The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Track and Field Continues to Earn National Recognition
April 18 | Track & Field
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USTFCCCA DI MEN'S OUTDOOR T&F NATIONAL TEAM COMPUTER RANKINGS (APRIL 17) | USTFCCCA D1 SQUAD RANKINGS (PDF) | GREAT LAKES REGIONAL RANKINGS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's track and field team continued to make its presence felt on the national stage with another weekend of strong performances and the Zips were recognized for their efforts checking in at No. 33 in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Team Rankings released on Monday, April 17.
Akron also vaulted to the No. 1 position in the Great Lakes Regional poll to remain the highest-rated team in the Mid-American. Additionally, the Zips' women's squad is ranked third in the most recent regional tally.
The men's team continued its success in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Event Squad rankings released on Monday, April 17, as the Zips are ranked second nationally in the long jump, while rating third, third and seventh, respectively, in the high jump, pole vault and triple jump.
The Zips have been led this season in the long jump by the performances of junior Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio), senior Joe Oduho (Erie, Pa.), redshirt sophomore Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and junior Jamir Coleman (Lima, Ohio), as the quartet averages a jump of 24-8.50 (7.53m) this spring. McClain, Oduho, Latimer and Coleman currently own the Nos. 13, 25, 52 and 150 marks in the country in 2017.
The Zips are fifth nationally in the women's 400-meter hurdles with an average finish of 61.27. The duo of junior Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio) and freshman Dimitra Gnafaki (Chania, Greece) have directed the efforts recording times of 59.52 (No. 53) and 59.65 (No. 61).
Akron is also ranked ninth, 14th and 15th, respectively, in the women's high jump, pole vault and long jump.
Akron currently has eight student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS), including senior Phil Jagers (Solon, Ohio), who owns the best mark nationally in the discus (203-6).
Also rated among the top-25 is sophomore Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) (fourth in the men's pole vault – 18-4.50/5.60m), Siefring (fifth in the women's heptathlon – 5,750), senior Nikki Manson (Glasgow, Scotland) (12th in the women's high jump – 5-11.25/1.81m), McClain (13th in men's long jump – 25-6.25/7.78m), senior Matt Rowland (Bellevue, Ohio) (15th in the men's pole vault – 17-7/5.36m), senior Mike Ohiembor (Dayton, Ohio) (16th in men's triple jump – 51-11/15.82m) and sophomore Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) (19th in men's high jump – 7-1/2.16m).
The Zips return to action this weekend competing in a trio of meets. Akron's throwers will visit San Diego, Calif., for the Triton Invitational on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22. The bulk of the squad will be split between the LSU Alumni Invitational on Saturday, April 22, in Baton Rouge, La., and the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22.
