The University of Akron Athletics
Stage Set for Zips to Shine at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
June 04 | Track & Field
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NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
AKRON, Ohio – Seven student-athletes are set to represent the University of Akron track and field program at this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships this Wednesday, June 5, through Saturday, June 8, in Austin, Texas.
The meet welcomes the top-12 qualifiers (24 in all) from both the NCAA East and West Preliminary Rounds to Mike A. Myers Stadium for the semifinal and championship rounds of competition.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best seven combined men's and women's qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Akron is followed by Kent State (4 – 3 men/1 woman), Miami (3 – 2 men/1 woman), Bowling Green (2 – 2 women), Central Michigan (2 – 2 women), Buffalo (1 – 1 man) and Northern Illinois (1 – 1 woman).
Coverage of the meet will be available on Wednesday from 7:30-11 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Thursday from 8-9 p.m. ET on ESPNU and 9-10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, 8:30-11 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPN, before ESPN2 will round out coverage from 6:30-9 p.m. ET on Saturday.
In addition, live field event coverage will be provided on ESPN3 each of the four days of competition.
The NCAA will continue the format that debuted in 2015 that will showcase both the men's and women's competitions on alternating days.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by four men and three women at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be; seniors Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) (3,000-meter steeplechase - 8:32 p.m. ET Thursday), Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) (pole vault - 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday) and Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) (discus - 6:05 p.m. ET Saturday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Lucy Bryan (13th-13-8.25/4.17m); Discus: Abigale Wilson (3rd-200-2/61.02m); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Mackenzie Andrews (19th-10:01.73)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be; junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) (pole vault - 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday) and seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) (long jump - 7 p.m. ET Wednesday), Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) (pole vault - 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday) and Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) (high jump - 8 p.m. Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (20th-17-5/5.31m), Matt Keim (21st-17-5/5.31m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (10th-25-4/7.72m); High Jump: Curtis Richardson (17th-7-1/2.16m)
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 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet begins at 1 p.m. ET at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, June 5, with the start of the men's decathlon. Field events start with the men's hammer at 3 p.m. ET before running events kick off with the men's 4x100 relay semifinals at 5:32 p.m. ET, and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 10:08 p.m. ET.
The second day opens with the men's 110-meter hurdles as part of the decathlon at 2 p.m. ET. Field events start with the women's hammer at 5:30 p.m. ET, before running events begin with the semifinal round of the women's 4x100 relay at 8:02 p.m. ET. The semifinals of the women's 4x400 relay closes out the day's action at 11:18 p.m. ET.
Third-day competition commences on Friday with the women's 100-meter hurdles as part of the heptathlon at 3:30 p.m. ET. The women's high jumps kick off field events at 8 p.m. ET, before the running events take the track with the final of the men's 4x100 relay at 8:32 p.m. ET. The men's 4x400 relay final will conclude the men's portion of the championship at 10:51 p.m. ET.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's long jump for the heptathlon at 2:30 p.m. ET. The women's high jump starts field events at 6 p.m. ET, before the final of the women's 4x100 relay is slated to begin at 6:32 p.m. ET. The women's 4x400 relay final will conclude the women's portion of the championship at 8:51 p.m. ET.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to NCAA.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
The tentative schedule of events for the Zips at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are as follows;
Wednesday, June 6
5:30 p.m. - Matt Ludwig, Matt Keim (Men's Pole Vault)
7 p.m. - Jordan Latimer (Men's Long Jump)
Thursday, June 6
8:30 p.m. ET - Lucy Bryan (Women's Pole Vault)
8:32 p.m. ET - Mackenzie Andrews (3,000-Meter Steeplechase Semifinals)
Friday, June 7
8 p.m. ET - Curtis Richardson (Men's High Jump)
Saturday, June 8
6:05 p.m. ET - Abigale Wilson (Women's Discus)
6:54 p.m. ET - Mackenzie Andrews (3,000-Meter Steeplechase Finals) %
% if advancing
A LOOK AHEAD: The 2017 NCAA national champion, Matt Ludwig, a six-time All-America honoree, will open up competition for the Zips in the men's pole vault at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 5. He earned a qualifying mark of 17-5 (5.31m) at NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 to advance to nationals.
