The University of Akron Athletics
Thursday, May 23
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NCAA East Preliminary Round
Akron Track and Field Primed for NCAA East Preliminary Round
May 22 | Track & Field
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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 19 student-athletes at the three-day event hosted by the University of North Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 23-25 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA's in Austin, Texas from June 5-8. The NCAA West prelims will be held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best 19 combined men's and women's qualifiers (19 Zips across 16 events) for the NCAA East Preliminary Round and NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Akron is followed by Eastern Michigan (14 – 8 women/6 men), Kent State (13 – 7 men/6 women), Miami (8 – 5 women/3 men), Buffalo (5 – 5 men), Bowling Green (4 – 4 women), Northern Illinois (4 – 4 women), Western Michigan (4 – 4 women), Ohio (3 – 3 women), Ball State (2 – 2 women) and Toledo (2 – 2 women).
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 11 men and eight women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be; senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) (3,000-meter steeplechase - 8:20 p.m. Friday), freshman Laurel Bristow (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (javelin - 12 p.m. Thursday), senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) (pole vault - 5 p.m. Friday), freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) (400-meter hurdles - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), redshirt sophomore Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) (pole vault - 5 p.m. Friday), senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) (100-meter hurdles - 4:30 p.m. Friday), senior Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) (shot put - 5:15 p.m. Saturday) and senior Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) (discus - 12 p.m. Friday and shot put - 5:15 p.m. Saturday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Mackenzie Andrews - 3,000-meter steeplechase (13th-10:12.72), Laurel Bristow - women's javelin (42nd-151-1/46.05m), Lucy Bryan - women's pole vault (1st-14-9/4.50m), Sara Foster - 400-meter hurdles (38th-59.69), Abby Helminiak - women's pole vault (33rd-13-2.50/4.03m), Dara Perry - 100-meter hurdles (19th-13.31), Olivia Snyder - women's shot put (46th-50-1.25/15.27m), Abigale Wilson - women's discus (10th-180-8/55.08m) and shot put (33rd-51-6.25/15.70m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be; freshman Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) (high jump - 4 p.m. Saturday), redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) (javelin - 12 p.m. Friday), redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (triple jump - 6:30 p.m. Saturday), senior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (110-meter hurdles - 5 p.m. Friday), senior Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) (long jump - 3:30 p.m. Thursday), senior Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), senior Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) (high jump - 4 p.m. Saturday), redshirt junior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday) and redshirt freshman Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) (400 meters - 7:45 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Nuh Andu - men's high jump (28th-7-0.25/2.14m), Ian Behm - men's javelin (9th-233-7/71.20m), Hesham Eldesouky - men's triple jump (11th-52-5.25/15.98m), Tyler Fraker - men's pole vault (43rd-16-7.25/5.06m), Matt Keim - men's pole vault (35th-16-8.25/5.09m), Patrick Kimball - men's 110-meter hurdles (26th-13.96), Jordan Latimer - men's long jump (4th-26-3.75/8.02m), Matt Ludwig - men's pole vault (2nd-18-7.25/5.67m), Curtis Richardson - men's high jump (12th-7-2.50/2.20m), Cole Wigal - men's pole vault (27th-17-0.75/5.20m), Noah Williams - men's 400 meters (8th-45.72)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
THIS WEEK IN AKRON TRACK AND FIELD WITH HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL:
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at noon Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday, May 23, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the women's 400-meter hurdle preliminaries at 4:30 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:40 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's discus at noon. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 110-meter hurdles at 4:30 p.m. The men's 3,000-meter steeplechase closes out the day's action at 9 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the men's shot put at 2:45 p.m. The first running event is slated to begin at 6 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to unfospreys.com (PDF). Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
AKRON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (TENTATIVE):
Thursday, May 23
12 p.m. - Laurel Bristow (Women's Javelin)
3:30 p.m. - Jordan Latimer (Men's Long Jump)
4:30 p.m. - Sara Foster (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
Tyler Fraker (Men's Pole Vault)
Matt Keim (Men's Pole Vault)
Matt Ludwig (Men's Pole Vault)
Cole Wigal (Men's Pole Vault)
7:45 p.m. - Noah Williams (400 Meters - First Round)
Friday, May 24
12 p.m. - Ian Behm (Men's Javelin)
Abigale Wilson (Women's Discus)
4:30 p.m. - Dara Perry (Women's 100-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
5 p.m. - Lucy Bryan (Women's Pole Vault)
Abby Helminiak (Women's Pole Vault)
Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
5:45 p.m. - Williams (400 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7 p.m. Foster (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
8:20 p.m. - Mackenzie Andrews (Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
Saturday, May 25
4 p.m. - Nuh Andu (Men's High Jump)
Curtis Richardson (Men's High Jump)
5:15 p.m. - Olivia Snyder (Women's Shot Put)
Wilson (Women's Shot Put)
6:30 p.m. - Hesham Eldesouky (Men's Triple Jump)
7:05 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Perry (Women's 100-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
7:20 p.m. - Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
% if advancing
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Akron men's track and field team is ranked 408th in the 2019 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Team Computer Rankings released on May 20.
