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NCAA East Preliminary Round
NCAA East Preliminary Round Ahead for Akron
May 25 | Track & Field
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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND - MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | MEN'S HEAT SHEETS | WOMEN'S HEAT SHEETS | LIVE STATS | WEDNESDAY LIVE STREAM | THURSDAY LIVE STREAM | FRIDAY LIVE STREAM | SATURDAY LIVE STREAM | PREVIEW
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 20 student-athletes at the four-day event hosted by the University of North Florida Wednesday through Saturday, May 26-29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
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 Eugene, Ore., from June 9-12. The NCAA West prelims will be held in College Station, Texas, at the same time.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best 20 combined men's and women's qualifiers (20 Zips across 17 events) for the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 15 men and five women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be junior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) (100 meters - 7 p.m. Thursday), freshman Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria) (400-meter hurdles - 8:20 p.m. Thursday), redshirt junior Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) (pole vault - 3 p.m. Thursday) and juniors Jacqueline Pokuaah (Akron, Ohio) (long jump - 3 p.m. Thursday and triple jump - 3:15 p.m. Saturday) and Kassandra Roemer (Kaiserlautern, Germany) (long jump - 3 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Amya Clarke - 100 Meters (30th-11.50); Fegor Clifford - 400-Meter Hurdles (26th-58.90); Abby Helminiak - Pole Vault (14th-13-9.25/4.20m); Jacqueline Pokuaah - Long Jump (40th-20-3/6.17m), Triple Jump (45th-41-0.50/12.51m); Kassandra Roemer - Long Jump (44th-20-1/6.12m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be junior Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) (High Jump - 1 p.m. Friday), sophomore Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday), senior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (Triple Jump - 3:15 p.m. Friday), sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) (Hammer - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday), freshman Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (400-Meter Hurdles - 8:20 p.m. Wednesday), seniors Matt Keim (Bollivar, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday) and Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (110-Meter Hurdles - 6 p.m. Wednesday), sophomore Blake Lucius (Crestline, Ohio) (800 Meters - 7:50 p.m. Wednesday), freshman Christian Mayfield (University Heights, Ohio) (Long Jump - 3 p.m. Wednesday), sophomore Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (Long Jump - 3 p.m. Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) (400 Meters - 7:25 p.m. Wednesday), senior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday), junior Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) (100 Meters - 7 p.m. Wednesday and 200 Meters - 8:45 p.m. Wednesday) and redshirt junior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio) (Hammer - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday); 4x400 Relay - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (9:15 p.m. Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark)
Nuh Andu - High Jump (13th-7-1.75/2.18m); Robert Artrip - Pole Vault (44th-16-7.25/5.06m); Hesham Eldesouky - Triple Jump (42nd-50-7.25/15.42m); William Gross - Hammer (11th-221-6/67.52m); Jimmy Harkelroad - 400-Meter Hurdles (34th-51.87); Matt Keim - Pole Vault (45th-16-7.25/5.06m); Patrick Kimball - 110-Meter Hurdles (41st-14.00); Blake Lucius - 800 Meters (44th-1:49.57); Christian Mayfield - Long Jump (33rd-24-5.75/7.46m); Dimitrije Novakovic - Long Jump (19th-25-0.75/7.64m); Charles Sanders - 400 Meters (46th-47.09); Cole Wigal - Pole Vault (48th-16-6/5.05m); Amir Willis - 100 Meters (22nd-10.24), 200 Meters (13th-20.45); Milton Wilson - Hammer (202-5/61.70m); 4x400 Relay - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (22nd-3:10.18)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at noon Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, May 26, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's high jump at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5:30 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 9:15 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's high jump at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 9:15 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to unfospreys.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
AKRON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (TENTATIVE):
Wednesday, May 26
1:30 p.m. - William Gross, Milton Wilson (Men's Hammer)
3 p.m. - Robert Artrip, Matt Keim, Cole Wigal (Men's Pole Vault)
3 p.m. - Christian Mayfield, Dimitrije Novakovic (Men's Long Jump)
6 p.m. - Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
7 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 100 Meters - First Round)
