The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Set to Compete at John Homon Open
April 11 | Track & Field
JOHN HOMON OPEN: MEET INFORMATION | LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team will compete at the John Homon Open hosted by Mount Union this Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13).
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to Alliance, Ohio, to compete at the John Homon Open.
The women's hammer commences the John Homon Open on Saturday at noon before action on the track gets underway on Sunday with the women's 10,000 meters at noon. The meet concludes with the running of the men's 4x400 relay at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
USTFCCCA HONORS GARRETSON AS GREAT LAKES REGIONAL FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) was honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Great Lakes Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced on March 20.
Garretson becomes the fourth Zip to collect All-Regional honors since 2007 joining Olympians Clayton Murphy (2016-Track) and Shawn Barber (2015-Field) and Cadeau Kelley (2008-Field). He previously captured the honor during the 2023 outdoor campaign.
NWOKIKE NAMED MAC WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:
Senior Joy Nwokike (Benin City, Nigeria) was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 8).
Nwokike ran a school-record time of 52.90 in the 400 meters at the Florida Relays, the fastest time in the MAC this season and No. 25 in the NCAA this spring.
Additionally, she helped the Zips set a school record in the 4x100 crossing the line in 45.19 at the Florida Relays.
A WEEK AGO:
The Zips posted a pair of school records to highlight the University of Akron track and field team recording 10 victories as part of 32 overall top five performances at the Florida Relays and Cherry Blossom Invitational.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Nwokike broke her own school record in the women's 400 meters crossing the line in 52.90.
• The women's 4x100 relay team of sophomore Ayanna Stafford (Columbus, Ohio), Nwokike, freshman Rukia Omulisia (Nairobi, Kenya) and junior Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) ran a school-record time of 45.19.
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) took the title in the women's shot put with a mark of 46-0.25 (14.03m), before recording a winning mark of 149-1 (45.43m) in the women's discus.
• Sophomore Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) edged the field in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 206-11 (63.06m), the fifth-best mark in outdoor program history.
• Senior Grace Henderson (Rostraver Township, Pa.) won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:35.19.
• Redshirt junior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) placed first in the men's discus with a mark of 170-5 (51.95m).
• Redshirt senior Jacob Glavickas (Orwell, Ohio) finished first in the men's javelin with a mark of 165-8 (50.50m).
• Sophomore Victoria Kuol (Centerville, Ohio) bested the field in the women's hammer with a career-best mark of 183-6 (55.92m), while redshirt junior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) placed second with a mark of 178-8 (54.47m).
• Junior Benjamin Hudak (Tallmadge, Ohio) took the title in the men's long jump with a mark of 22-0.50 (6.72m).
• Freshmen Isaac Baltic (Medina, Ohio) and Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) went 1-2 in the men's pole vault with identical clearances of 15-3 (4.65m), a career-best mark for Baltic.
• Sophomore Bram de Raedt (Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium) bested the field in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 53.51.
• Freshman Delton Wright (Berea, Ohio) bested the bar with a career-best mark of 6-2.75 (1.90m) in the men's high jump to place second.
• Sophomore Cameron Corrothers (Maple Heights, Ohio) registered a career-best time of 15.34 to finish second in the men's 110-meter hurdles.
GARRETSON EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES:
Hunter Garretson captured First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a third-place performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 14 in Virginia Beach, Va.
A five-time All-America honoree, Garretson captured First-Team laurels for the third time in his decorated career eclipsing 18-6.75 (5.66m).
After passing at the opening height of 17-7 (5.36m), Garretson cleared the next two bars of 17-11 (5.46m) and 18-3 (5.56m) on his initial runs at the heights.
He needed two attempts to clear 18-4.75 (5.61m) before besting the bar at 18-6.75 (5.66m) on his final attempt.
After missing his initial attempt at 18-8.34 (5.71m), Garretson passed his next two jumps. He was unable to clear the bar at 18-10.75 (5.76m) on each of his attempts and finished with a third-place effort.
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on March 14.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson became the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field and ninth overall three-time honoree across all sports in Division I.
The honor was the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
AKRON GARNERS TRIO OF MAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SPECIALTY AWARDS:
Hunter Garretson and freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2025 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on March 7.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Garretson earned his fifth consecutive MAC indoor pole title and eighth overall league championship besting the field at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1 with a mark of 17-9 (5.41m). His five indoor conference pole vault titles and eight overall combined (indoor/outdoor) pole vault championships are the most in league history.
Kipchirchir turned in a stellar effort at the MAC Championships garnering Most Valuable Performer and Freshman of the Year accolades with runner-up finishes in the men's mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
He opened his championship run crossing the line second in the men's 5,000 meters in a career-best time of 14:29.74, the fifth-fastest time in indoor program history. In final-day competition, Kipchirchir placed second in the men's mile in a time of 4:12.45 before capturing Second-Team All-MAC honors in the men's 3,000 meters in a time of 8:11.78.