The Zips are the highest-rated men's team in the Mid-American Conference in the latest national and Great Lakes Regional polls (sixth).
In the Event Squad rankings released on May 13, Akron is ranked fourth nationally in the men's pole vault and among the top 20 in five different events.
Akron is rated seventh in the men's high jump, eighth in the men's decathlon, 13th in the men's long jump and 17th in the women's 400-meter hurdles.
The Akron men's and women's teams are ranked No. 19 and No. 23, respectively, in the final Collegiate Outdoor Dual Meet Rankings as compiled by Jesse Squire for Track and Field News.
Akron posted 36 career- and 52 season-best marks at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 9-11.
NCAA PREDICTIONS: A trio of University of Akron track and field standouts were among those projected by Track and Field News in its latest men's and women's championship tabulations to earn top-10 performances at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8, in Austin, Texas.
Matt Ludwig and Jordan Latimer are predicted to finish third and seventh, respectively, in the men's pole vault and men's long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, while in the women's field, Track and Field News projects Bryan is tabbed to place seventh in the women's pole vault.
ZIPS AMONG NATION'S BEST IN LATEST TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has six student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) is this week's rankings, including Lucy Bryan, who is third in the nation in the women's pole vault (14-9/4.50m).
Also rated among the top-25 are Jordan Latimer (seventh in the men's long jump - 26-3.75/8.02m) and Matt Ludwig (seventh in the men's pole vault - 18-7.25/5.67m), Noah Williams (14th in men's 400 meters - 45.72), Curtis Richardson (17th in men's high jump - 7-2.50/2.20m), Ian Behm (20th in men's javelin - 233-7/71.20m), Hesham Eldesouky (20th in the men's triple jump - 52-5.75/15.98m) and Abigale Wilson (23rd in the women's discus - 180-8/55.08m).
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA East Preliminary Round, May 23-25: Mackenzie Andrews (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase – 10:12.72) Ian Behm (men's javelin – 233-7/71.20m), redshirt junior Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio) (men's 10,000 meters – 30:06.41), Lucy Bryan (women's pole vault – 14-9/4.50m), Sara Foster (women's heptathlon – 4,808), Matt Ludwig (men's pole vault – 18-7.25/5.67m), Jordan Latimer (men's long jump – 26-3.75/8.02m), Dara Perry (women's 100-meter hurdles – 13.31), Curtis Richardson (men's high jump – 7-2.50/2.20m), Noah Williams (men's 400 meters – 45.72) and Abigale Wilson (women's discus – 180-8/55.08m)
A WEEK AGO: Strong individual and team performances dominated the efforts of the University of Akron track and field team at the Mid-American Conference Championships as 23 Zips garnered All-MAC accolades, including 20 first-team citations.
Headlining the Zips' performances was Mackenzie Andrews, who captured her fourth and fifth league crowns taking home titles in the women's 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Andrews won her fourth individual MAC title taking down the competition in the women's 1,500 meters in a time of 4:27.51, while also becoming only the second Zip to win the steeplechase in championship history, crossing the line in a time of 10:26.74.
Akron garnered a trio of individual honors as Noah Williams, Sara Foster and freshman Demetrius Jackson (Beachwood, Ohio) were named the Men's Most Outstanding Track Co-Performer of the Meet, Women's Track Freshman of the Year and Men's Track Freshman of the Year, respectively, for their performances to lead the Zips to capture the men's and women's team titles.
Williams, was named the Men's Most Outstanding Track Co-Performer of the Meet on the strength of triumphs in the men's 400 meters as well as running legs on the victorious men's 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads. Williams crossed the line in the men's 400 meters in a school-record time of 45.72, the 14th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.