7:25 p.m. - Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters - First Round)
7:50 p.m. - Blake Lucius (Men's 800 Meters - First Round)
8:20 p.m. - Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
8:45 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 200 Meters - First Round)
Thursday, May 27
3 p.m. - Abby Helminiak (Women's Pole Vault - First Round)
3 p.m. - Jacqueline Pokuaah, Kassandra Roemer (Women's Long Jump - First Round)
7 p.m. - Amya Clarke (Women's 100 Meters - First Round)
8:20 p.m. - Fegor Clifford (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
Friday, May 28
1 p.m. - Nuh Andu (Men's High Jump)
3:15 p.m. - Hesham Eldesouky (Men's Triple Jump)
6:45 p.m. - Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
7:05 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 100 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:20 p.m. - Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:35 p.m. - Blake Lucius (Men's 800 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:55 p.m. - Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
8:10 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 200 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
9:15 p.m. - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 4x400 Relay - Quarterfinals)
Saturday, May 29
3:15 p.m. - Jacqueline Pokuaah (Women's Triple Jump - First Round)
7:05 p.m. - Amya Clarke (Women's 100 Meters - Quarterfinals)
7:55 p.m. - Fegor Clifford (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals)
% if advancing
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, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2021 outdoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on May 17, 2021 as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is ranked seventh nationally in the men's hammer and among the top 25 in five different events.
Akron is rated eighth in the men's triple jump, 13th in the men's pole vault, 15th in the men's long jump and 25th in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2021 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has a trio of student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) is this week's rankings, including Nuh Andu, William Gross and Amir Willis, who are 22nd in the nation in the men's high jump (7-1.75/2.18m), men's hammer (221-6/67.52m) and men's 200 meters (20.45), respectively.
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA East Preliminary Round, May 26-29: Amya Clarke (women's 100 meters - 11.50), William Gross (men's hammer - 221-6/67.52m), Jimmy Harkelroad (men's 400-meter hurdles - 51.87), Charles Sanders (men's 400 meters - 47.09), Amir Willis (men's 100 meters - 10.24 and men's 200 meters - 20.45).
2021 MAC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Amir Willis garnered a pair of league titles to direct the Zips' efforts on the final day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Miami University at the George L Rider Track on May 8 in Oxford, Ohio.
On the strength of Akron's performances, the Zips finished in second place in the men's team race with 150.50 points, 10.5 points behind league champion Miami. The Akron women's squad placed fourth with 83.50 points to place fourth behind league champion Kent State (102), Eastern Michigan (90) and Miami (89).
Willis claimed a pair of league titles on the day winning the 100 and 200 meters crossing the line in 10.35 and 20.45, respectively, while running the second leg on the runner-up 4x100 relay team. His performance in the 200 meters stands as the second-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
Willis becomes the first Zip to capture both the men's 100 and 200 meters in the same championship in program history and was rewarded with his selection at the MAC's Most Valuable Performer.
Seniors Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) and Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio) captured the top-two spots in the men's decathlon on the strength of a career-best 10-event cumulative scores 7,017 and 6,920. Hochbein earned his second career MAC title en route to becoming the sixth Zip to win the league's decathlon title.
William Gross became the first Zip to capture the men's hammer title as he bested the field with a mark of 219-9 (66.98m).
Amya Clarke became the third Zip to win the women's 100 meters as she crossed the line in a time of 11.68.
Charles Sanders won his first individual and second overall league title on the strength of a career-best time of 47.09 in the men's 400 meters, the No. 5 time in outdoor program history. Akron has now won the event in three of the last four championships, with Sanders becoming the third Zip to triumph in the race.
Jimmy Harkelroad earned his first career conference title besting the field in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 51.87, the fifth-fastest effort in outdoor program history. He was tabbed as the MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
Registering All-MAC honors for the fourth time with a runner-up performance in the men's 110-meter hurdles was Patrick Kimball, who crossed the line in 14.00, while senior Jace Roundtree (Vandergrift, Pa.) added a career-best time of 14.11 to place third.
