Akron Captures MAC Women’s Track and Field Title; Men Garner Runner-Up Finish

Saturday, February 26

Kent, Ohio

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Akron Captures MAC Women’s Track and Field Title; Men Garner Runner-Up Finish

February 26 | Track & Field

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MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | FINAL RESULTS (HTML) | FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY RESULTS (HTML) | AWARDS CEREMONY PHOTO GALLERY | SATURDAY PHOTO GALLERY | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL SATURDAY COMMENTS | HESHAM ELDESOUKY COMMENTS (2/26) | ZARIK BROWN COMMENTS | AMYA CLARKE COMMENTS | FEGOR CLIFFORD COMMENTS | VARVARA LISSICHKINA COMMENTS | BLAKE LUCIUS COMMENTS | CHARLES SANDERS COMMENTS | TAYLOR SHRIVER COMMENTS | MEN'S 4x400 COMMENTS | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL FRIDAY COMMENTS | HESHAM ELDESOUKY COMMENTS (2/25) | HUNTER GARRETSON COMMENTS | MEN'S DMR COMMENTS | MEET INFORMATION/SCHEDULE | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

KENT, Ohio - The University of Akron women's track and field team captured its seventh Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship, while the Zips' men's squad placed second to highlight Akron's performances at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Kent State Field House.

The Zips finished the weekend pulling in 12 MAC titles and seven runner-up performances.

Akron's women's team won its first indoor league title since 2017 on the strength of 117.50 points to outdistance Eastern Michigan (84.50 points) by 33 points, while the Zips' men's squad fell 10 points shy of the Eagles for the men's championship, 166.0-156.0.

Akron head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell garnered MAC Women's Coach of the Year honors on the strength of the Zips' efforts on the weekend.

In addition to the MAC Championships, the Zips earned a pair of full points over rival Kent State in the standings in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Zips now lead the series 4.5-4.0 in the current standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Junior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) was selected as the MAC Women's Most Valuable Performer of the Meet on the strength of victories in the women's 60 and 200 meters, respectively. She triumphed in the women's 60 meters in a school- and MAC-Championship record time of 7.34, before posting a career-best time of 24.09 in the women's 200 meters. Her effort in the 200 meters is the fifth-fastest performance in indoor program history.
• Sophomore Zarik Brown (Dayton, Ohio) garnered an individual title triumphing in the men's 60 meters in a time of 6.72, before placing second in the men's 200 meters in a career-best time of 21.19. He finished the afternoon anchoring the winning 4x400 relay to own a team-best five career MAC titles.
• Senior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) took home the title in the men's triple jump equaling his own school-record mark of 52-6 (16.00m) to collect his fifth career league championship.
• Redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) captured his third career league title winning the men's 400 meters in a career-best time of 47.01, the fourth-fastest time in indoor program history. Freshman Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) placed second in the event in a time of 47.44.
• Sophomore Blake Lucius (Crestline) earned his second consecutive MAC crown in the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:50.94.
• Freshmen Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria) registered a career-best mark of 41-11.25 (12.78m), the fourth-best mark in indoor program history, to win the women's triple jump. She also placed second in the women's 400 meters in a time of 55.02, the third-fastest time in indoor program history.
• Senior Varvara Lissichkina (Karaganda, Kazahkstan) and sophomore Makenna Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) finished 1-2 in the women's 800 meters crossing the line in 2:10.24 and 2:10.57, respectively. The victory marked the first career MAC title for Lissichkina.
• The men's 4x400 relay of Harkelroad, Sanders, Lucius and Brown outraced the field to finish first in a season-best time of 3:12.17.
• Freshman Taylor Shriver (Waynesburg, Pa.) placed second in the women's pole vault eclipsing 13-4.25 (4.07m). Her performance earned her MAC Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Meet accolades.
• Junior Nuh Andu (Doha, Qatar) placed second in the men's high jump with a mark of 6-10.25 *2.09m).
• Freshman Beth Arentz (Cronulla, Australia) finished second in the women's mile with a time of 4:51.98.
• Freshman Jacob Glavickas (Orwell, Ohio) and sophomore Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the men's heptathlon with seven-event cumulative scores of 4,703 and 4,674.

UP NEXT:
Akron opens its outdoor campaign at the Miami Blizzard Buster Invitational hosted by Miami University on March 18 in Oxford, Ohio.

SATURDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Mile: Jacob Ondash (3rd-4:09.54), Oliver Huffman (7th-4:16.34); 60-Meter Hurdles: Elijah Humphrey (5th-8.41); 400 Meters: Charles Sanders (1st-47.01*), Jimmy Harkelroad (2nd-47.44); 60 Meters: Zarik Brown (1st-6.72), Jack Weaver (7th-7.00); 800 Meters: Blake Lucius (1st-1:50.94), Colt Hemphill (8th-1:54.14); 200 Meters: Zarik Brown (2nd-21.19*), Charles Sanders (3rd-21.72), Jack Weaver (5th-22.02); 3,000 Meters: Jacob Ondash (4th-8:24.07), Oliver Huffman (10th-8:57.28), Kyle Stober (11th-9:10.60); 4x400 Relay: Jimmy Harkelroad, Charles Sanders, Blake Lucius, Zarik Brown (1st-3:12.17); Triple Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (1st-52-6/16.00m*), Dimitrije Novakovic (5th-49-10/15.19m), Caleb Mabins (8th-48-0.50/14.64m); Shot Put: Lane Graham (3rd-53-3.75/16.25m), Jacob Hutcherson (6th-49-10.50/15.20m); High Jump: Nuh Andu (2nd-6-10.25/2.09m), Avalonn Harper (7th-6-6.75/2.00m)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Mile: Beth Arentz (2nd-4:51.98), Hannah Long (3rd-4:52.00); 60-Meter Hurdles: Jacqueline Pokuaah (6th-8.66*); 400 Meters: Fegor Clifford (2nd-55.02*), Janay Bass (4th-55.84*); 60 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-7.34*), Jacqueline Pokuaah (7th-7.71); 800 Meters: Varvara Lissichkina (1st-2:10.24), Makenna Heimlich (2nd-2:10.57*); 200 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-24.09*); 3,000 Meters: Beth Arentz (3rd-9:41.59*), Lindsey Scarton (7th-9:48.23*), Mya Kizer (18th-10:16.51); 4x400 Relay: Janay Bass, Varvara Lissichkina, Sara Foster, Makenna Heimlich (4th-3:49.67); Shot Put: Nighyah Carthen (20th-38-10.50/11.85m); Triple Jump: Fegor Clifford (1st-41-11.25/12.78m*), Jacqueline Pokuaah (F); High Jump: Carlyn Zahner (15th-5-3.25/1.61m); Pole Vault: Taylor Shriver (2nd-13-4.25/4.07m), Abby Knouff (3rd-13-0.25/3.97m), Abigail Drayer (6th-11-10.75/3.63m)

MEN'S HEPTATHLON RESULTS:
Jacob Glavickas (4th-4,703), Robert Artrip (5th-4,674*); 60 Meters: Robert Artrip (4th-7.32*), Jacob Glavickas (6th-7.35); Long Jump: Jacob Glavickas (5th-20-5.75/6.24m), Robert Artrip (7th-19-4.75/5.91m); Shot Put: Robert Artrip (4th-40-11.75/12.49m), Jacob Glavickas (7th-34-1.50/10.40m*); High Jump: Jacob Glavickas (6th-5-8.75/1.75m), Robert Artrip (7th-5-7.75/1.72m*); 60-Meter Hurdles: Jacob Glavickas (5th-8.95*), Robert Artrip (6th-9.24*); Pole Vault: Robert Artrip (1st-15-11.25/4.86m), Jacob Glavickas (3rd-13-3.75/4.06m); 1,000 Meters: Jacob Glavickas (1st-2:45.23), Robert Artrip (7th-3:09.23*)

FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
5,000 Meters: Kyle Stober (9th-16:34.62), Anthony Nichols (DNF); Distance Medley Relay: Blake Lucius, Jean Dieuvil, Oliver Huffman, Jacob Ondash (1st-9:48.59); Weight Throw: Milton Wilson (4th-65-0/19.83m), Jabari Neal-Jackson (6th-58-10/17.95m), Jacob Hutcherson (7th-57-10/17.64m*); Long Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (1st-24-9.25/7.55m*), Dimitrije Novakovic (3rd-23-11.50/7.30m), Haruki Sakai (5th-23-4.50/7.12m); Pole Vault: Hunter Garretson (1st-17-4.50/5.30m*), Robert Artrip (4th-15-9.25/4.81m)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
5,000 Meters: Lindsey Scarton (10th-17:23.10), Danielle Honaker (23rd-18:26.65); Distance Medley Relay: Sophia Leto, Anna Altstadt, Maddie Heimlich, Mya Kizer (10th-12:35.39); Long Jump: Jacqueline Pokuaah (3rd-20-1.50/6.13m), Fegor Clifford (8th-19-0.50/5.80m), Kassandra Roemer (12th-18-0.25/5.49m)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
60-Meter Hurdles: Elijah Humphrey (6th-8.51q), Jace Roundtree (DNF); 400 Meters: Jimmy Harkelroad (1st-47.81q), Charles Sanders (2nd-48.13q); 60 Meters: Zarik Brown (1st-6.75Q), Jack Weaver (8th-6.97q); 800 Meters: Blake Lucius (2nd-1:56.49Q), Colt Hemphill (8th-1:56.28q), Jean Dieuvil (7th-1:57.25); 200 Meters: Zarik Brown (1st-21.38q*), Charles Sanders (6th-21.73q), Jack Weaver (7th-22.02q)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
60-Meter Hurdles: Jacqueline Pokuaah (8th-8.66q*), Adaeze Nwokike (10th-8.76*); Mile: Hannah Long (2nd-4:59.73Q), Beth Arentz (4th-5:00.01Q), Lizzy Gurko (16th-5:07.55); 400 Meters: Fegor Clifford (3rd-56.02q), Janay Bass (4th-56.11q*); 60 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-7.48Q), Jacqueline Pokuaah (8th-7.69q); 800 Meters: Makenna Heimlich (1st-2:11.74Q), Varvara Lissichkina (2nd-2:12.08Q), Maddie Heimlich (9th-2:14.30*); 200 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-24.33)

WOMEN'S PENTATHLON RESULTS:
Sara Foster (8th-3,426), Grace Henderson (14th-2,984); 60-Meter Hurdles: Sara Foster (11th-9.39), Grace Henderson (16th-10.42); High Jump: Sara Foster (5th-5-3.25/1.61m), Grace Henderson (14th-4-11.75/1.52m); Shot Put: Sara Foster (7th-33-10.75/10.33m*), Grace Henderson (13th-29-9.50/9.08m*); Long Jump: Sara Foster (11th-16-1.75/4.92m), Grace Henderson (14th-15-7.50/4.76m); 800 Meters: Sara Foster (5th-2:24.75), Grace Henderson (6th-2:26.33*)

* denotes career-best time
Q = denotes automatic qualifying time
q = denotes qualifying time