Akron Claims MAC Women's Track and Field Championship; Men Finish Third

Saturday, May 14

Kalamazoo, Mich.

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Akron Claims MAC Women's Track and Field Championship; Men Finish Third

May 14 | Track & Field

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | FINAL RESULTS (HTML) | NUH ANDU COMMENTS | AMYA CLARKE COMMENTS | FEGOR CLIFFORD COMMENTS | HESHAM ELDESOUKY COMMENTS | JIMMY HARKELROAD COMMENTS | JACQUELINE POKUAAH COMMENTS | CHARLES SANDERS COMMENTS | MEN'S 4x400 RELAY COMMENTS | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL SATURDAY COMMENTS | SATURDAY PHOTO GALLERY | FRIDAY RESULTS (PDF) | FRIDAY RESULTS (HTML) | JACQUELINE POKUAAH COMMENTS | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL FRIDAY COMMENTS | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY | FRIDAY PHOTO GALLERY-2 | THURSDAY RESULTS (PDF) | THURSDAY RESULTS (HTML) | THURSDAY COMBINED RESULTS (HTML) | LAUREL BRISTOW COMMENTS | HUNTER GARRETSON COMMENTS | HEAD COACH DENNIS MITCHELL THURSDAY COMMENTS | THURSDAY PHOTO GALLERY | MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE (PDF) | LIVE STATS

KALAMAZOO, MICH. - The University of Akron women's track and field team captured its 10th Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field title as the Zips bested the field on the final day of the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Western Michigan on Saturday, May 14, at the Kanley Track and Field Complex.

The Zips finished the weekend pulling in 11 MAC titles and six runner-up performances.

Akron's women's team won its 10th outdoor league title on the strength of 124 points to outdistance rival Kent State (110 points) by 14, while the Zips' men's squad placed third behind the champion Golden Flashes and Eastern Michigan.

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

Freshman Fegor Clifford (Delta State, Nigeria) was named as the MAC's Women's Most Valuable Performer of the Meet after winning the women's 400-meter hurdles to earn her second career league title, while also earning valuable team points in the triple jump (second place), 4x100 relay (second place), 4x400 relay (sixth place) and long jump (seventh place).

Freshmen Abby Knouff (Tallmadge, Ohio) and Adaeze Nwokike (Benin City, Nigeria) were tabbed as the MAC Freshman Track and Field Performers of the Year. Knouff placed second in the women's pole vault, while also competing in the women's long jump. Nwokike ran on the second place 4x100 relay, as well as finishing third in the women's 400-meter hurdles and seventh in the 100-meter hurdles.

In addition to the MAC Championships, the Zips split a pair of points with rival Kent State in the standings in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Golden Flashes won the series for the 2021-22 campaign, 8.0-6.0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Senior Hesham Eldesouky (Nasr City, Egypt) captured his sixth career MAC title besting the field in the men's triple jump with a mark of 52-4.75 (15.97m), while sophomore Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) tallied team points placing sixth with a mark of 49-4.50 (15.05m).
• Redshirt sophomore Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) garnered back-to-back titles in the men's 400 meters crossing the line in a career-best time of 46.50 to claim his fifth overall MAC championship.
• Junior Nuh Andu (Doha Qatar) captured his second career MAC title in the men's high jump besting the field with a mark of 6-9.50 (2.07m).
• Junior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) defended her title in the women's 100 meters registering a school- and meet record time of 11.41.
• Clifford took her second career MAC title triumphing in the women's 400-meter hurdles in a time of 58.50. Nwokike and junior Sara Foster (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) added team points in the race finishing third and eighth in times of 59.80 and 61.21.
• Freshman Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) won back-to-back titles in the men's 400-meter hurdles crossing the line in 51.46.
• Junior Jacqueline Pokuaah (Kumasi, Ghana) and Clifford took the top-two spots in the women's triple jump with marks of 42-6.75 (12.97m) and 42-4 (12.90m).
• The men's 4x400 relay squad of Harkelroad, sophomore Zarik Brown (Dayton, Ohio), freshman Jean Dieuvil (North Miami Beach, Fla.) and Sanders triumphed in the race in a time of 3:09.43.
• Seniors Alyssa Thomas (Uniontown, Ohio) and Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) secured Akron's team title in the women's 5,000 meters as the Zips' duo placed fifth and sixth, respectively, crossing the line in 17:14.77 and 17:16.38.
• Brown placed second in the men's 100 meters in a career-best time of 10.48.
• The 4x100 relay team of freshman Jack Weaver (Mt. Gilead, Ohio), Brown, sophomore Haruki Sakai (Katori, Japan) and senior Jayce Shaffer (Lawrenceville, Ga.) crossed the line second in a time of 41.40.
• The women's 4x100 relay team of Nwokike, Clarke, Clifford and Pokuaah narrowly missed earning the title placing second in a time of 45.76.
• The Zips' trio of senior Varvara Lissichkina (Karaganda, Kazahkstan), junior Kyra Keurentjes (Wehl, The Netherlands) and sophomore Makenna Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the women's 800 meters in times of 2:09.27, 2:09.80 and 2:10.90.
• Brown and Sanders posted times of 21.00 and 21.32 in the men's 200 meters to place third and fifth, respectively, to contribute team points.
• Senior Jacob Ondash (Hiram, Ohio) garnered team points for Akron placing fifth in the men's 1,500 meters in a time of 3:49.49.
• The 4x400 relay team of freshman Janay Bass (Akron, Ohio), Lissichkina, Clifford and redshirt freshman Maddie Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) placed sixth in 3:44.88.
• Ondash collected team points in the men's 800 meters crossing the line in sixth place in 1:5.01.
• Senior Hannah Long (Pacific, Mo.) added team points for the Zips in the women's 1,500 meters placing seventh in a time of 4:30.66.
• Nwokike added team points in the women's 100-meter hurdles finishing seventh in a time of 13.80.