Nuh Andu earned second-team All-MAC honors placing second in the men's high jump with a mark of 6-10.75 (2.10m).
The 4x100 relay squad of senior Jayce Shaffer (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Willis, Roundtree and Sanders earned second-team All-MAC accolades placing second in a time of 40.74.
Dimitrije Novakovic registered the No. 5 mark in outdoor program history in the triple jump finishing third with a mark of 49-9.25 (15.17m). This coupled with his triumph in the men's long jump on Friday, May 7, Novakovic was named the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year.
Junior Kyra Keurentjes (Wehl, The Netherlands) earned second-team All-MAC honors garnering a runner-up finish in the women's 800 meters in a career-best time of 2:08.46.
Recording the second-fastest time, 58.90, in outdoor program history to collect second-team All-MAC accolades in the women's 400-meter hurdles was Fegor Clifford. Clifford also earned team points with third- and fourth-place efforts on the weekend in the women's long jump (19-0/5.79m) and triple jump (40-1.25/12.22m. She was named the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year for her performances.
Jacqueline Pokuaah earned All-MAC accolades for the fourth time in her career with a runner-up effort in the women's triple jump. She posted a career-best mark of 41-0.50 (12.51m), the third-best mark in outdoor program history.
Junior Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) posted a career-best seven-event cumulative score of 4,813 to place third in the women's heptathlon.
On the opening day of the MAC Championships, Novakovic captured the league title besting the field in the men's long jump with a mark of 24-4.50 (7.43m).
On the strength of a career-best clearance of 16-7.25 (5.06m), Robert Artrip earned runner-up honors in the men's pole vault.
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NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND - MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | MEN'S HEAT SHEETS | WOMEN'S HEAT SHEETS | LIVE STATS | WEDNESDAY LIVE STREAM | THURSDAY LIVE STREAM | FRIDAY LIVE STREAM | SATURDAY LIVE STREAM | PREVIEW
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 20 student-athletes at the four-day event hosted by the University of North Florida Wednesday through Saturday, May 26-29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
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 Eugene, Ore., from June 9-12. The NCAA West prelims will be held in College Station, Texas, at the same time.
The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference with a league-best 20 combined men's and women's qualifiers (20 Zips across 17 events) for the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 15 men and five women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be junior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) (100 meters - 7 p.m. Thursday), freshman Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria) (400-meter hurdles - 8:20 p.m. Thursday), redshirt junior Abby Helminiak (Toledo, Ohio) (pole vault - 3 p.m. Thursday) and juniors Jacqueline Pokuaah (Akron, Ohio) (long jump - 3 p.m. Thursday and triple jump - 3:15 p.m. Saturday) and Kassandra Roemer (Kaiserlautern, Germany) (long jump - 3 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Amya Clarke - 100 Meters (30th-11.50); Fegor Clifford - 400-Meter Hurdles (26th-58.90); Abby Helminiak - Pole Vault (14th-13-9.25/4.20m); Jacqueline Pokuaah - Long Jump (40th-20-3/6.17m), Triple Jump (45th-41-0.50/12.51m); Kassandra Roemer - Long Jump (44th-20-1/6.12m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be junior Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) (High Jump - 1 p.m. Friday), sophomore Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday), senior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) (Triple Jump - 3:15 p.m. Friday), sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) (Hammer - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday), freshman Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (400-Meter Hurdles - 8:20 p.m. Wednesday), seniors Matt Keim (Bollivar, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday) and Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (110-Meter Hurdles - 6 p.m. Wednesday), sophomore Blake Lucius (Crestline, Ohio) (800 Meters - 7:50 p.m. Wednesday), freshman Christian Mayfield (University Heights, Ohio) (Long Jump - 3 p.m. Wednesday), sophomore Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (Long Jump - 3 p.m. Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) (400 Meters - 7:25 p.m. Wednesday), senior Cole Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) (Pole Vault - 3 p.m. Wednesday), junior Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) (100 Meters - 7 p.m. Wednesday and 200 Meters - 8:45 p.m. Wednesday) and redshirt junior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio) (Hammer - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday); 4x400 Relay - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (9:15 p.m. Friday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark)