Making his NCAA Championship debut in the men's pole vault will be Matt Keim, who punched his ticket to national placing with a qualifying mark of 17-5 (5.31m) at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24.
Jordan Latimer, a five-time All-America honoree, will compete in the men's long jump at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Latimer, who garnered first-team All-America accolades a year ago en route to a second-place performance with a mark of 26-3.75 (8.02m). He posted a jump of 25-4 (7.72m) to finish fifth at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 23.
The women's pole vault with Lucy Bryan will commence competition for Akron on Thursday, June 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET. A three-time, first-team indoor All-America honoree, Bryan will be making her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after recording a qualifying mark of 13-8.25 (4.17m) at NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 23.
Mackenzie Andrews will make her NCAA debut in the semifinals of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday at 8:32 p.m. ET. She registered a time of 10:01.73 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24. The finals of the steeplechase are slated for 6:54 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be highlighted by Curtis Richardson competing in the men's high jump at 8 p.m. ET. After an epic five-round jump-off at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 25, Richardson claimed the 12th and final qualifying berth with a mark of 7-1 (2.16m).
Abigale Wilson will be Akron's last competitor in the championships taking part in the women's discus at 6:05 p.m. ET on Saturday. She posted the second-best qualifying mark at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 with a school- and league-record mark of 200-2 (61.02m). It will mark her second straight NCAA Championship appearance.
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron women's and men's track and field squads stand at No. 32 and No. 40, respectively, in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index released on May 28.
The Zips' men's squad is rated sixth in the most-current Great Lakes Regional ratings, while the women's team checks in at No. 9.
The Zips are the top-rated Mid-American Conference team ranked in the men's and women's national polls.
In the Event Squad rankings released on May 28, Akron is ranked third nationally in the men's pole vault and among the top 20 in five different events.
Akron is also 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 were 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.
NCAA PREDICTIONS: A quartet 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 were tabbed to finish third and seventh, respectively, in the men's pole vault and men's long jump, while Lucy Bryan and Abigale Wilson were projected to place seventh and eighth in the women's pole vault and discus, respectively.
Latimer owns the seventh-best mark in the nation this season in the men's long jump soaring 26-3.75 (8.02m) at the Beach Invitational on April 20 in Long Beach, Calif.
Ludwig maintains the seventh-highest clearance in the NCAA this spring in the men's pole vault besting 18-7.25 (5.67m) at the Beach Invitational on April 20 in Long Beach, Calif.
Bryan registered the No. 3 mark in the NCAA this season in the women's pole vault establishing an Akron and Mid-American Conference record mark of 14-9 (4.50m) at the LSU Invitational on April 27 in Baton Rouge, La.
Wilson set a school- and Mid-American Conference-record mark of 200-2 (61.02m) in the women's discus with the No. 4 throw in the NCAA this season at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 in Jacksonville, Fla.
By virtue of the Zips' individual performances, Akron is projected to finish 30th in the men's race with eight points, while in the women's field, the Zips are pegged to score three points and place tied for 56th.
NCAA PEDIGREE: By virtue of its performances at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which included a trio of first-team All-America honorees, Akron extended its streak of having scored in both the men's and women's team competitions at the NCAA Outdoor Championships every year since 2013.
ZIPS IN THE 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 Abigale Wilson (fourth in the women's discus - 200-2/61.02m), 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), Curtis Richardson (17th in men's high jump - 7-2.50/2.20m), redshirt freshman Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) (20th in men's 400 meters - 45.72), Mackenzie Andrews (21st in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase - 10:01.73), redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (21st in the men's triple jump - 52-5.75/15.98m) and redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) (22nd in men's javelin - 233-7/71.20m).
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8: Mackenzie Andrews (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase – 10:01.73) 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), freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) (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), senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) (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 – 200-2/61.02m).
A YEAR AGO: Jordan Latimer and Matt Ludwig registered second-place performances in the men's long jump and pole vault, respectively, to spark the efforts of the Zips' track and field squad on the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 6, 2018, at historic Hayward Field.