UP NEXT:
Akron travels to Bloomington, Ind., for the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 26-28.

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS:
1) Kent State (196 points), 2) Eastern Michigan (155), 3) Akron (128), 4) Miami (120), 5) Buffalo (48)

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS:
1) Akron (124 points), 2) Kent State (110), 3) Eastern Michigan (108), 4) Northern Illinois (94), 5) Miami (72), 6) Toledo (71), 7) Central Michigan (67), 8) Bowling Green (61), 9) Ball State (54), 10) Buffalo (27), 11) Western Michigan (19), 12) Ohio (12)

SATURDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
4x100 Relay: Jack Weaver, Zarik Brown, Haruki Sakai, Jayce Shaffer (2nd-41.40); 1,500 Meters: Jacob Ondash (5th-3:49.39), Oliver Huffman (9th-3:56.46); 110-Meter Hurdles: Jace Roundtree (7th-14.69); 400 Meters: Charles Sanders (1st-46.50*); 100 Meters: Zarik Brown (2nd-10.48*), Jayce Shaffer (8th-10.71); 800 Meters: Jacob Ondash (6th-1:51.01); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jimmy Harkelroad (1st-51.46), Hunter Garretson (7th-54.90*), Matthew Perison (9th-55.60*); 200 Meters: Zarik Brown (3rd-21.00*), Charles Sanders (5th-21.32); 4x400 Relay: Jimmy Harkelroad, Zarik Brown, Jean Dieuvil, Charles Sanders (1st-3:09.43); Discus: Ryan Kilhoffer (8th-146-6/44.67m); High Jump: Nuh Andu (1st-6-9.50/2.07m), Avalonn Harper (7th-6-0.75/1.85m); Triple Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (1st-52.4.75/15.97m), Dimitrije Novakovic (6th-49-4.50/15.05m), Caleb Mabins (7th-48-8.25/14.84m)

SATURDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
4x100 Relay: Adaeze Nwokike, Amya Clarke, Fegor Clifford, Jacqueline Pokuaah (2nd-45.76); 1,500 Meters: Hannah Long (7th-4:30.66); 100 Meter Hurdles: Adaeze Nwokike (7th-13.80); 100 Meters: Amya Clarke (1st-11.41*); 800 Meters: Varvara Lissichkina (3rd-2:09.27), Kyra Keurentjes (4th-2:09.80), Makenna Heimlich (5th-2:10.90); 400-Meter Hurdles: Fegor Clifford (1st-58.50), Adaeze Nowkike (3rd-59.80*), Sara Foster (8th-61.21); 200 Meters: Amya Clarke (DQ); 5,000 Meters: Alyssa Thomas (5th-17:14.77), Lindsey Scarton (6th-17:16.38); 4x400 Relay: Janay Bass, Varvara Lissichkina, Maddie Heimlich, Fegor Clifford (6th-3:44.88); High Jump: Sara Foster (7th-5-3/1.60m), Carlyn Zahner (11th-5-1/1.55m), Grace Henderson (NH); Triple Jump: Jacqueline Pokuaah (1st-42-6.75/12.97m), Fegor Clifford (2nd-42-4/12.90m*)

FRIDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Shot Put: Jacob Hutcherson (9th-48-4.50/14.74m); Long Jump: Hesham Eldesouky (3rd-23-10.25/7.27m), Caleb Mabins (4th-23-8.25/7.22m), Dimitrije Novakovic (6th-23-0/7.01m)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Lizzy Gurko (9th-11:10.40); Shot Put: Nighyah Carthen (16th-41-6.50/12.66m); Long Jump: Jacqueline Pokuaah (1st-20-2.25/6.15m), Fegor Clifford (7th-19-1.50/5.83m), Abby Knouff (10th-18-9.25/5.72m), Kassandra Roemer (11th-18-4.25/5.59m); Pole Vault: Abby Knouff (2nd-12-3.25/3.74m), Abigail Drayer (8th-11-3.50/3.44m), Rachael Ward (9th-11-3.50/3.44m)

FRIDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
110-Meter Hurdles: Jace Roundtree (7th-14.93q); 400: Charles Sanders (1st-47.52Q), Jean Dieuvil (11th-49.89); 100 Meters: Zarik Brown (4th-10.54Q), Jayce Shaffer (8th-10.64q), Jack Weaver (13th-10.90); 800 Meters: Jacob Ondash (5th-1:50.25q), Colt Hemphill (10th-1:53.51)

FRIDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
110-Meter Hurdles: Adaeze Nwokike (6th-14.22Q); 400 Meters: Janay Bass (11th-56.30); 100 Meters: Amya Clarke (2nd-11.76Q); 800 Meters: Varvara Lissichkina (2nd-2:09.17Q), Kyra Keurentjes (5th-2:09.83Q), Makenna Heimlich (6th-2:10.56Q*)

MEN'S DECATHLON RESULTS:
Robert Artrip (4th-6,457*), Jacob Glavickas (5th-6.372*); 100 Meters: Robert Artrip (2nd-11.22*), Jacob Glavickas (4th-11.25*); Long Jump: Robert Artrip (5th-21-0.75/6.42m*), Jacob Glavickas (6th-20-9.25/6.33m); Shot Put: Robert Artrip (4th-43-2.50/13.17m*), Jacob Glavickas (7th-35-3/10.74m*); High Jump: Jacob Glavickas (5th-5-9.75/1.77m*), Robert Artrip (6th-5-6/1.68m*); 400 Meters: Jacob Glavickas (1st-51.00), Robert Artrip (6th-56.04*); 110-Meter Hurdles: Jacob Glavickas (4th-15.78*), Robert Artrip (6th-17.24*); Discus: Robert Artrip (2nd-139-10/42.64m*), Jacob Glavickas (6th-76-5/23.30m*); Pole Vault: Robert Artrip (1st-15-10/4.83m), Jacob Glavickas (3rd-13-6.50/4.13m*); Javelin: Robert Artrip (1st-184-7/56.27m*), Jacob Glavickas (5th-153-2/46.69m); 1,500 Meters: Jacob Glavickas (1st-4:33.80*), Robert Artrip (6th-5:41.56*)

WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON RESULTS:
Sara Foster (3rd-5,066*), Grace Henderson (10th-4,014*); 100-Meter Hurdles: Sara Foster (5th-14.74), Grace Henderson (12th-17.22); High Jump: Sara Foster (1st-5-5.75/1.67m*), Grace Henderson (9th-4-11.75/1.52m); Shot Put: Sara Foster (4th-34-10.50/10.63m*), Grace Henderson (11th-30-11/9.42m*); 200 Meters: Sara Foster (4th-26.33), Grace Henderson (8th-27.17*); Long Jump: Sara Foster (7th-17-1.50/5.22m), Grace Henderson (10th-16-4.50/4.99m); Javelin: Sara Foster (4th-102-4/31.19m*), Grace Henderson (11th-58-2/17.74m*); 800 Meters: Sara Foster (3rd-2:13.58*), Grace Henderson (4th-2:21.42*)

THURSDAY MEN'S RESULTS:
Hammer: William Gross (2nd-210-6/64.17m), Jabari Neal-Jackson (4th-200-2/61.01m), Milton Wilson (6th-189-4/57.72m); Pole Vault: Hunter Garretson (1st-17-1.75/5.23m), Robert Artrip (3rd-15-11/4.85m), Oscar Prieto (4th-15-11/4.85m); Javelin: Blake High (8th-160-0/48.77m)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S RESULTS:
10,000 Meters: Alyssa Thomas (3rd-35:26.40*), Danielle Honaker (13th-37:05.64*), Mya Kizer (17th-37:40.53*); Javelin: Laurel Bristow (1st-155-7/47.44m)

THURSDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
200 Meters: Zarik Brown (2nd-21.34Q*), Charles Sanders (4th-21.60Q), Jack Weaver (12th-22.16)

THURSDAY WOMEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
200 Meters: Amya Clarke (3rd-24.27Q); 400-Meter Hurdles: Fegor Clifford (1st-58.05Q), Adaeze Nwokike (5th-62.13Q), Sara Foster (7th-62.36q)

* denotes career-best mark
Q denotes automatic qualifier
q denotes at-large qualifier