Nuh Andu - High Jump (13th-7-1.75/2.18m); Robert Artrip - Pole Vault (44th-16-7.25/5.06m); Hesham Eldesouky - Triple Jump (42nd-50-7.25/15.42m); William Gross - Hammer (11th-221-6/67.52m); Jimmy Harkelroad - 400-Meter Hurdles (34th-51.87); Matt Keim - Pole Vault (45th-16-7.25/5.06m); Patrick Kimball - 110-Meter Hurdles (41st-14.00); Blake Lucius - 800 Meters (44th-1:49.57); Christian Mayfield - Long Jump (33rd-24-5.75/7.46m); Dimitrije Novakovic - Long Jump (19th-25-0.75/7.64m); Charles Sanders - 400 Meters (46th-47.09); Cole Wigal - Pole Vault (48th-16-6/5.05m); Amir Willis - 100 Meters (22nd-10.24), 200 Meters (13th-20.45); Milton Wilson - Hammer (202-5/61.70m); 4x400 Relay - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (22nd-3:10.18)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at noon Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, May 26, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's high jump at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5:30 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 9:15 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's high jump at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 9:15 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to unfospreys.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
AKRON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (TENTATIVE):
Wednesday, May 26
1:30 p.m. - William Gross, Milton Wilson (Men's Hammer)
3 p.m. - Robert Artrip, Matt Keim, Cole Wigal (Men's Pole Vault)
3 p.m. - Christian Mayfield, Dimitrije Novakovic (Men's Long Jump)
6 p.m. - Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
7 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 100 Meters - First Round)
7:25 p.m. - Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters - First Round)
7:50 p.m. - Blake Lucius (Men's 800 Meters - First Round)
8:20 p.m. - Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
8:45 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 200 Meters - First Round)
Thursday, May 27
3 p.m. - Abby Helminiak (Women's Pole Vault - First Round)
3 p.m. - Jacqueline Pokuaah, Kassandra Roemer (Women's Long Jump - First Round)
7 p.m. - Amya Clarke (Women's 100 Meters - First Round)
8:20 p.m. - Fegor Clifford (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - First Round)
Friday, May 28
1 p.m. - Nuh Andu (Men's High Jump)
3:15 p.m. - Hesham Eldesouky (Men's Triple Jump)
6:45 p.m. - Patrick Kimball (Men's 110-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
7:05 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 100 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:20 p.m. - Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:35 p.m. - Blake Lucius (Men's 800 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
7:55 p.m. - Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals) %
8:10 p.m. - Amir Willis (Men's 200 Meters - Quarterfinals) %
9:15 p.m. - Zarik Brown, Charles Sanders, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 4x400 Relay - Quarterfinals)
Saturday, May 29
3:15 p.m. - Jacqueline Pokuaah (Women's Triple Jump - First Round)
7:05 p.m. - Amya Clarke (Women's 100 Meters - Quarterfinals)
7:55 p.m. - Fegor Clifford (Women's 400-Meter Hurdles - Quarterfinals)
% if advancing
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, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2021 outdoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on May 17, 2021 as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is ranked seventh nationally in the men's hammer and among the top 25 in five different events.
Akron is rated eighth in the men's triple jump, 13th in the men's pole vault, 15th in the men's long jump and 25th in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2021 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has a trio of student-athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) is this week's rankings, including Nuh Andu, William Gross and Amir Willis, who are 22nd in the nation in the men's high jump (7-1.75/2.18m), men's hammer (221-6/67.52m) and men's 200 meters (20.45), respectively.
MAC LEADERS: The following Zips own conference-leading marks entering the NCAA East Preliminary Round, May 26-29: Amya Clarke (women's 100 meters - 11.50), William Gross (men's hammer - 221-6/67.52m), Jimmy Harkelroad (men's 400-meter hurdles - 51.87), Charles Sanders (men's 400 meters - 47.09), Amir Willis (men's 100 meters - 10.24 and men's 200 meters - 20.45).
