Behm and Ludwig Capture Titles to Lead Akron on Day One of MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Thursday, May 10

Buffalo, N.Y.

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships

Behm and Ludwig Capture Titles to Lead Akron on Day One of MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

May 10 | Track & Field

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MAC CHAMPIONSHIP: THURSDAY RESULTS (PDF) | THURSDAY RESULTS (HTML) | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL COMMENTS (THUR.) | PHOTO GALLERY (THUR.) | IAN BEHM COMMENTS (5/10) | MATT LUDWIG COMMENTS (5/10) | MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE STADIUM VIDEO (THUR.) | LIVE FIELD/THROWS VIDEO (THUR.) | LIVE STADIUM VIDEO (FRI.) | LIVE FIELD/THROWS VIDEO (FRI.) | LIVE STADIUM VIDEO (SAT.) | LIVE THROWS VIDEO (SAT.)

AMHERST, N.Y. – The University of Akron junior Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) captured titles in the men's pole vault and javelin to headline the Zips' efforts on the opening day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 10.

Junior Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) won his fourth career title in the men's pole vault and 22nd straight championship triumph for the Zips in the event surpassing 18-0.50 (5.50m). Ludwig eclipsed bars at 16-11.50 (5.17m), 17-6.50 (5.35m) and 18-0.50 (5.50m) on his opening attempt at each height and won the title on his first jump of the day.

Redshirt sophomore Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) claimed his first-ever MAC title in the men's javelin when his sixth and final attempted landed at 228-9 (69.73m). He placed second in the event as a freshman in 2016. Earning second-team All-MAC accolades with a second-place performance with a mark of 220-7 (67.23m) was junior Rodrigo Iglesias (Logrono, Spain).

Seniors Patricia Ortega (Logrono, Spain) and Jackie Siefring (Covington, Ohio) completed first-day action of the women's heptathlon owning the top-two marks in the competition with four-event cumulative scores of 3,468 and 3,456, respectively

Ortega and Siefring opened the women's heptathlon finishing first and second, respectively, in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump.

Running the second-fastest time, 13.52, in outdoor program history to cross the line first in the 100-meter hurdles was Ortega. Notching a career-best time of 13.74, the fourth-fastest time in program history to place second was Siefring.

In the high jump, the duo eclipsed 5-8.50 (1.74m) and 5-5 (1.65m) to again take the top-two spots in the competition.

In the shot put, Siefring posted a career-best throw of 41-7 (12.67m) to finish third, while Ortega added a mark of 36-4.25 (11.08m) for fifth.

Siefring and Ortega capped their opening-day efforts in the heptathlon recording career-best times of 24.43 and 24.66, respectively, to take the top-two places in the 200 meters.

Redshirt sophomore Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio), sophomore Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) and junior Kamar Majid (Akron, Ohio) turned in strong opening-day efforts in the men's decathlon garnering five-event cumulative scores of 3,764, 3.439 and 3,433, respectively, to maintain second-, third- and fifth-place efforts in the event heading into the final day of the competition on Friday.

Hudson, Majid and Hochbein registered times of 11.05, 11.39 and 11.47 to finish second, fourth and fifth in the opening event of the men's decathlon, the 100 meters.

Recording career-best marks of 22-9 (6.93m) and 21-6.25 (6.56m) to place second and fourth in the long jump was Hudson and Hochbein, while Majid was fifth with a jump of 21-2.50 (6.46m).

Hudson, Majid and Hochbein followed with career-best marks of 40-2.75 (12.26m), 38-4.25 (11.69m) and 34-9.75 (10.61m) in the shot put.

In the high jump, Hudson, Hochbein and Majid placed fifth, sixth and eighth with marks of 6-0.75 (1.85m), 6-0.75 (1.85m) and 5-11.50 (1.82m).

In the final event of the day in the decathlon, Hudson, Hochbein and Majid crossed the line in 49.77, 50.82 and 51.72, respectively, to place second, third and fourth in the 400 meters.

Senior Maurice Harris (Toledo, Ohio) garnered a third-place finish in the men's hammer registering a mark of 174-0 (53.05m).

Redshirt sophomore Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) earned second-team All-MAC honors for the first time registering a career-best and NCAA regional qualifying mark in the men's pole vault with a mark of 16-7.50 (5.07m). Finishing fifth in the event with a clearance of 16-3.50 (4.97m) to add valuable team points for Akron was junior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio).

Redshirt junior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) and sophomore Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio) moved into the finals of the women's 1,500 meters earning times of 4:34.28 and 4:35.95.