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 28-March 1) scoring 54 points en route to securing its ninth overall indoor league title and first since 2020.
The team produced three All-MAC performances, with redshirt senior Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) earning First-Team honors in the 400M and 4x400 relay alongside sophomores Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas), while also receiving Second-Team recognition in the 200M.
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Harkelroad, Jordan, and Styles, claimed victory, as did Harkelroad in the 400M. Additionally, Jordan secured third-place finishes in the 60M and 200M, while junior Tysean Baronette (Middletown, Del.) (4th – 200M), Rennie Gittens, Jr. (4th – 60M), Farrington (4th – 400M), and Styles (5th – 400M) delivered strong performances. Under expert coaching, the team has recorded the MAC's top times this season in the 400M and 4x400 relay, along with the second-best marks in the 60M and 200M.
AKRON CROSS COUNTRY EARNS USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC ACCOLADES: The Akron cross country team under the leadership of Zips' director of track and field/cross country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales and cross country head coach Evans Kiptoo garnered recognition for the squad's efforts in the classroom as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) tabbed Akron a Division I All-Academic team for the 2024 campaign.
The Akron men's squad was honored for recording a 3.335 GPA, while the women's team garnered recognition for its work in the classroom for the 11th straight year with a 3.356 cumulative GPA.
Overall, 209 women's teams and 183 men's teams earned All-Academic team honors.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2025 outdoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for six events released on April 8, 2025, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated sixth nationally in the men's shot put, 15th in the men's hammer, 18th in the women's hammer, 26th in the men's and women's discus and 28th in the women's 400 meters.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have three individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 outdoor campaign as Hunter Garretson is fifth in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-10.50/5.45m).
Additionally, Bismack Kipchirchir is rated ninth in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:37.85), senior Joy Nwokike is 25th in the women's 400 meters (52.90) and 48th in the women's 200 meters (23.40).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added six overall top five performances and three school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 outdoor campaign.
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 28 overall top five performances and five school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 indoor campaign.
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team will compete at the John Homon Open hosted by Mount Union this Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13).
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to Alliance, Ohio, to compete at the John Homon Open.
The women's hammer commences the John Homon Open on Saturday at noon before action on the track gets underway on Sunday with the women's 10,000 meters at noon. The meet concludes with the running of the men's 4x400 relay at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
USTFCCCA HONORS GARRETSON AS GREAT LAKES REGIONAL FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) was honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Great Lakes Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced on March 20.
Garretson becomes the fourth Zip to collect All-Regional honors since 2007 joining Olympians Clayton Murphy (2016-Track) and Shawn Barber (2015-Field) and Cadeau Kelley (2008-Field). He previously captured the honor during the 2023 outdoor campaign.
NWOKIKE NAMED MAC WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:
Senior Joy Nwokike (Benin City, Nigeria) was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 8).
Nwokike ran a school-record time of 52.90 in the 400 meters at the Florida Relays, the fastest time in the MAC this season and No. 25 in the NCAA this spring.
Additionally, she helped the Zips set a school record in the 4x100 crossing the line in 45.19 at the Florida Relays.
A WEEK AGO:
The Zips posted a pair of school records to highlight the University of Akron track and field team recording 10 victories as part of 32 overall top five performances at the Florida Relays and Cherry Blossom Invitational.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Nwokike broke her own school record in the women's 400 meters crossing the line in 52.90.
• The women's 4x100 relay team of sophomore Ayanna Stafford (Columbus, Ohio), Nwokike, freshman Rukia Omulisia (Nairobi, Kenya) and junior Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) ran a school-record time of 45.19.
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) took the title in the women's shot put with a mark of 46-0.25 (14.03m), before recording a winning mark of 149-1 (45.43m) in the women's discus.
• Sophomore Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) edged the field in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 206-11 (63.06m), the fifth-best mark in outdoor program history.
• Senior Grace Henderson (Rostraver Township, Pa.) won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:35.19.
• Redshirt junior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) placed first in the men's discus with a mark of 170-5 (51.95m).
• Redshirt senior Jacob Glavickas (Orwell, Ohio) finished first in the men's javelin with a mark of 165-8 (50.50m).
• Sophomore Victoria Kuol (Centerville, Ohio) bested the field in the women's hammer with a career-best mark of 183-6 (55.92m), while redshirt junior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) placed second with a mark of 178-8 (54.47m).
• Junior Benjamin Hudak (Tallmadge, Ohio) took the title in the men's long jump with a mark of 22-0.50 (6.72m).
• Freshmen Isaac Baltic (Medina, Ohio) and Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) went 1-2 in the men's pole vault with identical clearances of 15-3 (4.65m), a career-best mark for Baltic.