2021 MAC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Amir Willis garnered a pair of league titles to direct the Zips' efforts on the final day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Miami University at the George L Rider Track on May 8 in Oxford, Ohio.
On the strength of Akron's performances, the Zips finished in second place in the men's team race with 150.50 points, 10.5 points behind league champion Miami. The Akron women's squad placed fourth with 83.50 points to place fourth behind league champion Kent State (102), Eastern Michigan (90) and Miami (89).
Willis claimed a pair of league titles on the day winning the 100 and 200 meters crossing the line in 10.35 and 20.45, respectively, while running the second leg on the runner-up 4x100 relay team. His performance in the 200 meters stands as the second-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
Willis becomes the first Zip to capture both the men's 100 and 200 meters in the same championship in program history and was rewarded with his selection at the MAC's Most Valuable Performer.
Seniors Brandon Hochbein (Sarver, Pa.) and Malik Hudson (Cleveland, Ohio) captured the top-two spots in the men's decathlon on the strength of a career-best 10-event cumulative scores 7,017 and 6,920. Hochbein earned his second career MAC title en route to becoming the sixth Zip to win the league's decathlon title.
William Gross became the first Zip to capture the men's hammer title as he bested the field with a mark of 219-9 (66.98m).
Amya Clarke became the third Zip to win the women's 100 meters as she crossed the line in a time of 11.68.
Charles Sanders won his first individual and second overall league title on the strength of a career-best time of 47.09 in the men's 400 meters, the No. 5 time in outdoor program history. Akron has now won the event in three of the last four championships, with Sanders becoming the third Zip to triumph in the race.
Jimmy Harkelroad earned his first career conference title besting the field in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 51.87, the fifth-fastest effort in outdoor program history. He was tabbed as the MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
Registering All-MAC honors for the fourth time with a runner-up performance in the men's 110-meter hurdles was Patrick Kimball, who crossed the line in 14.00, while senior Jace Roundtree (Vandergrift, Pa.) added a career-best time of 14.11 to place third.
Nuh Andu earned second-team All-MAC honors placing second in the men's high jump with a mark of 6-10.75 (2.10m).
The 4x100 relay squad of senior Jayce Shaffer (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Willis, Roundtree and Sanders earned second-team All-MAC accolades placing second in a time of 40.74.
Dimitrije Novakovic registered the No. 5 mark in outdoor program history in the triple jump finishing third with a mark of 49-9.25 (15.17m). This coupled with his triumph in the men's long jump on Friday, May 7, Novakovic was named the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year.
Junior Kyra Keurentjes (Wehl, The Netherlands) earned second-team All-MAC honors garnering a runner-up finish in the women's 800 meters in a career-best time of 2:08.46.
Recording the second-fastest time, 58.90, in outdoor program history to collect second-team All-MAC accolades in the women's 400-meter hurdles was Fegor Clifford. Clifford also earned team points with third- and fourth-place efforts on the weekend in the women's long jump (19-0/5.79m) and triple jump (40-1.25/12.22m. She was named the MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year for her performances.
Jacqueline Pokuaah earned All-MAC accolades for the fourth time in her career with a runner-up effort in the women's triple jump. She posted a career-best mark of 41-0.50 (12.51m), the third-best mark in outdoor program history.
Junior Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) posted a career-best seven-event cumulative score of 4,813 to place third in the women's heptathlon.
On the opening day of the MAC Championships, Novakovic captured the league title besting the field in the men's long jump with a mark of 24-4.50 (7.43m).
On the strength of a career-best clearance of 16-7.25 (5.06m), Robert Artrip earned runner-up honors in the men's pole vault.
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/ Track & FieldAkron Indoor Track & Field - Al Campbell Invitational
Friday, February 17
Akron Indoor Track & Field Dual vs. Kent State
Friday, January 20
2022 Akron Zips Athletics - Logo Reveal - 5/9/22
Monday, May 09
2021-22 Akron Zips This Week in Akron Athletics - 4/26/22
Tuesday, April 26
