Akron Captures Men’s Team Title at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships as Six Zips Earn Individual Titles

Saturday, February 23

Kent, Ohio

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Akron Captures Men’s Team Title at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships as Six Zips Earn Individual Titles

February 23 | Track & Field

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FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | SATURDAY VIDEO RECAP | FRIDAY VIDEO RECAP | PHOTO GALLERY-2 | PHOTO GALLERY | MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | ACCEPTED ENTRIES (PDF)

KENT, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams culminated the final day of the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Kent State Field House, as a true team effort garnered the Zips six individual league titles, while capturing the seventh league team title in indoor program history.

The Zips' men squad won its seventh team championship in the last nine years and 12th in the last 17 MAC championships overall leading to Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell being named the MAC Men's Coach of the Year.

The Zips led the men's team race with 156 points to edge Eastern Michigan by 2.5 points, while the Akron women's squad finished in third place with 84 points, trailing league champion Central Michigan (114.5 points) and Eastern Michigan (91 points).

In addition, the Zips collected a pair of points in the battle against Kent State in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Akron leads 5.5-2.5 in the current standings.

Senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) won her first-ever individual MAC championship in the women's mile registering a facility-record time of 4:43.42, before coming back to capture the women's 3,000 meters in a time of 9:41.03. Andrews became only the second Zip to win the women's indoor title in the 3,000 meters, joining Colleen Moran (2007).

Andrews finished the meet garnering a trio of league titles and was rewarded with her selection as the Women's Most Valuable Performer of the Meet.

Senior Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) won his fifth straight league crown in the men's pole vault eclipsing a meet-record mark of 19-0.75 (5.81m), bettering the record set by former Zips' All-American Shawn Barber in 2015. Ludwig attempted to establish a collegiate record setting the bar at 19-5.50 (5.93m), but came up shy on each of his three attempts.

By virtue of his performance, Ludwig captured Akron's 23rd consecutive overall title in the event, and was tabbed as the Men's Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet.

Senior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) and junior Matt Keim (Bollivar, Ohio) added second- and fourth-place efforts in the men's pole vault registering marks of 16-7.25 (5.06m) and 16-1.25 (4.91m).

Senior Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) captured his fourth consecutive and fourth overall league title in the men's high jump besting the bar at 7-1 (2.16m). The Zips also garnered key team points with second- and third-place performances from freshman Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) and senior Ben Olewiler (Shiloh, Ohio), as the duo recorded marks of 6-11.50 (2.12m) and 6-6.75 (2.00m).

Following the meet, Andu was selected as the Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Meet.

Redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) gave the Zips a strong scoring push winning the men's triple jump with a school-record mark of 52-6 (16.00m) to earn his first-ever league title. The effort stands as the 12th-best mark in the NCAA this season.

Taking home his first-ever MAC title in the men's 60-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 7.97 was redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.). His performance stands as the third-fastest in indoor program history.

A day after earning the title in the men's 5,000 meters, redshirt junior Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio) delivered a second-place finish in the men's 3,000 meters, crossing the line in 8:27.35, while junior Nick Stricklen (Lexington, Ohio) placed fifth in 8:36.99.

Redshirt junior Maike Anstett (Karlsruhe, Germany) earned a second-place effort in the women's high jump with a career-best clearance of 5-6.50 (1.69m), after finishing sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 39-9.25 (12.12m). Anstett equaled the winning mark in the high jump, but placed second in a jump-off.

Senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) placed third in the women's 60-meter hurdles turning in a season-best time of 8.34.

Senior Maurice Harris (Toledo, Ohio) capped his Akron career posting a mark of 56-8 (17.27m) en route to placing third in the men's shot put.

Redshirt sophomore Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio) tallied team points in the men's mile finishing second and fourth, respectively, crossing the line in 4:13.41 and 4:14.81.

Senior Kamar Majid (Akron, Ohio) registered a seven-event cumulative score of 5,157 to finish third in the men's heptathlon. Tallying career-best scores of 5,132 and 4,841 to place fourth and seventh, respectively, was redshirt junior Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.).

