Ludwig Posts NCAA-Leading Mark to Headline Zips' Efforts on Day One of Penn State National

Friday, January 26

University Park, Pa.

University of Akron

Penn State National

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Ludwig Posts NCAA-Leading Mark to Headline Zips' Efforts on Day One of Penn State National

January 26 | Track & Field

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FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | ACCEPTED ENTRIES (PDF) | LIVE STATS | FRIDAY BTN PLUS/BTN2GO ($) | SATURDAY BTN PLUS/BTN2GO ($)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – University of Akron junior pole vaulter Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) turned in an NCAA-leading mark eclipsing 18-6.75 (5.66m) to win the elite pole vault competition and headline the efforts of the Zips' men's and women's track and field teams on the opening night of the Penn State National on Friday, Jan. 26.

Ludwig's performance represented the eighth-best jump in the world in 2018 and stands as the second-highest mark in indoor program history surpassing his own effort of 18-3.25 (5.57m) set on Jan. 13. He cleared the bar on his opening attempt at the height before making three unsuccessful attempts to surpass 19-0.24 (5.80m).

Senior Phil Jagers (Solon, Ohio) recorded the fourth-best mark in indoor program history in the men's weight throw with a toss of 63-10.25 (19.46m) to finish third.

Senior Jamir Coleman (Lima, Ohio) soared 22-11.75 (7.00m) to place third in the men's long jump.

Junior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) advanced to the finals of the women's 60-meter hurdles turning in the fourth- and fifth-fastest qualifying times in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, respectively. In the finals, she placed third crossing the line in a time of 8.43, one one-hundredths of a second shy of equaling her own school-record mark set at Kent State on Jan. 19.

Garnering an eighth-place showing in the finals of the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.40 was redshirt freshman Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.). He had moved into the final after running a time of 8.29 in the semifinal round.

Competition on the final day of the Penn State National gets underway with the women's 400 meters at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, before field events begin at 12 p.m. with the women's high jump.

MEN'S PRELIMINARY FRIDAY RESULTS:
60 Meters (Quarterfinals): Taron Slone (14th-6.98) 60 Meters (Semifinals): Taron Slone (NA-FS); 60-Meter Hurdles (Quarterfinals): Patrick Kimball (5th-8.29), Preston Fillman (10th-8.40), Elijah Johnson (12th-8.42)

WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY FRIDAY RESULTS:
60-Meter Hurdles (Quarterfinals): Dara Perry (4th-8.53), Patricia Ortega (7th-8.65), Jackie Siefring (13th-8.85); 60-Meter Hurdles (Semifinals): Dara Perry (5th-8.58), Patricia Ortega (10th-8.70), Jackie Siefring (13th-8.86); 60 Meters (Quarterfinals): Stephanie Hale (10th-7.77), Eboni Hall (20th-7.88), Dara Perry (35th-8.32); 60 Meters (Semifinals): Stephanie Hale (10th-7.76)

MEN'S FRIDAY RESULTS:
Long Jump: Jamir Coleman (3rd-22-11.75/7.00m); Pole Vault Invite: Matt Ludwig (1st-18-6.25/5.66m), Tyler Fraker (5th-15-9/4.80m), Adam Alexander (6th-15-3/4.65m), Cole Wigal (NH); Weight Throw: Phil Jagers (3rd-63-10.25/19.46m); 60-Meter Hurdles: Patrick Kimball (8th-8.40)

WOMEN'S FRIDAY RESULTS:
Weight Throw: Olivia Snyder (6th-55-5.50/16.90m), Emily Taylor (8th-52-6.50/16.01m); Long Jump: Patricia Ortega (11th-17-6/5.33m); 60-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (3rd-8.43)