The men's 4x100 relay team of freshman Malcom Briley (Pickerington, Ohio), Williams, freshman Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Jackson recorded a season-best time of 40.39.
The Zips completed the sweep of the men's relays taking home the title in the men's 4x400 relay for only the second time in outdoor program history as the quartet of redshirt freshman Garrett White (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), and freshmen Zach Robinson (Pickerington, Ohio), Sam Janson (Dayton, Ohio) and Williams registered a come-from-behind victory in a season-best time of 3:12.00.
Jordan Latimer captured his sixth overall and fifth consecutive (indoor and outdoor) league title in the men's long jump on the strength of a winning jump and facility-record mark of 25-7.50 (7.81m).
Foster garnered her first-ever MAC title in the women's heptathlon using a strong second-day surge to register a seven-event cumulative and career-best score of 4,808.
Dara Perry took home her fourth overall career MAC championship and third in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.55.
Lucy Bryan won her third overall and third consecutive MAC title in the women's pole vault persevering through windy conditions to claim the event with a stadium-record mark of 13-9.25 (4.20m).
Abigale Wilson garnered her second consecutive and third overall league title to win the women's discus registering a season-best mark of 180-8 (55.08m).
Tevin Brown became the first-ever Zip to capture the men's 10,000-meter title parlaying a late surge in the race to cross the line in 31:20.78 to pull in his second career MAC title.
Ian Behm captured his second career league title in the men's javelin persevering through fierce winds to register a winning mark of 224-0 (68.27m) on his sixth and final throw of the competition.
Cole Wigal extended Akron's run of dominance in the men's pole vault capturing the Zips' 24th consecutive title (indoor and outdoor) in the event with a career-best clearance of 17-0.75 (5.20m).
Redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned his second career league crown winning the men's 110-meter hurdles in a career-best and second-fastest time in program history with a time of 13.96.
Earning individual second-team all-league honors was Abby Helminiak in the women's pole vault (12-8.25/3.87m), junior Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio) in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:31.05), junior Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) in the men's decathlon (6,771 points), Jackson in the men's 100 meters (10.49), Matt Ludwig in the men's pole vault (17-0.75/5.20m), redshirt sophomore Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the men's 1,500 meters (3:55.20), Curtis Richardson in the men's high jump (6-9.50/2.09m) and Wilson in the women's shot put (51-6.25/15.70m).
A YEAR AGO: Nine Zips garnered qualifying marks for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the strength of their performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, hosted by the University of South Florida, May 24-26, 2018.
The Akron delegation included; Lucy Bryan (women's pole vault), Rodrigo Iglesias (men's javelin), Jordan Latimer (men's long jump), Matt Ludwig (men's pole vault), Terrell McClain (men's long jump), Patricia Ortega (women's heptathlon), Dara Perry (women's 100-meter hurdles), Jackie Siefring (women's heptathlon) and Abigale Wilson (women's discus).
A six-time All-America honoree, Ludwig eclipsed the qualifying mark of 17-6.50 (5.35m) in the men's pole vault to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the then fourth time as a Zip.
Iglesias made his NCAA Championship debut in the men's javelin after punching his ticket to nationals placing eighth with a mark of 209-8 (63.90m).
McClain and Latimer, who were then each three-time All-America honorees, each qualified in the men's long jump.
McClain, who earned first-team All-America accolades in the long jump in 2017 after placing fifth (25-7.25/7.80m) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, posted the top qualifying mark in the long jump with a mark of 26-1.50 (7.96m).
Latimer, recorded a jump of 25-1.25 (7.65m) to register the 10th-best qualifying mark at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
A four-time All-America honoree, Bryan earned her first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after recording a qualifying mark of 13-4.50 (4.18m) in the women's pole vault.
Perry made her NCAA debut in women's 100-meter hurdles after registering a time of 13.42 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round to earn the 12th and final championship berth.
Siefring and Ortega each qualified in the women's heptathlon on the strength of career- and season-best seven-event cumulative scores of 5,872 and 5,782, respectively.
Wilson qualified in the women's discus after placing fourth at the NCAA East Preliminary Round with a mark of 178-9 (54.49m).
