The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, March 8
Birmingham, Ala.
University of Akron
vs
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Trio of Zips Garner All-America Accolades on Opening Night of NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
March 08 | Track & Field
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FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | ESPN3 BROADCAST (6:30 PM ET-FRI) | ESPN3 BROADCAST (5 PM ET-SAT) | LIVE STATS | MEN'S DAY ONE START LISTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S DAY ONE START LISTS (PDF) | MEN'S DAY TWO START LISTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S DAY TWO START LISTS (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Akron track and field team garnered a trio of All-America honors on the opening night of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, on Friday, March 8, as seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) earned first-team honors, while fellow senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) collected second-team laurels.
Andrews opened the meet for the Zips racing in the second of two preliminary heats in the women's mile. She posted a time of 4:45.88 to place 14th, and by virtue of her finish, was tabbed a second-team All-America honoree for the first time in her decorated Zips' career.
"Mackenzie got caught in a tight mix of bunched up runners," Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "For a taller runner, it was tough keeping her balance in that mess as she came close to going down a few times. She needed to stay out of traffic and those are things you learn at your first national meet. She will be better prepared outdoors. What an honor for her to be here."
Entering the men's pole vault as one of the event's favorites, Ludwig began his evening passing on the opening height of 17-5.75 (5.33m). Entering the competition at 17-9.75 (5.43m), he bested the bar on his first attempt.
Employing some competitive strategy, Ludwig then passed at 18-1.75 (5.53m), before clearing the ensuing bar, 18-3.75 (5.58m), on his second run at the height.
He then passed at 18-5.50 (5.63m), before attacking the bar at 18-7.50 (5.68m). Ludwig was unable to clear the bar at 18-7.50 (5.68m) and appeared to be eliminated from the competition with a ninth-place finish.
It was then discovered by officials that the bar had mistakenly been set at the next height of 18-9.50 (5.73m), instead of 18-7.50 (5.68m), an error that allowed five vaulters a second opportunity to make three attempts at the proper height.
The second chance proved beneficial for Ludwig, who eclipsed 18-7.50 (5.68m) on his third and final attempt at the mark.
Advancing to 18-9.50 (7.73m), Ludwig was unable garner a clearance at the mark, and earned a fourth-place finish. A year ago, he placed fourth at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships with a jump of 18-2.50 (5.55m).
"With the bar mistakes by the officials it was a wild evening," said Mitchell. "We were out...we were in. With 5-cm 2-inch increments, we had go through passing a lot of bars, it made it tough to get some rhythm. Matt was jumping high, but was not penetrating enough in the pit and kept coming down on the bar. Thankfully he was able to take advantage of the bar mistake in the greatest pole vault field in the history of the NCAA. It was an honor to score in such a tough field tonight."
A five-time All-America honoree in the men's long jump, Latimer garnered first-team All-America accolades for the initial time at the NCAA Indoor Championships placing seventh with mark of 25-8 (7.82m).
Making his third career appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the event after placing ninth and 10th, respectively, with marks of 24-10.50/7.58m and 24-9.75 (7.56m) as a redshirt junior in 2018 and as a freshman in 2015, Latimer posted identical marks of 25-5.25 (7.75m) on each of his first two jumps in the preliminary round. He then registered a mark of 25-4.75 (7.74m) on his third and final jump.
Qualifying for the final, he posted his best mark in the championship round on his fourth jump of the evening, soaring 25-8 (7.82m). He was unable to record a mark on his final two attempts and finished with a seventh-place performance.
"Jordan did a great job against a great field," Mitchell explained. "He was close on getting a couple great jumps, but unfortunately fouled them. At a meet like this you have to push the board, but it is another All-America honor for him."
Junior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) will be making her fourth NCAA Championship appearance in the women's pole vault at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9, after earning first-team All-America accolades a year ago on the strength of a seventh-place effort at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where she eclipsed 14-3.50 (4.36m). A three-time first-team All-America honoree, she will be seeded sixth in the event after registering a season-best mark of 14-6.25 (4.43m) at the MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 22).
Making his NCAA Championship debut in the men's triple jump at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, will be redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt), who garnered his first-ever MAC Championship soaring a school-record mark of 52-6 (16.00m) to win the event. Eldesouky entered the finals of the triple jump on Feb. 23 in fifth place before registering his winning mark on his next-to-last jump of the competition.
"We look forward to seeing what Lucy and Hesham can do tomorrow," said Mitchell.
Akron is tied for 11th in the men's team standings with seven points.
ESPN3/Watch ESPN app will have coverage of the meet beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9.
FRIDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (4th-18-7.50/5.68m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (7th-25-8/7.82m)
FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
Mile: Mackenzie Andrews (14th-4:45.88)
FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | ESPN3 BROADCAST (6:30 PM ET-FRI) | ESPN3 BROADCAST (5 PM ET-SAT) | LIVE STATS | MEN'S DAY ONE START LISTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S DAY ONE START LISTS (PDF) | MEN'S DAY TWO START LISTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S DAY TWO START LISTS (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Akron track and field team garnered a trio of All-America honors on the opening night of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, on Friday, March 8, as seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) earned first-team honors, while fellow senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) collected second-team laurels.
Andrews opened the meet for the Zips racing in the second of two preliminary heats in the women's mile. She posted a time of 4:45.88 to place 14th, and by virtue of her finish, was tabbed a second-team All-America honoree for the first time in her decorated Zips' career.
"Mackenzie got caught in a tight mix of bunched up runners," Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell commented. "For a taller runner, it was tough keeping her balance in that mess as she came close to going down a few times. She needed to stay out of traffic and those are things you learn at your first national meet. She will be better prepared outdoors. What an honor for her to be here."
Entering the men's pole vault as one of the event's favorites, Ludwig began his evening passing on the opening height of 17-5.75 (5.33m). Entering the competition at 17-9.75 (5.43m), he bested the bar on his first attempt.
Employing some competitive strategy, Ludwig then passed at 18-1.75 (5.53m), before clearing the ensuing bar, 18-3.75 (5.58m), on his second run at the height.
He then passed at 18-5.50 (5.63m), before attacking the bar at 18-7.50 (5.68m). Ludwig was unable to clear the bar at 18-7.50 (5.68m) and appeared to be eliminated from the competition with a ninth-place finish.
It was then discovered by officials that the bar had mistakenly been set at the next height of 18-9.50 (5.73m), instead of 18-7.50 (5.68m), an error that allowed five vaulters a second opportunity to make three attempts at the proper height.
The second chance proved beneficial for Ludwig, who eclipsed 18-7.50 (5.68m) on his third and final attempt at the mark.
Advancing to 18-9.50 (7.73m), Ludwig was unable garner a clearance at the mark, and earned a fourth-place finish. A year ago, he placed fourth at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships with a jump of 18-2.50 (5.55m).
"With the bar mistakes by the officials it was a wild evening," said Mitchell. "We were out...we were in. With 5-cm 2-inch increments, we had go through passing a lot of bars, it made it tough to get some rhythm. Matt was jumping high, but was not penetrating enough in the pit and kept coming down on the bar. Thankfully he was able to take advantage of the bar mistake in the greatest pole vault field in the history of the NCAA. It was an honor to score in such a tough field tonight."
A five-time All-America honoree in the men's long jump, Latimer garnered first-team All-America accolades for the initial time at the NCAA Indoor Championships placing seventh with mark of 25-8 (7.82m).
Making his third career appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the event after placing ninth and 10th, respectively, with marks of 24-10.50/7.58m and 24-9.75 (7.56m) as a redshirt junior in 2018 and as a freshman in 2015, Latimer posted identical marks of 25-5.25 (7.75m) on each of his first two jumps in the preliminary round. He then registered a mark of 25-4.75 (7.74m) on his third and final jump.
Qualifying for the final, he posted his best mark in the championship round on his fourth jump of the evening, soaring 25-8 (7.82m). He was unable to record a mark on his final two attempts and finished with a seventh-place performance.
"Jordan did a great job against a great field," Mitchell explained. "He was close on getting a couple great jumps, but unfortunately fouled them. At a meet like this you have to push the board, but it is another All-America honor for him."
Junior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) will be making her fourth NCAA Championship appearance in the women's pole vault at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9, after earning first-team All-America accolades a year ago on the strength of a seventh-place effort at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where she eclipsed 14-3.50 (4.36m). A three-time first-team All-America honoree, she will be seeded sixth in the event after registering a season-best mark of 14-6.25 (4.43m) at the MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 22).
Making his NCAA Championship debut in the men's triple jump at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, will be redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt), who garnered his first-ever MAC Championship soaring a school-record mark of 52-6 (16.00m) to win the event. Eldesouky entered the finals of the triple jump on Feb. 23 in fifth place before registering his winning mark on his next-to-last jump of the competition.
"We look forward to seeing what Lucy and Hesham can do tomorrow," said Mitchell.
Akron is tied for 11th in the men's team standings with seven points.
ESPN3/Watch ESPN app will have coverage of the meet beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9.
FRIDAY MEN'S FINALS:
Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (4th-18-7.50/5.68m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (7th-25-8/7.82m)
FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARIES:
Mile: Mackenzie Andrews (14th-4:45.88)
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
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