MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on the Line for Akron

Friday, February 26

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on the Line for Akron

February 25 | Track & Field

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MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE | ACCEPTED ENTRIES (PRELIMINARY) (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM | MEN'S DAY ONE LIVE STREAM | WOMEN'S DAY ONE LIVE STREAM | MEN'S DAY TWO LIVE STREAM | WOMEN'S DAY TWO LIVE STREAM | PREVIEW

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field team will join the rest of their Mid-American Conference members this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27, to compete at the league's Indoor Championships, as Central Michigan hosts the two-day event at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track.

UP NEXT: The University of Akron men's and women's track and field team will join the rest of their MAC members this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27, to compete at the league's Indoor Championships, as Central Michigan hosts the two-day event at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track.

In all, the championship meet will feature men's teams from Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Kent State, while all 12 league members will be chasing the title on the women's side.

Live stats and a free video stream of the MAC Championships will be available at GoZips.com.

The Zips' men squad has won five of the last six indoor team titles and eight of the last 11 MAC championships overall and will be looking to capture back-to-back-to-back-to-back titles for the first time in program history.

On the women's side, the Zips are seeking their seventh indoor championship and first since 2017.

Akron under the leadership of 26th-year head coach Dennis Mitchell figures to be in the running for team titles on both the men's and women's sides again this year.

In addition to a pair of MAC Championships on the line, the Zips will be competing against Kent State in the final standings for two points in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The series is tied 2.0-2.0 in the current standings.

MAC MEET SCHEDULE: The MAC Championships will be broken down into men's and women's sessions this year. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track with the start of the men's heptathlon and men's weight throw. That will be followed by the commencement of the men's running events with the 60-meter hurdle trials at 11:15 a.m. and run through the men's distance medley relay at 1:15 p.m. The women's pentathlon and women's weight throw will kick off the evening session at 4 p.m., before action on the track starts with the women's 60-meter hurdle trials at 5:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with the running of the women's distance medley relay at 8 p.m.

The final day of the championship kicks off with the conclusion of the men's heptathlon at 10:30 a.m. and the men's triple jump at 11 a.m. The first running event is slated to begin at 11:15 a.m. with the men's mile, before the men's meet wraps up with the men's 4x400 relay at 1:30 p.m. The women's triple jump begins the evening session at 4 p.m., before the women's mile is contested at 4:25 p.m. The women's 4x400 relay will conclude the championship at 6:30 p.m. For a complete schedule of events, log on to MAC-Sports.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).

Scoring in the meet will be on a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for individual events and relays for the women and 10-8-6-4-2-1 for the men.

DEFENDING THEIR TITLES: The Zips have two student-athletes seeking to repeat as individual conference champions this season.

Junior Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) won his first career MAC title with a mark of 6-11 (2.11m) in the men's high jump in 2020, while junior Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) captured her second MAC title with a come-from-behind victory in the women's pentathlon on the strength of a career-best five-event cumulative score of 3,645.

Additionally, sophomore Zarik Brown (Dayton, Ohio) and junior Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) return from the victorious men's 4x400 relay squad that narrowly missed establishing a school-record time as the quartet registered the second-fastest time in indoor program history (since 2014) crossing the line in 3:07.89.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2021 indoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on Feb. 22, 2021 as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

Akron is ranked fifth nationally in the men's triple jump and among the top 20 in six different events.

The Zips also rated ninth in the men's long jump and men's weight throw, 11th in the men's pole vault, 12th in the women's long jump and 20th in the women's 800 meters.

The Akron men and women rank fifth and ninth, respectively, in the Great Lakes Regional polls.

The Zips' men's squad ranked No. 4 in the final Collegiate Indoor Dual Meet Rankings in 2020 as compiled by Jesse Squire for Track and Field News.

ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2021 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has a pair of student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) during the 2021 indoor campaign, including, Nuh Andu, who is ninth in the nation in the men's high jump (7-1.75/2.18m).

Also rated among the top-25 is senior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (17th in the men's triple jump – 51-8.50/15.76m)

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: Garnering the second-longest throw in indoor program history to win the men's weight throw at the Al Campbell Invitational with a career-best mark of 66-0.50 (20.13m) was sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.).

A WEEK AGO: The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams culminated their final tune-up for the Mid-American Conference Championships capturing 11 victories as part of 27 overall top-three performances at the Al Campbell Invitational at the Stile Athletics Field House on Friday, Feb. 19.