TOP MARKS:
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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 19 student-athletes at the three-day event hosted by the University of North Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 23-25 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA's in Austin, Texas from June 5-8. The NCAA West prelims will be held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best 19 combined men's and women's qualifiers (19 Zips across 16 events) for the NCAA East Preliminary Round and NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Akron is followed by Eastern Michigan (14 – 8 women/6 men), Kent State (13 – 7 men/6 women), Miami (8 – 5 women/3 men), Buffalo (5 – 5 men), Bowling Green (4 – 4 women), Northern Illinois (4 – 4 women), Western Michigan (4 – 4 women), Ohio (3 – 3 women), Ball State (2 – 2 women) and Toledo (2 – 2 women).
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 11 men and eight women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be; senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) (3,000-meter steeplechase - 8:20 p.m. Friday), freshman Laurel Bristow (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (javelin - 12 p.m. Thursday), senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) (pole vault - 5 p.m. Friday), freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) (400-meter hurdles - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), redshirt sophomore Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) (pole vault - 5 p.m. Friday), senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) (100-meter hurdles - 4:30 p.m. Friday), senior Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) (shot put - 5:15 p.m. Saturday) and senior Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) (discus - 12 p.m. Friday and shot put - 5:15 p.m. Saturday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Mackenzie Andrews - 3,000-meter steeplechase (13th-10:12.72), Laurel Bristow - women's javelin (42nd-151-1/46.05m), Lucy Bryan - women's pole vault (1st-14-9/4.50m), Sara Foster - 400-meter hurdles (38th-59.69), Abby Helminiak - women's pole vault (33rd-13-2.50/4.03m), Dara Perry - 100-meter hurdles (19th-13.31), Olivia Snyder - women's shot put (46th-50-1.25/15.27m), Abigale Wilson - women's discus (10th-180-8/55.08m) and shot put (33rd-51-6.25/15.70m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be; freshman Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) (high jump - 4 p.m. Saturday), redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) (javelin - 12 p.m. Friday), redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (triple jump - 6:30 p.m. Saturday), senior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (110-meter hurdles - 5 p.m. Friday), senior Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) (long jump - 3:30 p.m. Thursday), senior Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday), senior Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) (high jump - 4 p.m. Saturday), redshirt junior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) (pole vault - 4:30 p.m. Thursday) and redshirt freshman Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) (400 meters - 7:45 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Nuh Andu - men's high jump (28th-7-0.25/2.14m), Ian Behm - men's javelin (9th-233-7/71.20m), Hesham Eldesouky - men's triple jump (11th-52-5.25/15.98m), Tyler Fraker - men's pole vault (43rd-16-7.25/5.06m), Matt Keim - men's pole vault (35th-16-8.25/5.09m), Patrick Kimball - men's 110-meter hurdles (26th-13.96), Jordan Latimer - men's long jump (4th-26-3.75/8.02m), Matt Ludwig - men's pole vault (2nd-18-7.25/5.67m), Curtis Richardson - men's high jump (12th-7-2.50/2.20m), Cole Wigal - men's pole vault (27th-17-0.75/5.20m), Noah Williams - men's 400 meters (8th-45.72)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
THIS WEEK IN AKRON TRACK AND FIELD WITH HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL:
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at noon Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday, May 23, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the women's 400-meter hurdle preliminaries at 4:30 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:40 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's discus at noon. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 110-meter hurdles at 4:30 p.m. The men's 3,000-meter steeplechase closes out the day's action at 9 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the men's shot put at 2:45 p.m. The first running event is slated to begin at 6 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to unfospreys.com (PDF). Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
AKRON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (TENTATIVE):
Thursday, May 23
12 p.m. - Laurel Bristow (Women's Javelin)
3:30 p.m. - Jordan Latimer (Men's Long Jump)
4:30 p.m. - Sara Foster (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
Tyler Fraker (Men's Pole Vault)
Matt Keim (Men's Pole Vault)
Matt Ludwig (Men's Pole Vault)
Cole Wigal (Men's Pole Vault)
7:45 p.m. - Noah Williams (400 Meters - First Round)
Friday, May 24
12 p.m. - Ian Behm (Men's Javelin)
Abigale Wilson (Women's Discus)
4:30 p.m. - Dara Perry (Women's 100-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
5 p.m. - Lucy Bryan (Women's Pole Vault)
Abby Helminiak (Women's Pole Vault)
Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
5:45 p.m. - Williams (400 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7 p.m. Foster (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
8:20 p.m. - Mackenzie Andrews (Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
Saturday, May 25
4 p.m. - Nuh Andu (Men's High Jump)
Curtis Richardson (Men's High Jump)
5:15 p.m. - Olivia Snyder (Women's Shot Put)
Wilson (Women's Shot Put)
6:30 p.m. - Hesham Eldesouky (Men's Triple Jump)
7:05 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Perry (Women's 100-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
7:20 p.m. - Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
% if advancing
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Akron men's track and field team is ranked 408th in the 2019 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Team Computer Rankings released on May 20.
