Championship Aspirations Await Zips at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships

Friday, February 22

Kent, Ohio

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Terrell McClain - Mackenzie Andrews - 2/21/19

Championship Aspirations Await Zips at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships

February 21 | Track & Field

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MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | ACCEPTED ENTRIES (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field team will join the rest of their Mid-American Conference members this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23, to compete at the league's Indoor Championships, as Kent State hosts the two-day event at the Kent State Field House in Kent, Ohio.

UP NEXT: In all, the championship meet will feature men's teams from Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Kent State, while all 12 league members will be gunning for the title on the women's side.

Live stats of the MAC Championships will be available at GoZips.com.

Akron under the leadership of 24th-year head coach Dennis Mitchell figures to be in the running for team titles on both the men's and women's sides again this year.

The Zips' men squad has won six of the last eight indoor team titles and 11 of the last 16 MAC championships overall and will be looking to capture the title fifth time in the last six seasons.

On the women's side, the Zips are seeking their seventh indoor championship after capturing the league title in 2017.

In addition to a pair of MAC Championships on the line, the Zips will be competing against Kent State in the final standings for two points in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Akron leads 3.5-2.5 in the current standings.

THIS WEEK IN AKRON TRACK AND FIELD WITH HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL:

DEFENDING THEIR TITLES: The Zips have five student-athletes seeking to repeat as conference champions this season.

Seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio), Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) and Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) are seeking to win their fourth, fourth and third consecutive overall (indoor and outdoor) league crowns in the men's long, pole vault and high jump, respectively.

Latimer, who along with Ludwig, own a team-leading four MAC titles, captured the men's indoor long jump a year ago registering a mark of 25-2.50 (7.68m).

Ludwig goes after his fifth consecutive and Akron's 23rd straight MAC men's pole vault title after garnering the indoor championship in 2018 eclipsing 18-2.50 (5.55m).

Surpassing a career-best mark of 7-1.75 (2.18m) to win his second league title in the men's high jump was Richardson.

Senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) turned in a school-record time of 8.31 to take home the 2018 indoor title in the women's 60-meter hurdles and claim her second MAC championship.

Capturing the men's heptathlon in 2018 with a career-best seven-event score of 5,188 to win his first-ever MAC title was senior Kamar Majid (Akron, Ohio).

Among the returning Zips recording runner-up finishes in 2018 were sophomore Jenna Frantz (Versailles, Ohio) in the women's pole vault (3-5/4.09m), sophomore Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) in the men's 400 meters (47.77) and the 4x400 relay team of senior Milton Greer (Copley, Ohio), Williams, redshirt junior Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio) and Taron Slone (3:18.13).

NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron men's track and field squad stands at No. 27 in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field National Rating Index released this week.

The Zips' men's squad is rated sixth in the most-current Great Lakes Regional ratings, while the women's team checks in at No. 9.

The Zips are the top-rated Mid-American Conference team ranked in the men's national poll.

In the Event Squad rankings released on Feb. 18, Akron is ranked third nationally in the men's and women's pole vault and among the top 15 in four different events.

Akron is also rated fourth in the men's long jump and seventh in the men's high jump. Additionally, the Zips are ranked 21st in the women's triple jump.

ZIPS AMONG NATION'S BEST IN LATEST TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron currently has seven student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS), including Matt Ludwig, who is second in the nation in the men's pole vault (19-1.50/5.83m).

Also rated among the top-25 is junior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) (seventh in women's pole vault – 14-4.50/4.38m), and seniors Jordan Latimer (seventh in men's long jump – 26-0.25/7.93m), Terrell McClain (Youngstown, Ohio) (15th in men's long jump – 25-7.75/7.80m), Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) (16th in the women's mile – 4:35.63), Curtis Richardson (20th in the men's high jump – 7-1.75/2.18m) and Eboni Hall (Pickerington, Ohio) (24th in women's pole vault – 13-9.25/4.20m).

The Akron men's and women's teams are ranked No. 11 and No. 17, respectively, in the final Collegiate Indoor Dual Meet Rankings as compiled by Jesse Squire for Track and Field News.

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: Curtis Richardson equaled a career-best indoor mark of 7-1.75 (2.18m) to capture the men's high jump at the Zips Invitational on Friday, Feb. 15. His effort matched his winning mark at the 2018 MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships and stands as the top-rated performance in the league this season and the third-best in indoor program history.

