The University of Akron Athletics
Wednesday, May 24
Jacksonville, Fla.
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NCAA East Preliminary Round Championships
Akron Track and Field Set for NCAA East Preliminary Round
May 23 | Track & Field
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: MEET INFORMATION | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | LIVE STATS | WEDNESDAY LIVE VIDEO | THURSDAY LIVE VIDEO | FRIDAY LIVE VIDEO | SATURDAY LIVE VIDEO | 2023 NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEN'S QUALIFYING LIST | 2023 NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND WOMEN'S QUALIFYING LIST
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Track and Field Championships this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 14 student-athletes at the four-day event hosted by the University of North Florida from Wednesday through Saturday, May 24-27 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA's in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10. The NCAA West prelims will be held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 11 men and three women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be redshirt junior Laurel Bristow (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (Javelin – 1:30 p.m., Thursday), senior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) (200 meters – 8:45 p.m., Thursday) and sophomore Brynn Rychlik (Marysville, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Laurel Bristow – Javelin (No. 47 – 148-9/45.34m); Amya Clarke – 200 Meters (No. 38 – 23.37); Brynn Rychlik – Pole Vault (No. 37 – 13-4.50/4.08m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be redshirt junior Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (400-Meter Hurdles – 8:20 p.m., Wednesday), freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) (5,000 Meters – 8:10 p.m., Friday), redshirt junior Jabari Neal-Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Wednesday), junior Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday and Triple Jump – 6 p.m., Friday), sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) (Pole Vault - 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), junior Haruki Sakai (Katori, Japan) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) (400 Meters – 7:25 p.m., Wednesday) and redshirt senior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio) (Hammer - 10 a.m., Wednesday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Robert Artrip – Pole Vault (No. 47 – 16-9.50/5.12m); Hunter Garretson – Pole Vault (No. 3 – 18-8.75/5.71m); William Gross – Hammer (No. 23 – 213-8/65.13m); Jimmy Harkelroad – 400-Meter Hurdles (No. 15 – 50.47); Brian Masai – 5,000 Meters (No. 16 – 13:39.65); Jabari Neal-Jackson – Hammer (No. 27 – 211-11/64.59m); Dimitrije Novakovic – Long Jump (No. 23 – 25-0.75/7.64m) and Triple Jump (No. 48 – 50-0/15.24m); Oscar Prieto – Pole Vault (No. 24 – 17-3.50/5.27m); Haruki Sakai – Long Jump (No. 28 – 24-11.25/7.60m); Charles Sanders – 400 Meters (No. 36 – 46.62); Milton Wilson – Hammer (No. 25 – 212-5/64.75m)
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at 10 a.m. at Jax Track and Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida., on Wednesday, May 24, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's discus at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 8:45 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's discus at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 8:45 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to ncaa.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
Wednesday, May 24
10 a.m. – William Gross, Jabari Neal-Jackson, Milton Wilson (Men's Hammer – First Round)
6 p.m. – Dimitrije Novakovic, Haruki Sakai (Men's Long Jump – First Round)
6:30 p.m. – Robert Artrip, Hunter Garretson, Oscar Prieto (Men's Pole Vault – First Round)
7:25 p.m. – Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters – First Round)
8:20 p.m. – Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles – First Round)
Thursday, May 25
1:30 p.m. – Laurel Bristow (Women's Javelin – First Round)
6:30 p.m. – Brynn Rychlik (Women's Pole Vault – First Round)
8:45 p.m. – Amya Clarke (Women's 200 Meters – First Round)
Friday, May 26
6 p.m. – Dimitrije Novakovic (Men's Triple Jump – First Round)
8:10 p.m. – Brian Masai (Men's 5,000 Meters – Semifinal)
Saturday, May 27
7:50 p.m. – Amya Clarke (Women's 200 Meters – Quarterfinals)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2023 outdoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on May 15, 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 ranks fifth nationally in the men's hammer, 20th in the men's pole vault and 30th in the men's shot put.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2023 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has four student-athletes ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) during the 2023 outdoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is fifth in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-8.75/5.71m).