The Zips are the highest-rated men's team in the Mid-American Conference in the latest national and Great Lakes Regional polls (sixth).
In the Event Squad rankings released on May 13, Akron is ranked fourth nationally in the men's pole vault and among the top 20 in five different events.
Akron is rated seventh in the men's high jump, eighth in the men's decathlon, 13th in the men's long jump and 17th in the women's 400-meter hurdles.
The Akron men's and women's teams are ranked No. 19 and No. 23, respectively, in the final Collegiate Outdoor Dual Meet Rankings as compiled by Jesse Squire for Track and Field News.
Akron posted 36 career- and 52 season-best marks at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 9-11.
NCAA PREDICTIONS: A trio of University of Akron track and field standouts were among those projected by Track and Field News in its latest men's and women's championship tabulations to earn top-10 performances at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8, in Austin, Texas.
Matt Ludwig and Jordan Latimer are predicted to finish third and seventh, respectively, in the men's pole vault and men's long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, while in the women's field, Track and Field News projects Bryan is tabbed to place seventh in the women's pole vault.
ZIPS AMONG NATION'S BEST IN LATEST TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has six student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) is this week's rankings, including Lucy Bryan, who is third in the nation in the women's pole vault (14-9/4.50m).
Also rated among the top-25 are Jordan Latimer (seventh in the men's long jump - 26-3.75/8.02m) and Matt Ludwig (seventh in the men's pole vault - 18-7.25/5.67m), Noah Williams (14th in men's 400 meters - 45.72), Curtis Richardson (17th in men's high jump - 7-2.50/2.20m), Ian Behm (20th in men's javelin - 233-7/71.20m), Hesham Eldesouky (20th in the men's triple jump - 52-5.75/15.98m) and Abigale Wilson (23rd in the women's discus - 180-8/55.08m).
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA East Preliminary Round, May 23-25: Mackenzie Andrews (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase – 10:12.72) Ian Behm (men's javelin – 233-7/71.20m), redshirt junior Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio) (men's 10,000 meters – 30:06.41), Lucy Bryan (women's pole vault – 14-9/4.50m), Sara Foster (women's heptathlon – 4,808), Matt Ludwig (men's pole vault – 18-7.25/5.67m), Jordan Latimer (men's long jump – 26-3.75/8.02m), Dara Perry (women's 100-meter hurdles – 13.31), Curtis Richardson (men's high jump – 7-2.50/2.20m), Noah Williams (men's 400 meters – 45.72) and Abigale Wilson (women's discus – 180-8/55.08m)
A WEEK AGO: Strong individual and team performances dominated the efforts of the University of Akron track and field team at the Mid-American Conference Championships as 23 Zips garnered All-MAC accolades, including 20 first-team citations.
Headlining the Zips' performances was Mackenzie Andrews, who captured her fourth and fifth league crowns taking home titles in the women's 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Andrews won her fourth individual MAC title taking down the competition in the women's 1,500 meters in a time of 4:27.51, while also becoming only the second Zip to win the steeplechase in championship history, crossing the line in a time of 10:26.74.
Akron garnered a trio of individual honors as Noah Williams, Sara Foster and freshman Demetrius Jackson (Beachwood, Ohio) were named the Men's Most Outstanding Track Co-Performer of the Meet, Women's Track Freshman of the Year and Men's Track Freshman of the Year, respectively, for their performances to lead the Zips to capture the men's and women's team titles.
Williams, was named the Men's Most Outstanding Track Co-Performer of the Meet on the strength of triumphs in the men's 400 meters as well as running legs on the victorious men's 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads. Williams crossed the line in the men's 400 meters in a school-record time of 45.72, the 14th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.
