Trio of Zips Punch Their Tickets to the NCAA Track and Field Championships

Thursday, May 23

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of Akron

NCAA East Preliminary Round

Trio of Zips Punch Their Tickets to the NCAA Track and Field Championships

May 23 | Track & Field

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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: THURSDAY RESULTS (PDF) | THURSDAY RESULTS (HTML) | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL COMMENTS (5/23) | JORDAN LATIMER COMMENTS (5/23) | MATT LUDWIG COMMENTS (5/23) | MATT KEIM COMMENTS (5/23) | THURSDAY PHOTO GALLERY | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Akron Track and Field team garnered a trio of berths into the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the opening day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Thursday, May 23, as seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) and junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) punched their tickets to Austin, Texas.

Latimer earned his fourth career berth into the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the men's long jump registering the fifth-best mark, 25-4 (7.72m), in qualifying competition. He secured a trip to Austin on his first jump of the day, before coming up short on each of his final two attempts in the competition.

In the men's pole vault, Ludwig and Keim each eclipsed the qualifying mark of 17-5 (5.31m) to advance to nationals. Keim did so surpassing career-high bars of 17-1 (5.21m) and 17-5 (5.31m) in the process.

Ludwig qualified for nationals for the fourth time and third as a Zip on the strength of clearing bars at 16-3.25 (4.96m), 16-9.25 (5.11m), 17-1 (5.21m) and 17-5 (5.31m), respectively.

Keim's efforts were a testament to his perseverance as he needed a pair of attempts to clear the bar at the opening mark of 15-9.25 (4.81m), before going down to his final run at 16-3.25 (4.96m) to best the height. Posting a season-best mark of 16-9.25 (5.11m) on his second attempt, Keim then secured a career-high mark of 17-1 (5.21m) on his initial run at the height. Needing another personal-best mark to qualify for nationals, he eclipsed 17-5 (5.31m) on his third and final attempt.

Senior Tyler Fraker (Delta, Ohio) narrowly missed making it three Zips moving on finishing 13th overall, the top-12 advance, with a career-best clearance of 17-1 (5.21m). He opened his day clearing 15-9.25 (4.81m) on his second attempt before besting the bar at 16-3.25 (4.96m) on his first run at the height. He followed with second-jump clearances at 16-9.25 (5.11m) and a career-best 17-1 (5.21m), before being unable to surpass 17-5 (5.31m) on each of his three attempts.

Redshirt junior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) placed 25th in the men's pole vault eclipsing 16-9.25 (5.11m). He successfully bettered bars at 15-9.25 (4.81m), 16-3.25 (4.96m) and 16-9.25 (5.11m), before unsuccessfully attempting to clear 17-1 (5.21m) and establish a new career-best mark.

Redshirt freshman Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) fell one spot shy of advancing to the quarterfinal round of the men's 400 meters posting the 24th-fastest time in the opening round crossing the line in 46.87.

Freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) concluded a strong freshman season recording a time of 62.13 in the opening round of the women's 400-meter hurdles.

Freshman Laurel Bristow (Pittsburgh, Pa.) capped a stellar freshman campaign registering a mark of 127-9 (38.95m) on her opening attempt of the women's javelin competition. She later posted marks of 118-4 (36.06m) and 115-1 (35.08m) on her second and third throws, respectively.

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 second day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round 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.

Competing for the Zips will be redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) in the men's javelin at 12 p.m., senior Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) in the women's discus also at noon, senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) in the opening round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 4:30 p.m., senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) and redshirt sophomore Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) in the women's pole vault at 5 p.m., redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the opening round of the men's 110-meter hurdles at 5 p.m. and senior Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 8:20 p.m.

THURSDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (17-5/5.31m), Matt Keim (17-5/5.31m), Tyler Fraker (13th-17-1/5.21m), Cole Wigal (25th-16-9.25/5.11m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (5th-25-4/7.72m)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Javelin: Laurel Bristow (48th-127-9/38.95m)

THURSDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
400 Meters: Noah Williams (24th-46.87)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
400-Meter Hurdles: Sara Foster (42nd-62.13)