Zips Set to Compete in a Trio of Weekend Meets

Friday, February 10

Albuquerque, N.M.

University of Akron

Don Kirby Elite Invitational

February 09 | Track & Field

DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITIONAL: MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (PDF) | LIVE STATS | FLOTRACK ($)

DON KIRBY INVITATIONAL: MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | LIVE STATS | FLOTRACK ($)

SPIRE INDOOR GAMES: MEET INFORMATION(PDF) | LIVE STATS

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field teams continue their preparations toward the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championships as the Zips will compete in a trio of meets this weekend.

The bulk of the Akron squad will travel to Geneva, Ohio to participate in the Spire Indoor Games on Saturday, while freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) will compete at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University on Saturday.

The Spire Indoor Games will commence at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the men's and women's unseeded 3,000 meters, before field events get underway at 10 a.m. with the men's long jump and shot put and the women's high jump, long jump, pole vault and weight throw. Competition concludes with the men's and women's distance medley relays.

Masai is slated to run in the men's 5,000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Saturday at 9:15 p.m.

Akron will send a seven-member distance contingent to the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., including redshirt junior Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio), senior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis), redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio), freshman Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany), sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) and sophomore Brynn Rychlik (Marysville, Ohio).

Artrip, Garretson, Prieto and Rychlik are set to compete in the men's and women's pole vault, respectively, on Friday. On Saturday, Harkelroad and Horn will run in the men's and women's 400 meters, while Clarke is set to participate in the women's 60 and 200 meters.

Live stats from the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Don Kirby Elite Invitational and Spire Indoor Games will be available at GoZips.com.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2023 indoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on Feb. 6, 2023, 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 14th nationally in the men's weight throw as well as rating among the top 25 in two different events.

The Zips also rated 17th in the men's pole vault.

ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2023 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have five 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 16th in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-10.50/5.45m).

Also rated among the top-50 is the men's distance medley relay squad of redshirt senior Oliver Huffman (Augusta, Ga.) and freshmen Silas Bush (Springfield, Ohio), Zayd Elkurd (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) and Brian Masai (33rd in the men's DMR – 9:55.98).

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added five top-five performances in program history to the record book during the 2023 indoor campaign.

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
Brian Masai	Men's 3,000M – Jan. 20	No. 3 – 8:10.74
Brian Masai	Men's Mile – Jan. 27	No. 2 – 4:03.21
Hunter Garretson	Men's Pole Vault – Jan. 27	No. 4 – 17-10.50 (5.45m)
Vanessa Horn	Women's 400M – Jan. 28	No. 5 – 55.24
Oliver Huffman, Silas Bush, Zayd Elkurd, Brian Masai	Men's DMR – Jan. 28	No. 5 – 9:55.98

A WEEK AGO: The University of Akron track and field team culminated another strong weekend of performances as the Zips posted seven victories as part of 25 overall top-three efforts at the 19th Annual Akron Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4 at the Stile Athletics Field House.

For full Day One recap (click here)
For full Day Two 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.