Nuh Andu won the men's high jump on the strength of a career-best clearance of 7-1.75 (2.18m). The effort marked the No. 9 mark in the NCAA this season and equaled the third-best performance in indoor program history.

Garnering the second-longest throw in indoor program history to win the men's weight throw with a career-best mark of 66-0.50 (20.13m) was William Gross. Placing second with a career-long mark of 64-8 (19.71m) was redshirt junior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio).

Senior Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) registered a career-best time of 4:54.67 to place first in the women's mile, while junior Kyra Keurentjes (Wehl, The Netherlands) added a career-best time of 2:09.20 to edge the field in the women's 800 meters.

Amir Willis won the men's 200 meters in a time of 21.23, while senior Steven Ashcraft (Canton, Ohio) crossed the line first in the men's 800 meters in 1:54.65.

Hesham Eldesouky finished first in the men's triple jump with a mark of 51-0 (15.54m).

Freshman Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria) recorded a career-best mark of 39-4.50 (12.00m) to win the women's triple jump, while also finishing second in the women's long jump with a career-long jump of 18-5 (5.61m).

Freshman Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) eclipsed 17-0.75 (5.20m) to best the field in the men's pole vault, while sophomore Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) placed second with a career-best mark of 16-2 (4.93m).

The men's 4x400 relay team of freshmen Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) and Taron Austin (Twinsburg, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior Matthew Perison (Kent, Ohio) capped the evening for the Zips taking the race in a time of 3:23.09.

Redshirt junior Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) placed second in the women's pole vault eclipsing 13-3.50 (4.05m).

The Zips earned second-place performances from freshman Jack Weaver (Mt. Gilead, Ohio) in the men's 200 meters (22.87), junior Malcom Briley (Pickerington, Ohio) in the men's 400 meters (49.89) and senior Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the men's 60-meter hurdles (8.04).

In the men's field events, Akron posted additional second-place efforts from sophomore Davis Hedrick (Norwalk, Ohio) in the men's shot put (49-1.75/14.98m) and freshman Christian Mayfield (University Heights, Ohio) in the men's long jump (22-7/6.88m).

A YEAR AGO: Demetrius Jackson captured a pair of individual titles and one relay crown to lead the Zips to the men's team title on the final day of the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 29, 2020, at the Stile Athletics Field House.

The Akron men's squad won the MAC championship for the eighth time in indoor program history and sixth in the last seven years finishing the two-day competition with 165.50 points to edge Eastern Michigan by a 23.5-point margin.

In the women's team competition, Eastern Michigan triumphed in the women's race with 104 points to better Northern Illinois by two points. Akron placed fourth with 72 points.

In addition, the Zips regained the lead in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge, 4.5-4.0, earning a full two points by virtue of besting Kent State in final the men's and women's team standings.

Jackson was selected as the MAC Most Valuable Performer and Freshman Track Performer of the Year following his record-setting weekend.

Sophomore Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade Serbia), who placed fourth in the men's long jump and triple jump over the weekend with marks of 24-1.75 (7.36m) and 49-4.50 (15.05m), was honored as the MAC Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year.

Akron head coach Dennis Mitchell was named the MAC Men's Coach of the Year for the eighth time.

Lucy Bryan closed her Zips' career garnering her fourth consecutive and fourth overall league title in the women's pole vault with a meet-record mark of 14-6.75 (4.44m).

Abby Helminiak earned second-team All-MAC honors for the second time placing second in the women's pole vault eclipsing 13-8.25 (4.17m).

Jackson captured the first of three league titles on the afternoon triumphing in the men's 60 meters with a time of 6.78. Amir Willis and Malcom Briley and contributed team points finishing second and fifth in times of 6.81 and 6.87. It marked the second time Willis has earned All-MAC honors as a Zip.

Akron benefited from a trio of career-best times in the men's 200 meters as Jackson, Noah Williams and Willis finished first (20.75), second (20.89) and fifth (21.38), respectively. Jackson and Williams posted the two-fastest times in indoor program history after matching the feat a day earlier in the preliminary round. The title was the third in Jackson's Akron career.

Williams took home his fourth overall league crown registering a school-record time of 46.13 to win the men's 400 meters. Garnering second-team All-MAC honors placing second with the second-fastest time in indoor program history, 46.86, was Zarik Brown.

The men's 4x400 relay squad of Willis, Brown, Jackson and Williams narrowly missed establishing a school-record time as the quartet registered the second-fastest time in indoor program history (since 2014) crossing the line in 3:07.89.

Nuh Andu won his first career MAC title with a mark of 6-11 (2.11m) in the men's high jump.