Latimer garnered first-team All-America accolades for the initial time in his distinguished Akron career on the strength of a pair of career-best marks in the men's long jump, while Ludwig captured first-team All-America honors for the fourth time.
Terrell McClain capped his brilliant career for the Zips earning second-team All-America recognition after placing 11th in the men's long jump. In the men's javelin, Rodrigo Iglesias pulled in honorable mention All-America honors finishing 21st.
Latimer registered a career-best mark of 26-3.75 (8.02m), while McClain posted a jump of 25-6 (7.77m) to finish as a four-time All-American.
Entering the evening as the defending NCAA outdoor champion in the men's pole vault, Ludwig sought to earn his second national title and 10th in program history with another historic performance.
After passing on the initial height of 16-10.75 (5.15m), Ludwig easily cleared the bar at 17-4.50 (5.30m). Leading off all vaulters attempting the next height of 17-10.50 (5.45m), Ludwig eclipsed the bar before bettering 18-2.50 (5.55m) on his first attempt to claim the lead over the field.
With four vaulters remaining in the competition, Ludwig suffered his first miss of the evening with the bar at 18-4.50 (5.60m). When South Dakota's Chris Nilsen topped the bar at the height on his first try at the mark, Ludwig elected to pass on his final two attempts at the height.
After Virginia Tech's Torben Laidig and Texas A&M's Jacob Wooten were unable to best 18-4.50 (5.60m), it left only Ludwig and Nilsen remaining in the field.
Ludwig appeared to eclipse the ensuing mark of 18-6.50 (5.65m) clearing the height only to see the bar fall off the standards on his follow through. Nilsen then bested the height to force Ludwig to once again pass on his final attempt at the mark.
In a make-or-break run at 18-8.50 (5.70m) to vault back into first and continue the competition, Ludwig pulled up short on his attempt allowing Nilsen to claim the national title.
Iglesias capped his Akron career placing 21st in the men's javelin with a mark of 207-5 (63.23m).
Lucy Bryan captured first-team All-America accolades on the strength of a sixth-place finish in the women's pole vault to headline the Zips' efforts on the second day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 7, 2018.
Bryan made her first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and eclipsed 14-1.25 (4.30m) to place sixth and become a three-time first-team All-American.
Bryan opened her afternoon bettering the first two bars of the competition at 13-1.50 (4.00m) and 13-7.25 (4.15m) on her initials attempts at the marks. She was unable to clear the bar on her first run at 14-1.25 (4.30m) before eclipsing the mark on her second attempt.
Seeking to establish a new career-high mark of 14-5.25 (4.40m), Bryan came up short on each of her three opportunities to surpass the bar.
Dara Perry made her NCAA debut in the semifinals of the women's 100-meter hurdles and crossed the line in a time of 13.34. Her effort was good for a 20th-place performance and earned Perry honorable mention All-America honors for the first time.
Jackie Siefring and Patricia Ortega along with Abigale Wilson capped the Zips' efforts on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 9, 2018, at historic Hayward Field, earning All-America accolades with their performances in the women's heptathlon and discus.
The Zips finished tied with nine schools (Alabama, Arkansas State, Norfolk State, Notre Dame, Portland, San Diego State, Texas Tech, Utah and Washington State) for 46th in the women's team standings with three points.
The Zips' efforts garnered 16 points in the team competition to place Akron in 16th place overall.
Siefring culminated her brilliant Zips' career garnering All-America accolades for the sixth time registering a seven-event cumulative score of 5,725 in the women's heptathlon to place 10th.
Sparked by her second-day efforts, Ortega earned All-America honors for the first time placing 15th in her collegiate career as a seven-event total of 5,542 enabled her to be recognized with second-team All-America laurels.
Persevering through a deluge of rain throughout the second flight of the women's discus competition, Wilson earned honorable mention All-America honors finishing 20th with a mark of 134-11 (41.13m). Her effort came on her opening attempt in the competition.
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NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
AKRON, Ohio – Seven student-athletes are set to represent the University of Akron track and field program at this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships this Wednesday, June 5, through Saturday, June 8, in Austin, Texas.
