The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, March 8
Boston, Mass.
2:00 PM
University of Akron
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NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Garretson Set to Compete at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
March 07 | Track & Field
NCAA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS: MEET INFORMATION | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron track and field redshirt junior pole vaulter Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) is set to vie for a national title when the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Boston College and Boston University at the TRACK at New Balance, commences on Friday (March 8) in Boston, Mass.
Coverage of the meet as well as live field event coverage will be provided on ESPN+ each day of competition.
UP NEXT: Garretson will represent the Zips at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend.
Garretson will compete for the Zips in the men's pole vault at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Garretson, who owns the No. 2 mark in the NCAA this season, will be making his fourth NCAA Indoor Championship appearance in the men's pole vault after earning First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of an eighth-place effort at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he eclipsed 17-8.50 (5.40m).
A year ago, he garnered Second-Team All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships placing 12th with a clearance of 18-1 (5.51m) before turning in a second-place performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships eclipsing 18-8.25 (5.70m).
Garretson captured his sixth overall Mid-American Conference title with a mark of 18-2 (5.53m) at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 24 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Hunter Garretson (18-9.25/5.72m)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet begins on Thursday (March 7), with the men's and women's weight throw at 6 and 8 p.m., respectively. The start of the men's heptathlon kicks off action on Friday (March 8) at 9:30 a.m. Field events start with the men's pole vault at 2 p.m. before running events kick off with the semifinal round of the men's mile at 4 p.m. and conclude with the running of the women's distance medley relay at 9 p.m.
The final day opens with the men's 60-meter hurdles as part of the heptathlon at 10:30 a.m. Field events start with the men's high jump at 1 p.m. before running events begin with the final round of the men's mile at 4 p.m. The women's 4x400 relay closes out the day's action at 8:20 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).
The tentative schedule of events for the Zips at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are as follows;
Friday, March 8
2 p.m. – Hunter Garretson (Men's Pole Vault)
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.
GARRETSON AND MASAI NAMED MAC MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS: Hunter Garretson and sophomore Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2024 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on Feb. 28.
Garretson captured his sixth career MAC title besting the field in the men's pole vault with a mark of 18-2 (5.53m). He owns the No. 2 mark in the NCAA this season in the pole vault with a mark of 18-9.25 (5.72m) set at the Al Campbell Invitational on Feb. 16.
Masai claimed a pair of league titles winning the men's mile and 3,000 meters in times of 4:07.77 and 8:12.57, respectively, while running the anchor leg of the fourth-place distance medley relay squad. He set a school-record time of 8:02.50 in the 3,000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 10.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2024 indoor season as the Zips are rated among the top-30 in the Event Squad rankings released on March 4, 2024, 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 17th nationally in the men's shot put, 27th in the men's pole vault and in the men's weight throw.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2024 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has one student-athlete ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2024 indoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is second in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-9.25/5.72m).
Additionally, the distance medley relay squad of freshmen Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) and Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), redshirt junior Jean Dieuvil (North Miami Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) is ranked 50th (9:43.92).
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. 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 First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a second-place showing (18-8.25/5.70m) at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Texas on June 7. William Gross garnered Second-Team All-America honors placing 16th in the men's hammer (221-3/67.45m), while redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Brian Masai were named Honorable Mention All-America recipients in the men's 400 meters and 5,000 meters, respectively.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 10 overall top-five performance in program history to the record book during the 2024 indoor campaign.
Indoor
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron track and field redshirt junior pole vaulter Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) is set to vie for a national title when the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Boston College and Boston University at the TRACK at New Balance, commences on Friday (March 8) in Boston, Mass.
Coverage of the meet as well as live field event coverage will be provided on ESPN+ each day of competition.
UP NEXT: Garretson will represent the Zips at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend.
Garretson will compete for the Zips in the men's pole vault at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Garretson, who owns the No. 2 mark in the NCAA this season, will be making his fourth NCAA Indoor Championship appearance in the men's pole vault after earning First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of an eighth-place effort at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he eclipsed 17-8.50 (5.40m).