Hocbein opened up second-day action in the heptathlon running the fourth-fastest time, 8.56, in the 60-meter hurdles, while Majid and Hudson posted times of 8.59 and 8.68.

In the pole vault, Majid recorded the best mark of the competition with a clearance of 15-5 (4.70m), while Hochbein and Hudson bettered the bar at 14-1.25 (4.30m) and 13-9.25 (4.20m), respectively.

Hudson capped the heptathlon registering a career-best time of 2:53.85 in the 1,000 meters, while Hochbein and Majid crossed the line in 3:01.17 and 3:14.39.

Freshman Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished third in the men's 60 meters in a career-best time of 6.86, before crossing the line in 21.64 to place sixth in the men's 200 meters.

Freshman Sam Janson (Dayton, Ohio) placed fifth in the men's 400 meters in a time of 48.03.

Junior Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio) and senior Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) contributed team points in the women's 800 meters and shot put placing sixth and seventh, respectively. Hess crossed the line in 2:12.68, while Snyder posted a mark of 47-3.75 (14.42m).

Sophomore Steven Ashcraft (Canton, Ohio) picked up a point in the men's 800 meters registering a time of 1:54.23 to finish sixth.

The men's 4x400 relay squad of Willis, Janson, sophomore Andrew Wahl (Northfield, Ohio) and freshman Zach Robinson (Pickerington, Ohio) placed third in a season-best time of 3:12.93.

The Zips will close out their indoor campaign with select individuals qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, March 8-9, in Birmingham, Ala.

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS:
1. Akron (156 points), 2. Eastern Michigan (153.5), 3. Kent State (106.5), 4. Buffalo (63), 5. Central Michigan (46)

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Central Michigan (114.5 points), 2. Eastern Michigan (91), 3. Akron (84), 4. Toledo (69), 5. Western Michigan (62), 6. Kent State (56.5), 7. Northern Illinois (48), 8. Ball State (43), 9 Bowling Green (32), 10. Miami (29), 11. Buffalo (17), Ohio (17)

SATURDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Mile: Marc Migliozzi (2nd-4:13.41), Andre Bollam-Godbott (4th-4:14.81), Jacob Ondash (7th-4:18.81); 60-Meter Hurdles: Patrick Kimball (1st-7.97*), Jace Roundtree (7th-8.28), Preston Fillman (8th-8.29); 400 Meters: Sam Janson (5th-48.03), Zach Robinson (8th-49.15); 60 Meters: Amir Willis (3rd-6.86*), Malcom Briley (6th-7.07); 800 Meters: Steven Ashcraft (6th-1:54.23), Jacob Ondash (9th-1:56.35*); 200 Meters: Amir Willis (6th-21.64); 3,000 Meters: Tevin Brown (2nd-8:27.35), Nick Stricklen (5th-8:36.99), Marc Migliozzi (9th-8:42.79); 4x400 Relay: Amir Willis, Sam Janson, Andrew Wahl, Zach Robinson (3rd-3:12.93); High Jump: Curtis Richardson (1st-7-1/2.16m), Nuh Andu (2nd-6-11.50/2.12m), Ben Olewiler (3rd-6-6.75/2.00m); Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (1st-19-0.75/5.81m) Cole Wigal (2nd-16-7.25/5.06m), Matt Keim (4th-16-1.25/4.91m); Triple Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (1st-52-6/16.00m*), Marcques Gibbs (8th-48-0.75/14.65m); Shot Put: Maurice Harris (3rd-56-8/17.27m)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Mile: Mackenzie Andrews (1st-4:43.42), Lindsey Scarton (8th-4:57.51*), Leah Recker (19th-5:14.55); 60-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (3rd-8.34); 800 Meters: Haley Hess (6th-2:12.68); 3,000 Meters: Mackenzie Andrews (1st-9:41.03), Alyssa Thomas (DNF); 4x400 Relay: Sara Foster, Iman Batiste, Bailey Lack, Dimitra Gnafaki (7th-3:47.65); Triple Jump: Maike Anstett (6th-39-9.25/12.12m), Zoi Balamouti (11th-38-10.50/11.85m*), Tanea Cousins (14th-37-6.50/11.44m*); Shot Put: Olivia Snyder (7th-47-3.75/14.42m), Abigale Wilson (9th-46-7.50/14.21m); High Jump: Maike Anstett (2nd-5-6.50/1.69m*), Carlyn Zahner (19th-5-1/1.55m)