A WEEK AGO: In its final tune-up before the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, the University of Akron track and field team registered 13 first-place finishes, as part of 25 overall top-two performances, at the Zips Invitational on Feb. 15, at the Stile Athletics Field House.

In his final home collegiate meet, senior Maurice Harris (Toledo, Ohio) was triumphant in the men's weight throw with a mark of 60-8.50 (18.50m), before later earning the victory in the men's shot put with a mark of 55-6.25 (16.92m).

Curtis Richardson equaled a career-best indoor mark of 7-1.75 (2.18m) to capture the men's high jump, while freshman Mitch Hoerig (Strongsville, Ohio) placed second with a mark of 6-2 (1.88m).

Matt Ludwig captured the men's pole vault with a mark of 18-4.50 (5.60m), while senior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) finished second with a clearance of 17-0.75 (5.20m).

Lucy Bryan claimed the title in the women's pole vault eclipsing 14-2 (4.32m).

Redshirt junior Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio) led off the evening for Akron winning the men's mile in a career-best indoor time of 4:15.53.

Sophomore Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) captured the women's mile in a time of 5:00.72, before coming in second in the women's 3,000 meters in a time of 10:23.43.

Redshirt sophomore Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) equaled a career-best indoor mark of 21-10.75 (6.67m) to take the title in the men's long jump, while redshirt sophomore Nate Smith (Smithville, Ohio) garnered runner-up honors with a mark of 20-1.50 (6.13m).

Sophomore Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio) recorded the fastest indoor time of his career en route to winning the men's 800 meters in 1:55.20.

Freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) finished first in the women's high jump posting a career-best indoor mark of 5-1 (1.55m).

Freshman Lizzy Gurko (Northfield, Ohio) took the women's 800 meters in a time of 2:16.94 and was followed across the line by junior Victoria Stachowski (Waterford, Mich.) in 2:18.24.

Freshman Shayla Webb (Clay, N.Y.) jumped 36-7.50 (11.16m) to claim the triumph in the women's triple jump, while junior Tanea Cousins (Chillicothe, Ohio) placed second with a mark of 35-8.75 (10.89m).

Senior Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) registered a career-best indoor mark of 60-11.50 (18.58m) to finish second in the women's weight throw, while senior Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) was second in the women's shot put with a mark of 49-7.25 (15.12m).

Sophomore Steven Ashcraft (Canton, Ohio) placed second in the men's 400 meters registering a career-best indoor time of 50.10, while junior Bailey Lack (Brunswick, Ohio) finished second in the women's 400 meters crossing the line in 57.86.

Redshirt junior Jeremiah Fitzgerald (Mantua, Ohio) came in second in the men's 3,000 meters crossing the line in 8:59.15.

Freshman Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) was second in the men's 60 meters running a career-best indoor time of 6.87.

The men's 4x400 relay squad of Ashcraft, redshirt sophomores Jace Roundtree (Vandergrift, Pa.) and Matt Blamble (Wadsworth, Ohio) and junior Dylan Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) won the race in 3:30.39.

The women's 4x400 relay team of senior Sydney Stokes (Gahanna, Ohio), Foster, redshirt sophomore Summer Ellis (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) and sophomore Holly Riegel (Williamsport, Ohio) recorded a time 4:06.78 to place second.

A YEAR AGO: The University of Akron track and field team culminated competition on the final day of the 2018 MAC Track and Field Championships capturing three individual titles en route to placing second and third, respectively, in the women's and men's team races on Feb. 24, 2018 at Perry Fieldhouse in Bowling Green, Ohio.

The Zips completed the weekend earning six conference titles, including the sixth and seventh career championships for Jackie Siefring.

Matt Ludwig was honored as the meet's Most Outstanding Field Performer, while pole vaulter Jenna Frantz was named the Freshman Field Performer of the Meet.

The Akron women's team finished second in the women's race with 76 points as Eastern Michigan captured the league crown with 154 points.

The Zips' men's squad finished third in the team standings with 115 points behind league champion Eastern Michigan (179) and Kent State (128).

Dara Perry established a school-record time of 8.31 to earn the women's 60-meter hurdle title.

Curtis Richardson came up clutch when it mattered most en route to winning the men's high jump for his second career league title clearing 7-1.75 (2.18m).

Capturing the men's heptathlon with a career-best seven-event score of 5,188 to win his first-ever MAC title was Kamar Majid. Dylan Hochbein and Brandon Hochbein concluded the competition placing ninth and 10th, respectively, with scores of 4,180 and 4,163.

