Akron Men Capture 2016 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Title

Saturday, May 14

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Akron Men Capture 2016 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Title

May 14 | Track & Field

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TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Akron men's track and field team captured the 2016 Mid-American Conference Championships with a strong final-day performance on Saturday, May 14. The Zips' women's squad came up short in their bid to repeat as league champions earning a runner-up finish.

The outcome of the men's race came down to the men's triple jump as Eastern Michigan held a one-point lead over the Zips after Akron won the 4x400 relay. The quartet of senior Sean Weems (Maple Heights, Ohio), junior Miles Baldwin (Cincinnati, Ohio), senior Brent Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio) crossed the line in 3:09.16.

The Eagles had two student-athletes in the triple jump, while representing Akron was redshirt junior Mike Ohiembor (Dayton, Ohio). In the end, Ohiembor leaped 50-2.50 (15.30m) to finish second and earn eight points for the Zips, while Eastern Michigan posted a sixth-place showing to net one point, enabling Akron to take home the title by six points.

In the women's race, a late surge by Eastern Michigan allowed the Eagles to post a 22-point victory past the Zips.

Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell was named as the MAC Men's Coach of the Year for the Zips' winning effort.

Garnering accolades as the Most Valuable Performer in the women's meet after winning the women's heptathlon and 400-meter hurdles was sophomore Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio).

Redshirt junior Ariadna Ramos Gandia (Barcelona, Spain) was tabbed as the Most Outstanding Field Performer in the women's championship, while freshman Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) was named as Women's Field Freshman of the Year.

Murphy was again dominant for Akron registering victories in the 1,500 meters (3:45.83) and 800 meters (1:55.39), while anchoring the winning 4x400 relay squad (3:09.16), to record 11th, 12th and 13th career MAC titles.

Senior Claudia Garcia Jou (Barcelona, Spain) opened the day for the Zips successfully defending her 2015 outdoor high jump title with a leap of 5-9.25 (1.76m) to capture her fourth overall league title. Freshman Dajia Mills (Canton, Ohio) added points for Akron in the event placing sixth with a clearance of 5-5.25 (1.66m).

Junior Matt Rowland (Bellevue, Ohio) added to the title haul in the men's pole vault winning the 18th consecutive title (indoor and outdoor) in the event for the Zips eclipsing 17-4.50 (5.30m), the fourth-best mark in program history. Freshman Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) placed third with a mark of 16-4.75 (5.00m).

Taking home the championship in the women's discus with the fifth-best throw 162-8 (49.58m) in program history was Wilson.

A lean at the finish line provided freshman Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) the title in the 100-meter hurdles in a school-record time of 13.53.

Equaling her own school record en route winning the women's triple jump with a mark of 42-7.50 (12.99m) was Ramos Gandia

Garnering another victory in the 400-meter hurdles was Siefring, who crossed the line first in 58.66.

After finishing second in the men's high jump at the MAC Indoor Championships, freshman Cody Stine (Shelby, Ohio) collected his first league title taking home the championship surpassing 6-11 (2.11m)

Registering the fifth-best mark (180-6/55.02m) in the discus was sophomore Maurice Harris (Toledo, Ohio)

Additionally, Weems in the 400-meter hurdles (52.19) and the 4x100 relay team of redshirt junior Hakeem Lawrence (Miami, Fla.), redshirt sophomore Taron Slone (Columbus, Ohio), junior Anthony Young (Medina, Ohio) and sophomore Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) (40.42) garnered second-team All-MAC accolades.

The Zips continue their campaign as qualified individuals and relays teams will travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to compete in the NCAA East Preliminary Round, May 26-28.