Also rated among the top-50 is Jimmy Harkelroad (27th in men's 400-meter hurdles – 50.47), Brian Masai (39th in men's 5,000 meters – 13:39.65), and William Gross (49th in men's hammer – 213-8/65.13m).
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA was presented with the award during the presentation on March 11. He became the second Zip to earn the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
GARRETSON GARNERS ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES: Hunter Garretson garnered Second-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a 12th-place showing (18-1/5.51m) at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of New Mexico on March 10.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have posted a trio of school records, including Jimmy Harkelroad in the men's 400-meter hurdles and a pair from Brian Masai in the men's 5,000 and 10,000 meters as part of nine overall top-five performances in program history to the record book during the 2023 outdoor campaign.
Outdoor
Indoor
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
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Akron Women
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Track and Field program is primed for breakout performances at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Track and Field Championships this weekend as the Zips will be represented by 14 student-athletes at the four-day event hosted by the University of North Florida from Wednesday through Saturday, May 24-27 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The meet, which invites the region's top 48 athletes in each event, serves as the opening round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA's in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10. The NCAA West prelims will be held in Sacramento, Calif., at the same time.
UP NEXT: The Zips will be represented by 11 men and three women at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend.
Competing for Akron on the women's side will be redshirt junior Laurel Bristow (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (Javelin – 1:30 p.m., Thursday), senior Amya Clarke (Christ Church, St. Kitts and Nevis) (200 meters – 8:45 p.m., Thursday) and sophomore Brynn Rychlik (Marysville, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m. Thursday).
AKRON WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Laurel Bristow – Javelin (No. 47 – 148-9/45.34m); Amya Clarke – 200 Meters (No. 38 – 23.37); Brynn Rychlik – Pole Vault (No. 37 – 13-4.50/4.08m)
Taking part in the men's competition for the Zips will be redshirt junior Robert Artrip (Independence, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) (Pole Vault – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Wednesday), redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) (400-Meter Hurdles – 8:20 p.m., Wednesday), freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) (5,000 Meters – 8:10 p.m., Friday), redshirt junior Jabari Neal-Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio) (Hammer – 10 a.m., Wednesday), junior Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday and Triple Jump – 6 p.m., Friday), sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) (Pole Vault - 6:30 p.m., Wednesday), junior Haruki Sakai (Katori, Japan) (Long Jump – 6 p.m., Wednesday), redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) (400 Meters – 7:25 p.m., Wednesday) and redshirt senior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio) (Hammer - 10 a.m., Wednesday).
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Robert Artrip – Pole Vault (No. 47 – 16-9.50/5.12m); Hunter Garretson – Pole Vault (No. 3 – 18-8.75/5.71m); William Gross – Hammer (No. 23 – 213-8/65.13m); Jimmy Harkelroad – 400-Meter Hurdles (No. 15 – 50.47); Brian Masai – 5,000 Meters (No. 16 – 13:39.65); Jabari Neal-Jackson – Hammer (No. 27 – 211-11/64.59m); Dimitrije Novakovic – Long Jump (No. 23 – 25-0.75/7.64m) and Triple Jump (No. 48 – 50-0/15.24m); Oscar Prieto – Pole Vault (No. 24 – 17-3.50/5.27m); Haruki Sakai – Long Jump (No. 28 – 24-11.25/7.60m); Charles Sanders – 400 Meters (No. 36 – 46.62); Milton Wilson – Hammer (No. 25 – 212-5/64.75m)
NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA East Preliminary Round meet begins at 10 a.m. at Jax Track and Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida., on Wednesday, May 24, with the start of the men's hammer. Running events kick off with the men's 110-meter hurdle preliminaries at 6 p.m., and conclude with the running of the men's 10,000 meters at 9:10 p.m.
The second day opens with the women's hammer at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Running events begin with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 6 p.m. The women's 10,000 meters closes out the day's action at 9:10 p.m.
The third day commences with the men's discus at 1 p.m. on Friday before actions gets underway on the track with the quarterfinals of the men's 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The quarterfinals of the men's 4x400 relay caps the men's competition at 8:45 p.m.
