Record-Setting Performances Highlight Day Two of NCAA East Preliminary Round for Akron Track and Field

Friday, May 24

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of Akron

NCAA East Preliminary Round

Record-Setting Performances Highlight Day Two of NCAA East Preliminary Round for Akron Track and Field

May 24 | Track & Field

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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY RESULTS (HTML) | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL COMMENTS (5/24) | ABIGALE WILSON COMMENTS (5/24) | LUCY BRYAN COMMENTS (5/24) | MACKENZIE ANDREWS COMMENTS (5/24) | 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) | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | THURSDAY PHOTO GALLERY | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Akron Track and Field team turned in a record-setting day on the second day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Friday, May 24, as the Zips garnered a trio of berths into the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with seniors Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia), Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) and Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) punching their tickets to Austin, Texas.

Wilson began the Zips' efforts on the day with a bang unleashing a Mid-American Conference and school-record mark of 200-2 (61.02m) in the women's discus to secure her second-consecutive trip to nationals in the event.

Wilson's effort bested the school-record mark of 192-8 (58.72m) set by Alexis Cooks at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 30, 2014, as well as the conference mark established by Kent State's Danniel Thomas in 2017.

She followed her record-setting mark with throws of 181-0 (55.18m) and 190-4 (58.03m) on her second and third attempts, respectively. A year ago, she collected honorable mention All-America accolades placing 20th in the discus at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Bryan garnered her second career berth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the women's pole vault recording a qualifying mark of 13-8.25 (4.17m). After passing at the initial two bars of 12-4.50 (3.77m) and 12-10.25 (3.92m), Bryan needed a pair of attempts to eclipse 13-4.25 (4.07m). She followed with a clearance on her first run at 13-8.25 (4.17m) to return to nationals after earning first-team All-America accolades placing seventh with a clearance of 14-1.25 (4.30m) at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Another school record fell in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase as Andrews surged to the lead pack early in the race en route to crossing the line in 10:01.73 to earn an automatic-qualifying mark by virtue of her second-place finish in the opening of three heats. She bettered her own school-record time of 10:12.72 set at the Mt. Sac Relays on April 19.

Andrews will be making her first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships after earning second-team All-America honors placing 14th in the mile at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships in a time of 4:45.88.

Redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) opened his search for a berth in the NCAA Championships registering a mark of 189-7 (57.79m). He followed with his best mark of the day on his second attempt with a throw of 211-10 (64.57m) before fouling on his third and final attempt. Behm finished with the 17th-best mark in the competition falling a meter and half short of earning a top-12 qualifying mark.

Redshirt sophomore Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) narrowly missed qualifying for her first NCAA Championships recording a mark of 12-10.25 (3.92m) in the women's pole vault to finish eight places shy of a top-12 qualifying mark.

Senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) capped her brilliant Akron career turning in a time of 13.77 in the opening round of the women's 100-meter hurdles.

Redshirt sophomore Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) also closed his 2019 campaign in the opening round of the men's 110-meter hurdles crossing the line in 14.15.

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 are being held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.

The final day of the championship kicks off on Saturday, May 25, 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.

Competing for the Zips will be senior Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) and freshman Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) in the men's high jump at 4 p.m., seniors Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) and Wilson in the women's shot put also at 5:15 p.m. and redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) in the men's triple jump at 6:30 p.m.

That group will look to join Andrews, Bryan, Wilson and seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) and Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) and junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) as part of the Zips' delegation headed to Austin for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8.

FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Javelin: Ian Behm (17th-211-10/64.57m)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Pole Vault: Lucy Bryan (13-8.25/4.17m), Abby Helminiak (20th-12-10.25/3.92m); Discus: Abigale Wilson (2nd-200-2/61.02m*); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Mackenzie Andrews (7th-10:01.73*)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
110-Meter Hurdles: Patrick Kimball (36th-14.15)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
100-Meter Hurdles: Dara Perry (36th-13.77)

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)

* denotes career-best mark