The men's 4x100 relay team of freshman Malcom Briley (Pickerington, Ohio), Williams, freshman Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Jackson recorded a season-best time of 40.39.
The Zips completed the sweep of the men's relays taking home the title in the men's 4x400 relay for only the second time in outdoor program history as the quartet of redshirt freshman Garrett White (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), and freshmen Zach Robinson (Pickerington, Ohio), Sam Janson (Dayton, Ohio) and Williams registered a come-from-behind victory in a season-best time of 3:12.00.
Jordan Latimer captured his sixth overall and fifth consecutive (indoor and outdoor) league title in the men's long jump on the strength of a winning jump and facility-record mark of 25-7.50 (7.81m).
Foster garnered her first-ever MAC title in the women's heptathlon using a strong second-day surge to register a seven-event cumulative and career-best score of 4,808.
Dara Perry took home her fourth overall career MAC championship and third in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.55.
Lucy Bryan won her third overall and third consecutive MAC title in the women's pole vault persevering through windy conditions to claim the event with a stadium-record mark of 13-9.25 (4.20m).
Abigale Wilson garnered her second consecutive and third overall league title to win the women's discus registering a season-best mark of 180-8 (55.08m).
Tevin Brown became the first-ever Zip to capture the men's 10,000-meter title parlaying a late surge in the race to cross the line in 31:20.78 to pull in his second career MAC title.
Ian Behm captured his second career league title in the men's javelin persevering through fierce winds to register a winning mark of 224-0 (68.27m) on his sixth and final throw of the competition.
Cole Wigal extended Akron's run of dominance in the men's pole vault capturing the Zips' 24th consecutive title (indoor and outdoor) in the event with a career-best clearance of 17-0.75 (5.20m).
Redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned his second career league crown winning the men's 110-meter hurdles in a career-best and second-fastest time in program history with a time of 13.96.
Earning individual second-team all-league honors was Abby Helminiak in the women's pole vault (12-8.25/3.87m), junior Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio) in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:31.05), junior Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) in the men's decathlon (6,771 points), Jackson in the men's 100 meters (10.49), Matt Ludwig in the men's pole vault (17-0.75/5.20m), redshirt sophomore Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the men's 1,500 meters (3:55.20), Curtis Richardson in the men's high jump (6-9.50/2.09m) and Wilson in the women's shot put (51-6.25/15.70m).
A YEAR AGO: Nine Zips garnered qualifying marks for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the strength of their performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, hosted by the University of South Florida, May 24-26, 2018.
The Akron delegation included; Lucy Bryan (women's pole vault), Rodrigo Iglesias (men's javelin), Jordan Latimer (men's long jump), Matt Ludwig (men's pole vault), Terrell McClain (men's long jump), Patricia Ortega (women's heptathlon), Dara Perry (women's 100-meter hurdles), Jackie Siefring (women's heptathlon) and Abigale Wilson (women's discus).
A six-time All-America honoree, Ludwig eclipsed the qualifying mark of 17-6.50 (5.35m) in the men's pole vault to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the then fourth time as a Zip.
Iglesias made his NCAA Championship debut in the men's javelin after punching his ticket to nationals placing eighth with a mark of 209-8 (63.90m).
McClain and Latimer, who were then each three-time All-America honorees, each qualified in the men's long jump.
McClain, who earned first-team All-America accolades in the long jump in 2017 after placing fifth (25-7.25/7.80m) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, posted the top qualifying mark in the long jump with a mark of 26-1.50 (7.96m).
Latimer, recorded a jump of 25-1.25 (7.65m) to register the 10th-best qualifying mark at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
A four-time All-America honoree, Bryan earned her first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after recording a qualifying mark of 13-4.50 (4.18m) in the women's pole vault.
Perry made her NCAA debut in women's 100-meter hurdles after registering a time of 13.42 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round to earn the 12th and final championship berth.
Siefring and Ortega each qualified in the women's heptathlon on the strength of career- and season-best seven-event cumulative scores of 5,872 and 5,782, respectively.
Wilson qualified in the women's discus after placing fourth at the NCAA East Preliminary Round with a mark of 178-9 (54.49m).
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/ Track & FieldAkron Indoor Track & Field - Al Campbell Invitational
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2022 Akron Zips Athletics - Logo Reveal - 5/9/22
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2021-22 Akron Zips This Week in Akron Athletics - 4/26/22
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