The final day of the championship kicks off with the women's discus at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The first running event is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the quarterfinals of the women's 4x100 relay before the meet draws to a close with the women's 4x400 relay quarterfinals at 8:45 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, log on to ncaa.com. Live results (click here) will be available throughout the meet as well as live video (click here).
Wednesday, May 24
10 a.m. – William Gross, Jabari Neal-Jackson, Milton Wilson (Men's Hammer – First Round)
6 p.m. – Dimitrije Novakovic, Haruki Sakai (Men's Long Jump – First Round)
6:30 p.m. – Robert Artrip, Hunter Garretson, Oscar Prieto (Men's Pole Vault – First Round)
7:25 p.m. – Charles Sanders (Men's 400 Meters – First Round)
8:20 p.m. – Jimmy Harkelroad (Men's 400-Meter Hurdles – First Round)
Thursday, May 25
1:30 p.m. – Laurel Bristow (Women's Javelin – First Round)
6:30 p.m. – Brynn Rychlik (Women's Pole Vault – First Round)
8:45 p.m. – Amya Clarke (Women's 200 Meters – First Round)
Friday, May 26
6 p.m. – Dimitrije Novakovic (Men's Triple Jump – First Round)
8:10 p.m. – Brian Masai (Men's 5,000 Meters – Semifinal)
Saturday, May 27
7:50 p.m. – Amya Clarke (Women's 200 Meters – Quarterfinals)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com.
NCAA CHAMPIONS: Akron's entries will be looking to add to the tradition of the Zips' track and field program, which already includes nine individual national champions. Christi Smith made history in 2000 when she became the first national champion in school history, capturing gold in the heptathlon. Stevi Large was the next to accomplish the feat, winning the women's hammer throw in 2009. Annika Roloff captured the women's pole vault in 2014. Shawn Barber became the school's first male champion claiming the indoor pole vault title in 2014 before again earning the crown at the 2015 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Clayton Murphy became Akron's first-ever NCAA champion in a running event winning the indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2016. In 2017, Matt Ludwig claimed the national title in the men's pole vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2023 outdoor season as the Zips are rated in the Event Squad rankings released on May 15, 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 ranks fifth nationally in the men's hammer, 20th in the men's pole vault and 30th in the men's shot put.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2023 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has four student-athletes ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) during the 2023 outdoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is fifth in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-8.75/5.71m).
Also rated among the top-50 is Jimmy Harkelroad (27th in men's 400-meter hurdles – 50.47), Brian Masai (39th in men's 5,000 meters – 13:39.65), and William Gross (49th in men's hammer – 213-8/65.13m).
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA was presented with the award during the presentation on March 11. He became the second Zip to earn the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
GARRETSON GARNERS ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES: Hunter Garretson garnered Second-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a 12th-place showing (18-1/5.51m) at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of New Mexico on March 10.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have posted a trio of school records, including Jimmy Harkelroad in the men's 400-meter hurdles and a pair from Brian Masai in the men's 5,000 and 10,000 meters as part of nine overall top-five performances in program history to the record book during the 2023 outdoor campaign.
Outdoor
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Brian Masai | Men's 10,000M – March 24 | No. 1 – 28:45.78 |
| Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – April 1 | No. 2 – 18-8.75 (5.71m) |
| Milton Wilson | Men's Hammer – April 7 | No. 4 – 205-3 (62.56m) |
| Brian Masai | Men's 5,000M – April 15 | No. 1 – 13:39.65 |
| Milton Wilson | Men's Hammer – April 28 | No. 2 – 212-5 (64.75m) |
| Jabari Neal-Jackson | Men's Hammer – April 28 | No. 3 – 211-11 (64.59m) |
| Jimmy Harkelroad | Men's 400MH – May 13 | No. 1 – 50.47 |
| Dimitrije Novakovic | Men's Triple Jump – May 13 | No. 4 – 50-0 (15.24m) |
| Amya Clarke | Women's 200M – May 13 | No. 2 – 23.37 |
Indoor
| 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 |
| Brian Masai | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 11 | No. 1 – 13:46.76 |
| Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – Feb. 17 | No. 3 – 18.2.50 (5.55m) |
TOP MARKS:
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Akron Women
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