Willis Headlines Zips’ Efforts on Final Day of MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Saturday, May 8

Oxford, Ohio

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships

Willis Headlines Zips’ Efforts on Final Day of MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

May 08 | Track & Field

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MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | FINAL RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY RESULTS (HTML) | MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE | ACCEPTED ENTRIES (PRELIMINARY) (PDF) | LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM | PREVIEW

OXFORD, Ohio – The University of Akron junior Amir Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) 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 Saturday, May 8.

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).

The men's team race came down to the final race, the 4x400 relay, with Akron trailing Miami by half a point entering the race. The Zips crossed the line first in the race only to see their season-best performance nullified by a disqualification allowing the RedHawks to win the league crown on their home track.

The Zips' men's squad earned a full point against Kent State in the final standings of the 2020-21 year in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge, while the Golden Flashes claimed the point in the women's race. Kent State leads 7.0-6.0 in the current standings, with the final half points to be decided this week in baseball and softball showdowns.

"It has been a tough year for our team," Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell. "However, they kept fighting and competing with all their hearts and had a chance at winning a team title. When they saw the 4x400 relay team appear to win, they were so excited, overwhelmed with the moment and they celebrated a little too early. Things happen like that and it is too bad, but that is sport. However, they can hold their heads up high. On paper, they did not win, and they will not be hoisting the winning trophy. However, in their hearts, they know they accomplished something remarkable and found out what they are capable of doing in the toughest of times. With that lesson, they are victorious."

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.

Sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) is the first Zip to capture the men's hammer title as he bested the field with a mark of 219-9 (66.98m).

Junior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) became the third Zip to win the women's 100 meters as she crossed the line in a time of 11.68.

Redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) 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.

Freshman Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) 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 senior Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who crossed the line in 14.00, while senior Jace Roundtree (Vandergrift, Pa.) added a career-best time of 14.11 to place third.

Junior Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) 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.

Junior Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) 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 freshman Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria). 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.

Junior Jacqueline Pokuaah (Akron, Ohio) 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.

The Zips return to competition travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for the NCAA East Preliminary Round hosted by North Florida, May 27-29.

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Miami (161), 2) Akron (150.50), 3) Eastern Michigan (136), 4) Kent State (113), 5) Buffalo (85.50)

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Kent State (102), 2) Eastern Michigan (90), 3) Miami (89), 4) Akron (83.50), 5) Toledo (82), 6) Northern Illinois (78), 7) Bowling Green (74), 8) Ball State (60), 8) Central Michigan (60), 10) Buffalo (42.50), 11) Ohio (33), 12) Western Michigan (24)

SATURDAY MEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
4x100 Relay: Jayce Shaffer, Amir Willis, Jace Roundtree, Charles Sanders (2nd-40.74); 1,500 Meters: Jacob Ondash (5th-3:49.13), Andre Bollam-Godbott (7th-3:50.32); 110-Meter Hurdles: Patrick Kimball (2nd-14.00), Jace Roundtree (3rd-14.11*); 400 Meters: Charles Sanders (1st-47.09*), Zarik Brown (8th-48.99); 100 Meters: Amir Willis (1st-10.35); 800 Meters: Blake Lucius (4th-1:50.97), Jacob Ondash (5th-1:52.33); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jimmy Harkelroad (1st-51.87*), Taron Austin (4th-53.08*); 200 Meters: Amir Willis (1st-20.45*); 5,000 Meters: Andre Bollam-Godbott (DNF); 4x400 Relay: Zarik Brown, Amir Willis, Jimmy Harkelroad, Charles Sanders (DQ); Hammer: William Gross (1st-219-9/66.98m), Milton Wilson (7th-194-2/59.20m), Jabari Neal-Jackson (10th-145-1/44.23m); High Jump: Nuh Andu (2nd-6-10.75/2.10m), Avalonn Harper (6th-6-2.75/1.90m); Triple Jump: Dimitrije Novakovic (3rd-49-9.25/15.17m*), Caleb Mabins (6th-46-7.25/14.20m), Hesham Eldesouky (8th-45-8.50/13.93m)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
4x100 Relay: Anna Altstadt, Amya Clarke, Kassandra Roemer, Jacqueline Pokuaah (6th-46.98); 1,500 Meters: Beth Arentz (5th-4:29.08*), Hannah Long (10th-4:32.07*), Lindsey Scarton (12th-4:38.46); 100-Meter Hurdles: Jacqueline Pokuaah (7th-14.36*); 100 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-11.68); 800 Meters: Kyra Keurentjes (2nd-2:08.46*); 400-Meter Hurdles: Fegor Clifford (2nd-58.90*), Sara Foster (8th-64.31); 200 Meters: Amya Clarke (3rd-23.90*); 5,000 Meters: Lindsey Scarton (8th-17:00.51), Beth Arentz (9th-17:07.27*), Alyssa Thomas (13th-17:23.68); 4x400 Relay: Janay Bass, Kyra Keurentjes, Fegor Clifford, Sage Harmon (DQ); High Jump: Carlyn Zahner (11th-5-4.25/1.63m*); Triple Jump: Jacqueline Pokuaah (2nd-41-0.50/12.51m*), Fegor Clifford (4th-40-1.25/12.22m), Zoi Balamouti (F)