Senior Daziah Green (Canton, Ohio) posted the fastest qualifying time in the women's 200 meters with a time of 23.52.

Registering the third- and sixth-fastest times in the preliminary round of the men's 200 meters to advance to the final were seniors Taron Slone (Columbus, Ohio) and Jamir Coleman (Lima, Ohio). Slone crossed the line in 21.17, while Coleman recorded a career-best time of 24.66.

Moving into the finals of the men's 400-meter hurdles with times of 53.33 and 54.71 were redshirt juniors Brandon Mitchell (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Adam Downing (Sylvania, Ohio). Mitchell's effort marked a new career-best time.

In the women's 400-meter hurdle preliminaries, Siefring and Ortega punched their tickets to the finals posting the second- and fourth-fastest times crossing the line in 60.03 and 60.72.

Competition at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships resumes on Friday, May 10, starting with the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon at 10:30 and 11 a.m., respectively.

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS (4 of 21 EVENTS):
1) Akron (46 points), 2) Eastern Michigan (43), 3) Central Michigan (37), 4) Kent State (16), 5) Miami (10), 6) Buffalo (4)

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS (3 of 21 EVENTS):
1) Kent State (20 points), 2) Bowling Green (16), Central Michigan (16), Ohio (16), 5) Miami (15), 6) Toledo (11), 7) Western Michigan (8), 8) Buffalo (6), Eastern Michigan (6), 10) Northern Illinois (3), 11) Akron (0), Ball State (0)

MEN'S THURSDAY FINALS:
Hammer: Maurice Harris (3rd-174-0/53.05m); Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (1st-18-0.50/5.50m), Cole Wigal (2nd-16-7.50/5.07m*), Tyler Fraker (5th-16-3.50/4.97m); Javelin: Ian Behm (1st-228-9/69.73m), Rodrigo Iglesias (2nd-220-7/67.23m), Brandon Hochbein (9th-153-3/46.73m); 10,000 Meters: Tevin Brown (13th-32:02.79)

WOMEN'S THURSDAY FINALS:
Hammer: Emily Taylor (13th-158-7/48.35m); 10,000 Meters: Ashley Murray (14th-37:05.56*)

MEN'S DECATHLON:
Malik Hudson (2nd-3,764), Brandon Hochbein (3rd-3,439), Kamar Majid (5th-3,433); 100 Meters: Malik Hudson (2nd-11.05), Kamar Majid (4th-11.39), Brandon Hochbein (5th-11.47*); Long Jump: Malik Hudson (2nd-22-9/6.93m*), Brandon Hochbein (4th-21-6.25/6.56m*), Kamar Majid (5th-21-2.50/6.46m); Shot Put: Malik Hudson (4th-40-2.75/12.26m*), Kamar Majid (6th-38-4.25/11.69m*), Brandon Hochbein (9th-34-9.75/10.61m*); High Jump: Malik Hudson (5th-6-0.75/1.85m), Brandon Hochbein (6th-6-0.75/1.85m*), Kamar Majid (8th-5-11.50/1.82m); 400 Meters: Malik Hudson (2nd-49.77), Brandon Hochbein (3rd-50.82*), Kamar Majid (4th-51.72)

WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON:
Patricia Ortega (1st-3,468), Jackie Siefring (2nd-3,456); 100-Meter Hurdles: Patricia Ortega (1st-13.52*), Jackie Siefring (2nd-13.74*); High Jump: Patricia Ortega (1st-5-8.50/1.74m), Jackie Siefring (2nd-5-5/1.65m); Shot Put: Jackie Siefring (3rd-41-7/12.67m*), Patricia Ortega (5th-36-4.25/11.08m); 200 Meters: Jackie Siefring (1st-24.43*), Patricia Ortega (2nd-24.66*)

MEN'S THURSDAY PRELIMINARIES:
400-Meter Hurdles: Brandon Mitchell (2nd-53.33*), Adam Downing (5th-54.71), Dylan Hochbein (DQ); 200 Meters: Taron Slone (3rd-21.17), Jamir Coleman (6th-21.32*), Matt Blamble (12th-21.64*)

WOMEN'S THURSDAY PRELIMINARIES:
1,500 Meters: Mackenzie Andrews (1st-4:34.28), Haley Hess (4th-4:35.95), Lindsey Scarton (16th-4:48.03); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jackie Siefring (2nd-60.03), Patricia Ortega (4th-60.72), Iman Batiste (9th-61.69); 200 Meters: Daziah Green (1st-23.52), Stephanie Hale (13th-24.35), Dara Perry (19th-24.67)