high jump.

Taking home first-team laurels on the men's side was sophomore Miles Baldwin (Cincinnati, Ohio), Barber, Gray, Murphy, Ohiembor and senior Sean Weems (Maple Heights, Ohio).

Baldwin, Gray, Ohiembor and Weems combined to claim the title in the 4x400 relay, while Barber, and Gray took home first-place finishes in the pole vault and 400 meters. Murphy claimed victories in both the 800 meters and mile races.

The Zips also had nine student-athletes recognized with second-team honors. That list included; junior Bryce Cheek (Lewis Center, Ohio), senior Kyle Cochrun (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), Cooks, sophomore Weronika Gaudyn (Kracow, Poland), Latimer, sophomore Alante Oliver (Dayton, Ohio), Rowland, Siefring and senior Kyle Walker (Cincinnati, Ohio).

"The key now is to not let up and keep pushing forward looking for ways to not only continue at this level but to keep getting better," said Mitchell. "Hopefully more and more of the top track athletes will see Akron as a viable option for becoming their best."