MEN'S DECATHLON RESULTS:
Brandon Hochbein (1st-7,017*), Malik Hudson (2nd-6,920*); 100 Meters: Malik Hudson (1st-10.95*), Brandon Hochbein (2nd-11.07*); Long Jump: Malik Hudson (1st-21-10/6.65m), Brandon Hochbein (3rd-21-8.25/6.61m); Shot Put: Malik Hudson (3rd-41-11.50/12.79m*), Brandon Hochbein (4th-40-9.75/12.44m*); High Jump: Malik Hudson (2nd-6-2.25/1.89m), Brandon Hochbein (3rd-6-1.25/1.86m); 400 Meters: Malik Hudson (1st-50.99), Brandon Hochbein (2nd-51.33); 110-Meter Hurdles: Brandon Hochbein (2nd-15.07), Malik Hudson (3rd-15.29*); Discus: Malik Hudson (2nd-125-8/38.32m*), Brandon Hochbein (3rd-105-8/32.22m); Pole Vault: Brandon Hochbein (1st-15-7.25/4.76m), Malik Hudson (3rd-13-3.75/4.06m); Javelin: Brandon Hochbein (1st-166-11/50.88m), Malik Hudson (2nd-155-0/47.26m); 1,500 Meters: Brandon Hochbein (2nd-4:53.93), Malik Hudson (3rd-5:00.01)

WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON RESULTS:
Sara Foster (3rd-4,813*); 100-Meter Hurdles: Sara Foster (5th-14.77); High Jump: Sara Foster (6th-5-1.75/1.57m); Shot Put: Sara Foster (6th-32-9/9.98m*); 200 Meters: Sara Foster (6th-26.53); Long Jump: Sara Foster (4th-17-3.50/5.27m); Javelin: Sara Foster (7th-91-10/28.01m*); 800 Meters: Sara Foster (2nd-2:15.33*)

FRIDAY MEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
Shot Put: Jacob Hutcherson (8th-48-4.50/14.74m), Davis Hedrick (F); Pole Vault: Robert Artrip (2nd-16-7.25/5.06m*), Matt Keim (3rd-16-3.25/4.96m), Cole Wigal (5th-15-5/4.70m); Long Jump: Dimitrije Novakovic (1st-24-4.50/7.43m), Haruki Sakai (3rd-23-8/7.21m*), Christian Mayfield (6th-22-8/6.91m); Discus: Ryan Kilhoffer (8th-142-11/43.57m), Davis Hedrick (10th-140-10/42.94m)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S FINAL RESULTS:
10,000 Meters: Alyssa Thomas (7th-36:17.59*); 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Lizzy Gurko (8th-11:04.42*); Hammer: Emily Taylor (10th-169-1/51.54m); Javelin: Laurel Bristow (3rd-142-11/43.58m), Weronika Grzelak (9th-118-0/35.97m*); Pole Vault: Abby Helminiak (3rd-12-10/3.91m), Gabrielle McDaniel (8th-11-7.75/3.55m); Long Jump: Fegor Clifford (3rd-19-0/5.79m), Jacqueline Pokuaah (9th-18-5/5.61m), Kassandra Roemer (11th-17-11.75/5.48m)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
100 Meters: Amir Willis (1st-10.24), Jayce Shaffer (10th-11.00*); 800 Meters: Blake Lucius (3rd-1:52.81), Jacob Ondash (4th-1:53.11), Andre Bollam-Godbott (11th-1:54.45); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jimmy Harkelroad (1st-52.61*), Taron Austin (6th-54.83), Steven Ashcraft (10th-56.54*); 200 Meters: Amir Willis (2nd-21.47)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
1,500 Meters: Beth Arentz (3rd-4:31.59), Lindsey Scarton (9th-4:32.12), Hannah Long (11th-4:34.59); 100-Meter Hurdles: Jacqueline Pokuaah (8th-14.22*); 400 Meters: Janay Bass (17th-58.65); 100 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-11.61); 800 Meters: Kyra Keurentjes (3rd-2:11.16), Makenna Heimlich (12th-2:12.87*), Varvara Lissichkina (14th-2:13.90); 400-Meter Hurdles: Fegor Clifford (3rd-60.88), Sara Foster (8th-62.19); 200 Meters: Amya Clarke (3rd-24.23)

* denotes career-best mark