A year ago, he garnered Second-Team All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships placing 12th with a clearance of 18-1 (5.51m) before turning in a second-place performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships eclipsing 18-8.25 (5.70m).
Garretson captured his sixth overall Mid-American Conference title with a mark of 18-2 (5.53m) at MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 24 in Ypsilanti, Mich.
AKRON MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying Rank-Qualifying Mark):
Pole Vault: Hunter Garretson (18-9.25/5.72m)
For the complete list of entries, please log on to NCAA.com
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET SCHEDULE: The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet begins on Thursday (March 7), with the men's and women's weight throw at 6 and 8 p.m., respectively. The start of the men's heptathlon kicks off action on Friday (March 8) at 9:30 a.m. Field events start with the men's pole vault at 2 p.m. before running events kick off with the semifinal round of the men's mile at 4 p.m. and conclude with the running of the women's distance medley relay at 9 p.m.
The final day opens with the men's 60-meter hurdles as part of the heptathlon at 10:30 a.m. Field events start with the men's high jump at 1 p.m. before running events begin with the final round of the men's mile at 4 p.m. The women's 4x400 relay closes out the day's action at 8:20 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).
The tentative schedule of events for the Zips at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are as follows;
Friday, March 8
2 p.m. – Hunter Garretson (Men's Pole Vault)
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.
GARRETSON AND MASAI NAMED MAC MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS: Hunter Garretson and sophomore Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2024 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on Feb. 28.
Garretson captured his sixth career MAC title besting the field in the men's pole vault with a mark of 18-2 (5.53m). He owns the No. 2 mark in the NCAA this season in the pole vault with a mark of 18-9.25 (5.72m) set at the Al Campbell Invitational on Feb. 16.
Masai claimed a pair of league titles winning the men's mile and 3,000 meters in times of 4:07.77 and 8:12.57, respectively, while running the anchor leg of the fourth-place distance medley relay squad. He set a school-record time of 8:02.50 in the 3,000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 10.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2024 indoor season as the Zips are rated among the top-30 in the Event Squad rankings released on March 4, 2024, 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 17th nationally in the men's shot put, 27th in the men's pole vault and in the men's weight throw.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2024 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has one student-athlete ranked in the top-50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2024 indoor campaign, including, Hunter Garretson, who is second in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-9.25/5.72m).
Additionally, the distance medley relay squad of freshmen Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) and Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), redshirt junior Jean Dieuvil (North Miami Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) is ranked 50th (9:43.92).
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. 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 First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a second-place showing (18-8.25/5.70m) at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Texas on June 7. William Gross garnered Second-Team All-America honors placing 16th in the men's hammer (221-3/67.45m), while redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Brian Masai were named Honorable Mention All-America recipients in the men's 400 meters and 5,000 meters, respectively.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP-FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 10 overall top-five performance in program history to the record book during the 2024 indoor campaign.
Indoor
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Jabari Neal-Jackson | Weight Throw – Jan. 19 | No. 4 – 65-8 (20.03m) |
| Titus Kirui, Braylyn Farrington, Jean Dieuvil, Brian Masai | Men's DMR – Jan. 27 | No. 2 – 9:43.92 |
| Vanessa Horn, Jamari Davis, Jade Celestine, Adaeze Nwokike | Women's 4x400 Relay – Jan. 27 | No. 3 – 3:44.78 |
| Sharon Chepchirchir | Women's 5,000M – Jan. 27 | No. 3 – 16:57.32 |
| Hunter Garretson | Pole Vault – Feb. 16 | No. 3 – 18-9.25 (5.72m) |
| Brian Masai | Men's 3,000M – Feb. 10 | No. 1 – 4:02.50 |
| Vanessa Horn, Jamari Davis, Jade Celestine, Joy Nwokike | Women's 4x400 Relay – Feb. 10 | No. 2 – 3:42.84 |
| Charles Sanders, Andrew Styles, AJ Jordan, Jimmy Harkelroad | Men's 4x400 Relay – Feb. 10 | No. 5 – 3:11.34 |
| Sharon Chepchirchir | Women's 5,000M – Feb. 23 | No. 1 – 16:42.31 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 60M – Feb. 24 | No. 3 – 7.45 |
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
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