The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, January 27
University Park, Pa.
University of Akron
vs
Penn State National
Penn State National Up Next for Akron Track and Field
January 26 | Track & Field
MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (PDF) | BTN+ FRIDAY STREAM ($) | BTN+ SATURDAY STREAM ($) | LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams travels to University Park, Pa., this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, as the Zips compete at the Penn State National hosted by Penn State.
The 54-event meet will commence with the men's heptathlon on Friday at 11:30 a.m., before the mixed mile kicks off action on the track at 3 p.m. Competition on Saturday opens with second-day action in the men's heptathlon at 10 a.m., before concluding with the men's 4x400 invitational at 4:35 p.m.
Live stats of the Penn State National will be available at GoZips.com.
GARRETSON EARNS PAIR OF MAC ACCOLADES: Akron redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Field Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Additionally, Garretson was tabbed as the MAC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on the strength of maintaining a 4.0 GPA in integrated math education.
The Zips picked up weekly conference accolades for the second time in 2023, while Garretson was recognized by the league for the second consecutive week and second time this season.
Garretson posted a conference- and season-best mark of 17-6.50 (5.35m) to win the men's pole vault at the Akron-Kent State Dual on Jan. 20. His effort stands as the No. 18 mark in the NCAA this season.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2022 indoor season as the Zips were rated in the Event Squad rankings released on March 1, 2022, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron ranked 12th nationally in the men's triple jump as well as rating among the top 20 in five different events.
The Zips also rated 14th in the women's pole vault, 15th in the men's 400 meters, 20th in the men's long jump and weight throw.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2023 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have four student-athletes ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) during the 2023 indoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is 18th in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-6.50/5.35m).
Also rated among the top-50 is redshirt junior Blake Lucius (Crestline, Ohio) (39th in men's 800 meters – 1:51.07), redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (45th in men's 400 meters – 47.64) and sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) (45th in the men's pole vault – 16-10.75/5.15m).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: Freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) posted the third-fastest time in indoor program history in the men's 3,000 meters crossing the line in 8:10.74 at the Akron-Kent State Dual on Jan. 20.
A year ago, the Zips added 24 top-five performances in program history to the record book during the 2022 indoor campaign, including five school records.
A WEEK AGO: The University of Akron track and field team registered nine victories as part of 33 overall top-three performances in the Zips' annual battle with rival Kent State on Friday Jan. 20 at the Stile Athletics Field House.
The Golden Flashes edged Akron in the men's race, 76-73, while Kent State outdistanced the Zips in the women's field, 93-56.
For full recap (click here)
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams travels to University Park, Pa., this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, as the Zips compete at the Penn State National hosted by Penn State.
The 54-event meet will commence with the men's heptathlon on Friday at 11:30 a.m., before the mixed mile kicks off action on the track at 3 p.m. Competition on Saturday opens with second-day action in the men's heptathlon at 10 a.m., before concluding with the men's 4x400 invitational at 4:35 p.m.
Live stats of the Penn State National will be available at GoZips.com.
GARRETSON EARNS PAIR OF MAC ACCOLADES: Akron redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Field Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Additionally, Garretson was tabbed as the MAC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Week on the strength of maintaining a 4.0 GPA in integrated math education.
The Zips picked up weekly conference accolades for the second time in 2023, while Garretson was recognized by the league for the second consecutive week and second time this season.
Garretson posted a conference- and season-best mark of 17-6.50 (5.35m) to win the men's pole vault at the Akron-Kent State Dual on Jan. 20. His effort stands as the No. 18 mark in the NCAA this season.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2022 indoor season as the Zips were rated in the Event Squad rankings released on March 1, 2022, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron ranked 12th nationally in the men's triple jump as well as rating among the top 20 in five different events.
The Zips also rated 14th in the women's pole vault, 15th in the men's 400 meters, 20th in the men's long jump and weight throw.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2023 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have four student-athletes ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) during the 2023 indoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is 18th in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-6.50/5.35m).
Also rated among the top-50 is redshirt junior Blake Lucius (Crestline, Ohio) (39th in men's 800 meters – 1:51.07), redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (45th in men's 400 meters – 47.64) and sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) (45th in the men's pole vault – 16-10.75/5.15m).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: Freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) posted the third-fastest time in indoor program history in the men's 3,000 meters crossing the line in 8:10.74 at the Akron-Kent State Dual on Jan. 20.
A year ago, the Zips added 24 top-five performances in program history to the record book during the 2022 indoor campaign, including five school records.
A WEEK AGO: The University of Akron track and field team registered nine victories as part of 33 overall top-three performances in the Zips' annual battle with rival Kent State on Friday Jan. 20 at the Stile Athletics Field House.
The Golden Flashes edged Akron in the men's race, 76-73, while Kent State outdistanced the Zips in the women's field, 93-56.
For full recap (click here)
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
Players Mentioned
Multis
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Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
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