Richardson Leads Zips' Efforts in Final-Day Action at NCAA East Preliminary Track and Field Round

Saturday, May 25

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of Akron

NCAA East Preliminary Round

Richardson Leads Zips' Efforts in Final-Day Action at NCAA East Preliminary Track and Field Round

May 25 | Track & Field

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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | FINAL RESULTS (HTML) | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL COMMENTS (5/25) | CURTIS RICHARDSON COMMENTS (5/25) | 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) | SATURDAY PHOTO GALLERY | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | THURSDAY PHOTO GALLERY | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The men's high jump provided dramatic flair for competition on the final day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Saturday, May 25, as Akron track and field senior Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) led the Zips' performances on the day persevering through five rounds of a jump-off to earn the 12th and final berth for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held June 5-8, in Austin, Texas.

Richardson's qualifying mark will officially go in the record books as a clearance of 7-1 (2.16m), with the triumph based on a victory in the jump-off.

Finishing tied with Connecticut's Safir Scott and Devin Bradham of Penn State, Richardson began the jump-off at 7-2.25 (2.19m). The trio proved unsuccessful at the mark before the bar was lowered to 7-1.50 (2.17m), 7-0.50 (2.15m) and 6-11.75 (2.13m) with the same result. Richardson came the closest on the third and fourth attempts clearing the height only to see the bar fall off the standards on his follow-through.

Scott missed on his run at 6-11 (2.11m), before Richardson bested the bar and raised his arms in relief knowing one miss from Bradham secured an NCAA berth. Bradham was unable to clear the height and Richardson garnered his second career NCAA Championship berth in the men's high jump. As a freshman in 2016, Richardson earned second-team All-America accolades after placing 13th in the high jump at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a mark of 6-10.25 (2.09m).

Seniors Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) and Olivia Snyder (Navarre, Ohio) capped their stellar Zips' careers in the shot put registering marks of 48-3.50 (14.72m) and 45-9.25 (13.95m), respectively. Wilson will compete in the women's discus at the NCAA Championships.

After opening her competition with a mark of 45-3.50 (13.80m), Wilson posted identical throws of 48-3.50 (14.72m) on her final two attempts.

Snyder progressed with each of her attempts recording marks of 43-10.50 (14.38m) and 44-3.25 (13.49m), before throwing her best effort on her final throw with a mark of 45-9.25 (13.95m).

Redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) drew his 2019 campaign to a close in the men's triple jump, where he was unsuccessful in recording a mark in each of his three attempts.

The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, served as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA's in Austin, Texas from June 5-8. The NCAA West prelims were held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.

Richardson will join Wilson and seniors Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia), Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England), 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.

SATURDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
High Jump: Curtis Richardson (12th-7-1/2.16m), Nuh Andu (37th-6-9/2.06m); Triple Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (Foul)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Shot Put: Abigale Wilson (43rd-48-3.50/14.72m), Olivia Snyder (47th-45-9.25/13.95m)

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