The meet welcomes the top-12 qualifiers (24 in all) from both the NCAA East and West Preliminary Rounds to Mike A. Myers Stadium for the semifinal and championship rounds of competition.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best seven combined men's and women's qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Akron is followed by Kent State (4 – 3 men/1 woman), Miami (3 – 2 men/1 woman), Bowling Green (2 – 2 women), Central Michigan (2 – 2 women), Buffalo (1 – 1 man) and Northern Illinois (1 – 1 woman).
Coverage of the meet will be available on Wednesday from 7:30-11 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Thursday from 8-9 p.m. ET on ESPNU and 9-10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, 8:30-11 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPN, before ESPN2 will round out coverage from 6:30-9 p.m. ET on Saturday.
In addition, live field event coverage will be provided on ESPN3 each of the four days of competition.
The NCAA will continue the format that debuted in 2015 that will showcase both the men's and women's competitions on alternating days.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by four men and three women at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be; seniors Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) (3,000-meter steeplechase - 8:32 p.m. ET Thursday), Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) (pole vault - 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday) and Abigale Wilson (Carrollton, Ohio) (discus - 6:05 p.m. ET Saturday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Lucy Bryan (13th-13-8.25/4.17m); Discus: Abigale Wilson (3rd-200-2/61.02m); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Mackenzie Andrews (19th-10:01.73)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be; junior Matt Keim (Bolivar, Ohio) (pole vault - 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday) and seniors Jordan Latimer (Huber Heights, Ohio) (long jump - 7 p.m. ET Wednesday), Matt Ludwig (Chardon, Ohio) (pole vault - 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday) and Curtis Richardson (Blacklick, Ohio) (high jump - 8 p.m. Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Matt Ludwig (20th-17-5/5.31m), Matt Keim (21st-17-5/5.31m); Long Jump: Jordan Latimer (10th-25-4/7.72m); High Jump: Curtis Richardson (17th-7-1/2.16m)
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 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet begins at 1 p.m. ET at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, June 5, with the start of the men's decathlon. Field events start with the men's hammer at 3 p.m. ET before running events kick off with the men's 4x100 relay semifinals at 5:32 p.m. ET, and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 10:08 p.m. ET.
The second day opens with the men's 110-meter hurdles as part of the decathlon at 2 p.m. ET. Field events start with the women's hammer at 5:30 p.m. ET, before running events begin with the semifinal round of the women's 4x100 relay at 8:02 p.m. ET. The semifinals of the women's 4x400 relay closes out the day's action at 11:18 p.m. ET.
Third-day competition commences on Friday with the women's 100-meter hurdles as part of the heptathlon at 3:30 p.m. ET. The women's high jumps kick off field events at 8 p.m. ET, before the running events take the track with the final of the men's 4x100 relay at 8:32 p.m. ET. The men's 4x400 relay final will conclude the men's portion of the championship at 10:51 p.m. ET.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's long jump for the heptathlon at 2:30 p.m. ET. The women's high jump starts field events at 6 p.m. ET, before the final of the women's 4x100 relay is slated to begin at 6:32 p.m. ET. The women's 4x400 relay final will conclude the women's portion of the championship at 8:51 p.m. ET.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to NCAA.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
The tentative schedule of events for the Zips at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are as follows;
Wednesday, June 6
5:30 p.m. - Matt Ludwig, Matt Keim (Men's Pole Vault)
7 p.m. - Jordan Latimer (Men's Long Jump)
Thursday, June 6
8:30 p.m. ET - Lucy Bryan (Women's Pole Vault)
8:32 p.m. ET - Mackenzie Andrews (3,000-Meter Steeplechase Semifinals)
Friday, June 7
8 p.m. ET - Curtis Richardson (Men's High Jump)
Saturday, June 8
6:05 p.m. ET - Abigale Wilson (Women's Discus)
6:54 p.m. ET - Mackenzie Andrews (3,000-Meter Steeplechase Finals) %
% if advancing
A LOOK AHEAD: The 2017 NCAA national champion, Matt Ludwig, a six-time All-America honoree, will open up competition for the Zips in the men's pole vault at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 5. He earned a qualifying mark of 17-5 (5.31m) at NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 to advance to nationals.