Crossing the line with second- and third-place efforts in the mile was Marc Migliozzi and senior Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio). The duo crossed the line in 4:07.19 and 4:09.27.

Senior Varvara Lissichkina (Karaganda, Kazakhstan) finished second in the women's 800 meters after registering a career-best and fifth-fastest time in indoor program history with a 2:08.66 effort.

Running career-best times of 8.06 and 8.20 in the men's 60-meter hurdles was senior Jace Roundtree (Vandergrift, Pa.) and Elijah Johnson, as the Zips' duo placed second and fourth, respectively. Roundtree earned second-team All-MAC honors for the first time with his performance.

Junior Zoi Balamouti (Heraklion, Greece) turned in the third-best mark, 41-0.50 (12.51m) in indoor program history in the women's triple jump to finish second.

Dylan Hochbein, senior Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) and senior Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio) finished in third, fourth and fifth place in the men's heptathlon with seven-event cumulative scores of 5,089, 4,928 and 4,890, respectively.

The opening-day efforts of the University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 28, 2020, placed the Zips in prime position to vie for team titles.

Sara Foster captured her second MAC title with a come-from-behind victory in the women's pentathlon on the strength of a career-best five-event cumulative score of 3,645.

In the men's 5,000 meters, Bollam-Godbott earned second-team all-league honors placing second in a time of 14:25.25. His effort represents the second-fastest time in indoor program history.

Tyler Fraker eclipsed a career-best mark of 17-0 (5.18m) to garner second-team All-MAC accolades for the first time, placing second in the men's pole vault.

On the strength of the fifth-best time in indoor program history (since 2014), the men's distance medley relay team of redshirt junior Oliver Huffman (Augusta, Ga.), Charles Sanders, Steven Ashcraft and senior Jacob Ondash (Hiram, Ohio) placed third in a time of 9:58.53.

ALL-MAC PERFORMERS (First-Team All-MAC/Second-Team All-MAC): Below is a listed on first- and second-place performances at the Mid-American Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the current members of the Zips' squad.

Amir Willis (2/1) - Indoor: 4x400 Relay - 2020 (1st-3:07.89); 60 Meters - 2020 (2nd-6.81); Outdoor: 4x100 Relay - 2019 (1st-40.39); Sara Foster (2/0) - Indoor: Pentathlon - 2020 (1st-3,645); Outdoor: Heptathlon - 2019 (1st-4,808); Patrick Kimball (2/0) - Indoor: 60-Meter Hurdles - 2019 (1st-7.97); Outdoor: 110-Meter Hurdles - 2019 (1st-13.96); Cole Wigal (1/2) - Indoor: Pole Vault - 2019 (2nd-16-7.25/5.06m); Outdoor: Pole Vault - 2018 (2nd-16-7.50/5.07m), 2019 (1st-17-0.75/5.20m); Nuh Andu (1/1) - Indoor: High Jump - 2020 (1st-6-11/2.11m), 2019 (2nd-6-11.50/2.12m); Zarik Brown (1/1) - Indoor: 4x400 Relay - 2020 (1st-3:07.89); Indoor: 400 meters - 2020 (2nd-46.86); Malik Hudson (1/1) - Indoor: 4x400 Relay - 2018 (2nd-3:18.13) Outdoor: Decathlon - 2018 (2nd-6,723); Malcom Briley (1/0) - Outdoor: 4x100 Relay - 2019 (1st-40.39); Hesham Eldesouky (1/0) - Indoor: Triple Jump - 2019 (1st-52-6/16.00m); Lindsey Scarton (1/0) - Indoor: DMR - 2019 (1st-11:37.61); Garrett White (1/0) - Outdoor: 4x400 Relay - 2019 (1st-3:12.00); Abby Helminiak (0/2) - Indoor: Pole Vault - 2020 (2nd- 13-8.25/4.17m); Outdoor: Pole Vault - 2019 (2nd-12-8.25/3.87m); Andre Bollam-Godbott (0/1) - Indoor: 5,000 Meters - 2020 (2nd-14:25.25); Brandon Hochbein (0/1) - Outdoor: Decathlon - 2019 (2nd-6,771); (0/1) - Indoor: DMR - 2019 (2nd-10:06.82); Varvara Lissichkina (0/1) - Indoor: 800 Meters - 2020 (2nd-2:08.66); Jace Roundtree (0/1) - Indoor: 60-Meter Hurdles - 2020 (2nd-8.06); Andrew Wahl (0/1) - Indoor: DMR - 2019 (2nd-10:06.82);

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