MEN'S HEPTATHLON:
Kamar Majid (3rd-5,157), Malik Hudson (4th-5,132*), Brandon Hochbein (7th-4,841*); 60 Meters: Kamar Majid (3rd-7.20*), Malik Hudson (7th-7.26), Brandon Hochbein (9th-7.44); Long Jump: Kamar Majid (1st-23-0.50/7.02m*), Malik Hudson (6th-21-10/6.65m), Brandon Hochbein (7th-20-11.75/6.39m); Shot Put: Malik Hudson (3rd-41-3.25/12.58m*), Kamar Majid (6th-38-5/11.71m), Brandon Hochbein (8th-34-2.75/10.43m); High Jump: Kamar Majid (4th-6.4-25/1.94m), Malik Hudson (4th-6.4-25/1.94m), Brandon Hochbein (6th-6-3.25/1.91m*); 60-Meter Hurdles: Brandon Hochbein (4th-8.56), Kamar Majid (6th-8.59), Malik Hudson (7th-8.68); Pole Vault: Kamar Majid (1st-15-5/4.70m), Brandon Hochbein (4th-14-1.25/4.30m), Malik Hudson (5th-13-9.25/4.20m*); 1,000 Meters: Malik Hudson (3rd-2:53.85*), Brandon Hochbein (8th-3:01.17), Kamar Majid (9th-3:14.39)

FRIDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Weight Throw: Maurice Harris (5th-60-9.50/18.53m), Jacob Hutcherson (8th-55-1.50/16.80m*); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (1st-25-4.50/7.73m), Hesham Eldesouky (3rd-24-6.50/7.48m*), Terrell McClain (9th-19-6.75/5.96m); 5,000 Meters: Tevin Brown (1st-14:35.04), Andre Bollam-Godbott (10th-15:15.17); Distance Medley Relay: Jacob Ondash, Andrew Wahl, Jake Wickert, Nick Stricklen (2nd-10:06.82)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S FINALS:
Weight Throw: Olivia Snyder (5th-61-7/18.77m*), Shawnn Foster (9th-58-4.50/17.79m), Emily Taylor (15th-55-2/16.81m); Pole Vault: Lucy Bryan (1st-14-6.25/4.43m), Abby Helminiak (3rd-13-0.75/3.98m), Eboni Hall (5th-12-6.75/3.83m); 5,000 Meters: Ashley Murray (18th-18:12.68); Distance Medley Relay: Lindsey Scarton, Iman Batiste, Victoria Stachowski, Mackenzie Andrews (1st-11:37.61)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
60-Meter Hurdles: Jace Roundtree (2nd-8.08*), Patrick Kimball (3rd-8.10), Preston Fillman (7th-8.36); 400 Meters: Sam Janson (2nd-47.77*), Zach Robinson (7th-48.90), Andrew Wahl (11th-49.65*); 60 Meters: Amir Willis (5th-6.93), Malcom Briley (7th-7.00); 200 Meters: Amir Willis (6th-21.64), Malcom Briley (9th-22.10)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
60-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (2nd-8.44), Victoria Abunaw (10th-8.70), Jasmyn Allen (11th-8.71*); 800 Meters: Haley Hess (4th-2:11.92), Leah Recker (9th-2:13.98), Lizzy Gurko (13th-2:17.57)

WOMEN'S PENTATHLON:
Sara Foster (4th-3,440*); 60-Meter Hurdles: Sara Foster (10th-9.30); High Jump: Sara Foster (8th-5-1.75/1.57m*); Shot Put: Sara Foster (8th-32-0/9.75m*); Long Jump: Sara Foster (6th-17-0.75/5.20m*); 800 Meters: Sara Foster (4th-2:24.45*)

* denotes career-best mark