Making his NCAA Championship debut in the men's pole vault will be Matt Keim, who punched his ticket to national placing with a qualifying mark of 17-5 (5.31m) at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24.
Jordan Latimer, a five-time All-America honoree, will compete in the men's long jump at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Latimer, who garnered first-team All-America accolades a year ago en route to a second-place performance with a mark of 26-3.75 (8.02m). He posted a jump of 25-4 (7.72m) to finish fifth at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 23.
The women's pole vault with Lucy Bryan will commence competition for Akron on Thursday, June 7, at 8:30 p.m. ET. A three-time, first-team indoor All-America honoree, Bryan will be making her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after recording a qualifying mark of 13-8.25 (4.17m) at NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 23.
Mackenzie Andrews will make her NCAA debut in the semifinals of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday at 8:32 p.m. ET. She registered a time of 10:01.73 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24. The finals of the steeplechase are slated for 6:54 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be highlighted by Curtis Richardson competing in the men's high jump at 8 p.m. ET. After an epic five-round jump-off at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 25, Richardson claimed the 12th and final qualifying berth with a mark of 7-1 (2.16m).
Abigale Wilson will be Akron's last competitor in the championships taking part in the women's discus at 6:05 p.m. ET on Saturday. She posted the second-best qualifying mark at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 with a school- and league-record mark of 200-2 (61.02m). It will mark her second straight NCAA Championship appearance.
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron women's and men's track and field squads stand at No. 32 and No. 40, respectively, in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index released on May 28.
The Zips' men's squad is rated sixth in the most-current Great Lakes Regional ratings, while the women's team checks in at No. 9.
The Zips are the top-rated Mid-American Conference team ranked in the men's and women's national polls.
In the Event Squad rankings released on May 28, Akron is ranked third nationally in the men's pole vault and among the top 20 in five different events.
Akron is also 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 were 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.
NCAA PREDICTIONS: A quartet 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 were tabbed to finish third and seventh, respectively, in the men's pole vault and men's long jump, while Lucy Bryan and Abigale Wilson were projected to place seventh and eighth in the women's pole vault and discus, respectively.
Latimer owns the seventh-best mark in the nation this season in the men's long jump soaring 26-3.75 (8.02m) at the Beach Invitational on April 20 in Long Beach, Calif.
Ludwig maintains the seventh-highest clearance in the NCAA this spring in the men's pole vault besting 18-7.25 (5.67m) at the Beach Invitational on April 20 in Long Beach, Calif.
Bryan registered the No. 3 mark in the NCAA this season in the women's pole vault establishing an Akron and Mid-American Conference record mark of 14-9 (4.50m) at the LSU Invitational on April 27 in Baton Rouge, La.
Wilson set a school- and Mid-American Conference-record mark of 200-2 (61.02m) in the women's discus with the No. 4 throw in the NCAA this season at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 24 in Jacksonville, Fla.
By virtue of the Zips' individual performances, Akron is projected to finish 30th in the men's race with eight points, while in the women's field, the Zips are pegged to score three points and place tied for 56th.
NCAA PEDIGREE: By virtue of its performances at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which included a trio of first-team All-America honorees, Akron extended its streak of having scored in both the men's and women's team competitions at the NCAA Outdoor Championships every year since 2013.
ZIPS IN THE 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 Abigale Wilson (fourth in the women's discus - 200-2/61.02m), 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), Curtis Richardson (17th in men's high jump - 7-2.50/2.20m), redshirt freshman Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) (20th in men's 400 meters - 45.72), Mackenzie Andrews (21st in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase - 10:01.73), redshirt sophomore Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (21st in the men's triple jump - 52-5.75/15.98m) and redshirt junior Ian Behm (Volant, Pa.) (22nd in men's javelin - 233-7/71.20m).
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8: Mackenzie Andrews (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase – 10:01.73) 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), freshman Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) (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), senior Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio) (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 – 200-2/61.02m).