*career-best marks

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Eastern Michigan (152 points), 2) Akron (130 points), 3) Northern Illinois (110.5), 4) Kent State (104.5 points), 5) Central Michigan (67 points), 6) Bowling Green (52 points), 7) Toledo (46 points), 8) Miami (45 points), 9) Western Michigan (38 points), 10) Ohio (32 points), 11) Buffalo (27 points), 12) Ball State (14 points)

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Akron (166 points), 2) Eastern Michigan (160 points), 3) Kent State (136.5 points), 4) Central Michigan (81.5 points), 5) Miami (55 points), 6) Buffalo (52 points)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Discus: Abigale Wilson (1st-162-8/49.58m*), Olivia Snyder (12th-137-1/41.78m); High Jump: Claudia Garcia Jou (1st-5-9.25/1.76m), Dajia Mills (6th-5-5.25/1.66m), Ashleigh Nalty (9th-5-3.25/1.61m); 4x100 Relay: Daniella Johnson, Samia Bell, Ana Martin-Sacristan, Ariadna Ramos Gandia (5th-46.13); 1,500 Meters: Mackenzie Andrews (4th-4:30.23), Cynthia Haas (11th-4:40.55); 100-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (1st-13.53*), Alex Allen (6th-14.23); Triple Jump: Ariadna Ramos Gandia (1st-42-7.50/12.99m*), Ana Martin-Sacristan (12th-37-9.50/11.52m); 100 Meters: Daniella Johnson (7th-11.83); 800 Meters: Mackenzie Andrews (4th-2:12.38), Natalie Zidd (8th-2:18.37); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jackie Siefring (1st-58.66); 4x400 Relay: Kiara Chatman, Samia Bell, Sydney Stokes, Jackie Siefring (7th-3:50.00)

SATURDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Pole Vault: Matt Rowland (1st-17-4.50/5.30m*), Tyler Fraker (3rd-16-4.75/5.00m*), Cole Wigal (7th-15-6.25/4.73m); Discus: Phil Jagers (3rd-187-5/57.14m), Maurice Harris (4th-180-6/55.02m*); 4x100 Relay: Hakeem Lawrence, Taron Slone, Anthony Young, Kwadarrius Smith (2nd-40.42); 1,500 Meters: Clayton Murphy (1st-3:45.83), Dan Zupan (10th-3:57.82); 400 Meters: Brent Gray (5th-47.74), Miles Baldwin (6th-47.79); High Jump: Cody Stine (1st-6-11/2.11m), Curtis Richardson (3rd-6-9/2.06m); 100 Meters: Kwadarrius Smith (3rd-10.50), Anthony Young (6th-10.71); 800 Meters: Clayton Murphy (1st-1:55.39), Sean Poholski (6th-1:57.14); 400-Meter Hurdles: Sean Weems (2nd-52.19); Triple Jump: Mike Ohiembor (2nd-50-2.50/15.30m); 200 Meters: Alante Oliver (5th-21.35), Jamir Coleman (7th-21.74), Taron Slone (8th-21.82); 4x400 Relay: Sean Weems, Miles Baldwin, Brent Gray, Clayton Murphy (1st-3:09.16)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Shot Put: Megan Dornisch (11th-44-6.25/13.57m), Olivia Snyder (14th-42-4.25/12.91*); Long Jump: Daniella Johnson (1st-20-4.50/6.21m*), Jackie Siefring (5th-19-9.50/6.03m), Ana Martin-Sacristan (7th-19-3.25/5.87m)

HEPTATHLON: Jackie Siefring (1st-5,412), Shawnn Foster (7th-4,415); 100-Meter Hurdles: Siefring (2nd-14.06), Foster (9th-15.23); High Jump: Siefring (1st-5-5.75/1.67m*), Foster (12th-4-8.25/1.43m); Shot Put: Siefring (3rd-38-1.25/11.61m), Foster (6th-35-9.50/10.91m); 200 Meters: Siefring (1st-24.62*), Foster (10th-26.95); Long Jump: Siefring (1st-19-0.75/5.81m), Foster (5th-16-9.75/5.12m); Javelin: Foster (3rd-114-6/34.91m*), Siefring (4th-113-3/34.52m); 800 Meters: Siefring (3rd-2:28.37), Foster (7th-2:38.23*)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
1,500 Meters: Mackenzie Andrews (5th-4:39.57), Cynthia Haas (14th-4:52.34); 100-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (3rd-14.13), Alex Allen (6th-14.22); 400 Meters: Kiara Chatman (13th-57.14*); 100 Meters: Daniella Johnson (6th-12.02); 800 Meters: Natalie Zidd (4th-2:10.80), Mackenzie Andrews (6th-2:11.48), Tara Snipes (15th-2:14.94*); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jackie Siefring (4th-60.33), Michalla Gordon (6th-61.34), Sydney Stokes (13th-63.61); 200 Meters: Samia Bell (10th-24.44); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Morgan Buckley (19th-11:58.36)

FRIDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Shot Put: Casey Slane (7th-54-11.50/16.75m), Maurice Harris (10th-52-11/16.13m); Long Jump: Joe Oduho (1st-25-8/7.82m), Terrell McClain (2nd-25-3.50/7.71m), Jamir Coleman (5th-24-5.75/7.46m)

DECATHLON: Alex McCune (2nd-7,520), Quentin Cieslinski (4th-6,948), Kamar Majid (6th-6,364); 100 Meters: McCune (3rd-11.18), Majid (4th-11.33*), Cieslinski (6th-11.52); Long Jump: McCune (1st-23-2/7.06m*), Cieslinski (4th-21-6.75/6.57m), Majid (6th-21-0.75/6.42m); Shot Put: Cieslinski (2nd-43-11.25/13.39m*), McCune (3rd-42-2.75/12.87m), Majid (5th-37-0.25/11.28m*); High Jump: McCune (2nd-6-4/1.93m), Cieslinski (3rd-6-4/1.93m*), Majid (5th-5-11.25/1.81m); 400 Meters: McCune (2nd-51.87), Majid (4th-52.44), Cieslinski (5th-52.94); 110-Meter Hurdles: McCune (2nd-14.75), Cieslinski (5th-15.50), Majid (6th-15.94); Discus: McCune (2nd-136-11/41.75m), Majid (5th-114-10/35.02m), Cieslinski (7th-99-1/30.21m); Pole Vault: McCune (1st-16-0.75/4.90m), Cieslinski (2nd-14-9/4.50m), Majid (7th-12-9.50/3.90m*); Javelin: McCune (1st-192-6/58.69m), Cieslinski (2nd-186-1/56.72m), Majid (6th-149-10/45.68m); 1,500 Meters: Cieslinski (2nd-4:42.62), Majid (4th-4:57.94*), McCune (5th-4:59.21)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
400 Meters: Brent Gray (1st-47.18), Miles Baldwin (6th-47.74); 100 Meters: Kwadarrius Smith (1st-10:42), Anthony Young (6th-10.74), Taron Slone (9th-10.87); 800 Meters: Clayton Murphy (3rd-1:51.22), Sean Poholski (4th-1:51.46), Zach Alexander (10th-1:53.66); 400-Meter Hurdles: Sean Weems (1st-52.75); 200 Meters: Alante Oliver (4th-21.39), Jamir Coleman (6th-21.66), Taron Slone (8th-21.77); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Dan Zupan (2nd-8:56.41*)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Hammer: Megan Dornisch (3rd-189-11/57.89m); Javelin: Jackie Siefring (9th-124-2/37.85); Pole Vault: Caroline Hasse (1st-13-10.50/4.23m), Rebecca Pietsch (2nd-13-6.50/4.13m), Becky Szabo (5th-13-2.50/4.03m)

THURSDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Javelin: Ian Behm (2nd-211-2.50/64.37m*), Alex McCune (4th-199-4.50/60.76m), Quentin Cieslinski (6th-188-1.75/57.34m); Hammer: Zack Shull (5th-191-8/58.41m), Bobby Mitman (6th-191-0/58.21m), Maurice Harris (8th-173-2.25/52.78m*)