Akron Garners Strong Performances at MAC Cross Country Championships

Saturday, October 27

Toledo, Ohio

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Mackenzie Andrews-Tevin Brown - 10/27/18

Photo by: Haley Boehm

Akron Garners Strong Performances at MAC Cross Country Championships

October 27 | Cross Country

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MEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | MAC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET INFORMATION | MEN'S HEAT SHEETS (PDF) | WOMEN'S HEAT SHEETS (PDF) | LIVE RESULTS | MEN'S VIDEO PREVIEW | WOMEN'S VIDEO PREVIEW

TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's cross country teams registered third- and eighth-place finishes at the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 27, on the strength of performances from redshirt juniors Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) and Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio).

Brown garnered second-team All-MAC accolades registering a career-best eighth-place finish in the men's 8K at the MAC Championships crossing the line in 24:46.20, while Andrews directed the efforts of the Zips' women's squad recording a team-best time of 21:33.30 in the women's 6K to earn a career-best 15th-place performance at the MAC Championships.

By virtue of Akron's team performances, the Zips garnered a full team point for each squad in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge to assume a 3.0-1.5 series advantage.

"It was a great team performance today as the guys fought with five teams to earn a third-place finish," explained Zips' men's head cross country coach Lee LaBadie. "All season long our guys have been close to each other in our races and today they were able to help and push each other and it paid off with our total-team performance. We were picked to finish sixth at the beginning of the season and our guys knew our team was much better than that and today they showed it. I am so proud of how we competed today."

Junior Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed Brown across the line for the Akron men turning in a time of 25:03.09 to place 14th and earn second-team All-MAC honors for the second consecutive campaign.

The Zips received strong performances from the balance of their scoring contingent as sophomore Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio), redshirt freshman Taylor Hopkins (Heath, Ohio) and freshman Jake Wickert (Medina, Ohio) placed 22nd, 28th and 29th, respectively, on the strength of times of 25:24.77, 25:32.93 and 25:33.17.

Rounding out Akron's efforts on the afternoon was redshirt sophomore Jacob Ondash (Hiram, Ohio) and junior Nick Stricklen (Lexington, Ohio), who crossed the line in 25:42.21 and 26:19.05.

"Tevin was up front for us with Marc right behind him," said LaBadie. "Andre, Taylor, Jake (Wickert), Jake (Ondash) and Nick (Stricklen) all made contributions to our team performance today."

Matching Brown with career-best finishes at the MAC Championships was Bollam-Godbott, Hopkins, Wickert and Ondash.

"Our women competed well today and improved significantly on their 10th-place team finish from a year ago," Akron head women's coach Trey Brokaw commented. "With continued physical development, improved confidence, and effective recruiting the future of cross country at Akron is extremely bright. We look forward to taking another step forward at the MAC Championships a year from now."

Andrews directed the efforts of the Zips' women's squad crossing the line in a team-best 21:33.30 to earn a career-best 15th-place performance at the MAC Championships.

Sophomore Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) was Akron's next finisher registering a time of 22:11.29 to place 31st.

Junior Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio), senior Ashley Murray (Seville, Ohio) and freshman Lizzy Gurko (Northfield, Ohio) rounded out the Zips' scoring performances recording times of 22:19.24, 22:27.59 and 22:37.59, respectively.

Completing Akron's efforts with times of 23:20.50, 23:33.33 and 23:43.13, respectively, was freshman Sydney Niekamp (Napoleon, Ohio), sophomore Whitney Wendling (Lexington, Ohio) and senior Tarike Osuobeni (Columbus, Ohio).

Joining Andrews with career-best finishes at the MAC Championships was Scarton, Hess, Murray, Gurko, Thomas and Niekamp.

Akron concludes its campaign traveling to Terre Haute, Ind., for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 9.

MEN'S RESULTS:
Tevin Brown (24:46.20/8th), Marc Migliozzi (25:03.09/14th), Andre Bollam-Godbott (25:24.77/22nd), Taylor Hopkins (25:32.93/28th), Jake Wickert (25:33.17/29th), Jacob Ondash (25:42.21/38th), Nick Stricklen (26:19.05/54th)

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Miami (42 points)
2) Bowling Green (86)
3) Akron (96)
4) Buffalo (117)
5) Ohio (119)
6) Central Michigan (119)
7) Eastern Michigan (157)
8) Kent State (183)
9) Toledo (277)

WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Mackenzie Andrews (21:33.30/15th), Lindsey Scarton (22:11.29/31st), Haley Hess (22:19.24/34th), Ashley Murray (22:27.59/43rd), Lizzy Gurko (22:37.85/51st), Alyssa Thomas (22:42.88/56th), Syndey Niekamp (23:20.50/84th), Whitney Wendling (23:33.33/90th), Tarike Osuobeni (23:43.13/98th)

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Eastern Michigan (76 points)
2) Toledo (80)
3) Miami (97)
4), Northern Illinois (127)
5) Western Michigan (136)
6) Central Michigan (142)
7) Bowling Green (155)
8) Akron (171)
9) Ohio (208)
10) Kent State (233)
11) Ball State (305)
12) Buffalo (335)