A YEAR AGO: Jordan Latimer and Matt Ludwig registered second-place performances in the men's long jump and pole vault, respectively, to spark the efforts of the Zips' track and field squad on the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 6, 2018, at historic Hayward Field.
Latimer garnered first-team All-America accolades for the initial time in his distinguished Akron career on the strength of a pair of career-best marks in the men's long jump, while Ludwig captured first-team All-America honors for the fourth time.
Terrell McClain capped his brilliant career for the Zips earning second-team All-America recognition after placing 11th in the men's long jump. In the men's javelin, Rodrigo Iglesias pulled in honorable mention All-America honors finishing 21st.
Latimer registered a career-best mark of 26-3.75 (8.02m), while McClain posted a jump of 25-6 (7.77m) to finish as a four-time All-American.
Entering the evening as the defending NCAA outdoor champion in the men's pole vault, Ludwig sought to earn his second national title and 10th in program history with another historic performance.
After passing on the initial height of 16-10.75 (5.15m), Ludwig easily cleared the bar at 17-4.50 (5.30m). Leading off all vaulters attempting the next height of 17-10.50 (5.45m), Ludwig eclipsed the bar before bettering 18-2.50 (5.55m) on his first attempt to claim the lead over the field.
With four vaulters remaining in the competition, Ludwig suffered his first miss of the evening with the bar at 18-4.50 (5.60m). When South Dakota's Chris Nilsen topped the bar at the height on his first try at the mark, Ludwig elected to pass on his final two attempts at the height.
After Virginia Tech's Torben Laidig and Texas A&M's Jacob Wooten were unable to best 18-4.50 (5.60m), it left only Ludwig and Nilsen remaining in the field.
Ludwig appeared to eclipse the ensuing mark of 18-6.50 (5.65m) clearing the height only to see the bar fall off the standards on his follow through. Nilsen then bested the height to force Ludwig to once again pass on his final attempt at the mark.
In a make-or-break run at 18-8.50 (5.70m) to vault back into first and continue the competition, Ludwig pulled up short on his attempt allowing Nilsen to claim the national title.
Iglesias capped his Akron career placing 21st in the men's javelin with a mark of 207-5 (63.23m).
Lucy Bryan captured first-team All-America accolades on the strength of a sixth-place finish in the women's pole vault to headline the Zips' efforts on the second day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 7, 2018.
Bryan made her first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and eclipsed 14-1.25 (4.30m) to place sixth and become a three-time first-team All-American.
Bryan opened her afternoon bettering the first two bars of the competition at 13-1.50 (4.00m) and 13-7.25 (4.15m) on her initials attempts at the marks. She was unable to clear the bar on her first run at 14-1.25 (4.30m) before eclipsing the mark on her second attempt.
Seeking to establish a new career-high mark of 14-5.25 (4.40m), Bryan came up short on each of her three opportunities to surpass the bar.
Dara Perry made her NCAA debut in the semifinals of the women's 100-meter hurdles and crossed the line in a time of 13.34. Her effort was good for a 20th-place performance and earned Perry honorable mention All-America honors for the first time.
Jackie Siefring and Patricia Ortega along with Abigale Wilson capped the Zips' efforts on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 9, 2018, at historic Hayward Field, earning All-America accolades with their performances in the women's heptathlon and discus.
The Zips finished tied with nine schools (Alabama, Arkansas State, Norfolk State, Notre Dame, Portland, San Diego State, Texas Tech, Utah and Washington State) for 46th in the women's team standings with three points.
The Zips' efforts garnered 16 points in the team competition to place Akron in 16th place overall.
Siefring culminated her brilliant Zips' career garnering All-America accolades for the sixth time registering a seven-event cumulative score of 5,725 in the women's heptathlon to place 10th.
Sparked by her second-day efforts, Ortega earned All-America honors for the first time placing 15th in her collegiate career as a seven-event total of 5,542 enabled her to be recognized with second-team All-America laurels.
Persevering through a deluge of rain throughout the second flight of the women's discus competition, Wilson earned honorable mention All-America honors finishing 20th with a mark of 134-11 (41.13m). Her effort came on her opening attempt in the competition.
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