Frantz and Lucy Bryan posted second- and third-place performances in the women's pole vault with identical marks of 13-5 (4.09m).

Redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Ohio) turned in the fourth-fastest time (8.05) in indoor program history and a career-best effort in the men's 60-meter hurdles to garner a third-place showing.

Noah Williams earned a second-place finish in the men's 400 meters registering a time of 47.77.

The men's 4x400 relay team of Milton Greer (Copley, Ohio), Williams, Malik Hudson and Slone capped the Akron men's efforts finishing second with a time of 3:18.13.

Siefring captured a pair of MAC titles taking home victories in the women's long jump and pentathlon to headline the efforts of the Zips on the opening day of the MAC Track and Field Championships.

Winning his third league title in the men's pole vault with a facility-record mark of 18-2.50 (5.55m) was Ludwig.

Coming up big with a pair of third-place performances in the men's pole vault with identical marks of 16-2.75 (4.95m) were redshirt junior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) and Cole Wigal.

Claiming his third career league championship and first in the indoor men's long jump was Jordan Latimer with a winning mark of 25-2.50 (7.68m).

The men's distance medley relay squad of Andre Bollam-Godbott, Hudson, Nick Winkler and Garrett Crichlow crossed the line third in 10:17.15.

ALL-MAC PERFORMERS (First-Team All-MAC/Second-Team All-MAC): Below is a listed on first- and second-place performances at the Mid-American Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the current members of the Zips' squad.

Jordan Latimer (4/1) - Indoor: Long Jump - 2015 (2nd-24-7/7.49m), 2018 (1st-25-2.50/7.68m); Outdoor: Long Jump - 2015 (1st-25-2.75/7.69m), 2017 (1st-25-2.25/7.68m), 2018 (1st-26-0.75/7.94m); Terrell McClain (1/4) - Indoor: Long Jump - 2017 (1st-25-4.25/7.73m); Outdoor: Long Jump - 2015 (2nd-25-0.50/7.63m), 2016 (2nd-25-3.50/7.71m), 2017 (2nd-25-0.75/7.64m), 2018 (2nd-25-8.75/7.84m); Matt Ludwig (4/0) - Indoor: Pole Vault - 2017 (1st-17-1.50/5.22m), 2018 (1st-18-2.50/5.55m); Outdoor: Pole Vault - 2017 (1st-17-2.50/5.25m), 2018 (1st-18-0.50/5.50m); Dara Perry (3/1)- Indoor: 60M Hurdles - 2017 (2nd-8.45), 2018 (1st-8.31); Outdoor: 100M Hurdles - 2016 (1st-13.53), 2018 (1st-11.51); Curtis Richardson (3/0) - Indoor: High Jump - 2018 (1st-7-1.75/2.18m); Outdoor: High Jump - 2017 (1st-6-11.75/2.13m), 2018 (1st-6-11.50/2.12m); Abigale Wilson (2/1) - Outdoor: Discus - 2016 (1st-162-8/49.58m), 2018 (1st-176-0/53.64m); Lucy Bryan (1/1) - Indoor: Pole Vault - 2017 (2nd-13-8/4.17m); Outdoor: Pole Vault – (1st-14-2/4.32m); Malik Hudson (1/1) – Indoor: 4x400 Relay – 2018 (2nd-3:18.13) Outdoor: Decathlon – (2nd-6,723); Kamar Majid (1/0) – Indoor: Heptathlon – 2018 (1st-5,188); Noah Williams (1/1) - Indoor: 400 Meters – 2018 (2nd-47.77); 4x400 Relay – 2018 (2nd-3:18.13); Outdoor: Weight Throw – (2nd-52-6/16.00m); Mackenzie Andrews (0/2) - Indoor: 800 Meters - 2017 (2nd-2:11.56); DMR – 2017 (2nd-11:42.83); Ian Behm (0/1) - Outdoor: Javelin - 2016 (2nd-211-2.50/64.37m); Jenna Frantz (0/1) – Indoor: Pole Vault – 2018 (2nd-13-5/4.09m); Milton Greer (0/1) - Indoor: 4x400 Relay – 2018 (2nd-3:18.13); Bailey Lack (0/1) - Indoor: DMR - 2017 (2nd-11:42.83); Cole Wigal (0/1) – Outdoor: Pole Vault – (2nd-16-7.50/5.07m).

RICHARDSON NAMED MAC MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: University of Akron track and field senior Curtis Richardson was recognized by the MAC as its Men's Field Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

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