• Sophomore Bram de Raedt (Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium) bested the field in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 53.51.
• Freshman Delton Wright (Berea, Ohio) bested the bar with a career-best mark of 6-2.75 (1.90m) in the men's high jump to place second.
• Sophomore Cameron Corrothers (Maple Heights, Ohio) registered a career-best time of 15.34 to finish second in the men's 110-meter hurdles.
GARRETSON EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES:
Hunter Garretson captured First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a third-place performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 14 in Virginia Beach, Va.
A five-time All-America honoree, Garretson captured First-Team laurels for the third time in his decorated career eclipsing 18-6.75 (5.66m).
After passing at the opening height of 17-7 (5.36m), Garretson cleared the next two bars of 17-11 (5.46m) and 18-3 (5.56m) on his initial runs at the heights.
He needed two attempts to clear 18-4.75 (5.61m) before besting the bar at 18-6.75 (5.66m) on his final attempt.
After missing his initial attempt at 18-8.34 (5.71m), Garretson passed his next two jumps. He was unable to clear the bar at 18-10.75 (5.76m) on each of his attempts and finished with a third-place effort.
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on March 14.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson became the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field and ninth overall three-time honoree across all sports in Division I.
The honor was the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
AKRON GARNERS TRIO OF MAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SPECIALTY AWARDS:
Hunter Garretson and freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2025 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on March 7.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Garretson earned his fifth consecutive MAC indoor pole title and eighth overall league championship besting the field at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1 with a mark of 17-9 (5.41m). His five indoor conference pole vault titles and eight overall combined (indoor/outdoor) pole vault championships are the most in league history.
Kipchirchir turned in a stellar effort at the MAC Championships garnering Most Valuable Performer and Freshman of the Year accolades with runner-up finishes in the men's mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
He opened his championship run crossing the line second in the men's 5,000 meters in a career-best time of 14:29.74, the fifth-fastest time in indoor program history. In final-day competition, Kipchirchir placed second in the men's mile in a time of 4:12.45 before capturing Second-Team All-MAC honors in the men's 3,000 meters in a time of 8:11.78.
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 28-March 1) scoring 54 points en route to securing its ninth overall indoor league title and first since 2020.
The team produced three All-MAC performances, with redshirt senior Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) earning First-Team honors in the 400M and 4x400 relay alongside sophomores Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas), while also receiving Second-Team recognition in the 200M.
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Harkelroad, Jordan, and Styles, claimed victory, as did Harkelroad in the 400M. Additionally, Jordan secured third-place finishes in the 60M and 200M, while junior Tysean Baronette (Middletown, Del.) (4th – 200M), Rennie Gittens, Jr. (4th – 60M), Farrington (4th – 400M), and Styles (5th – 400M) delivered strong performances. Under expert coaching, the team has recorded the MAC's top times this season in the 400M and 4x400 relay, along with the second-best marks in the 60M and 200M.
AKRON CROSS COUNTRY EARNS USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC ACCOLADES: The Akron cross country team under the leadership of Zips' director of track and field/cross country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales and cross country head coach Evans Kiptoo garnered recognition for the squad's efforts in the classroom as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) tabbed Akron a Division I All-Academic team for the 2024 campaign.
The Akron men's squad was honored for recording a 3.335 GPA, while the women's team garnered recognition for its work in the classroom for the 11th straight year with a 3.356 cumulative GPA.
Overall, 209 women's teams and 183 men's teams earned All-Academic team honors.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2025 outdoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for six events released on April 8, 2025, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated sixth nationally in the men's shot put, 15th in the men's hammer, 18th in the women's hammer, 26th in the men's and women's discus and 28th in the women's 400 meters.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have three individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 outdoor campaign as Hunter Garretson is fifth in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-10.50/5.45m).
Additionally, Bismack Kipchirchir is rated ninth in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:37.85), senior Joy Nwokike is 25th in the women's 400 meters (52.90) and 48th in the women's 200 meters (23.40).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added six overall top five performances and three school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 outdoor campaign.
NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 3,000M Steeplechase – March 27 | No. 1 – 8:37.85 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – April 5 | No. 1 – 52.90 |
Ayanna Stafford Joy Nwokike Rukia Omulisia Vanessa Horn |
Women's 4x100 Relay – April 4 | No. 1 – 45.19 |
Josiah Cox | Men's Shot Put – March 29 | No. 4 – 58-7.25 (17.86m) |
Christopher Vance | Men's Hammer – April 4 | No. 4 – 206-11 (63.06m) |
Titus Kirui | Men's 5,000M – March 27 | No. 5 – 14:27.68 |
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 28 overall top five performances and five school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 indoor campaign.
NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
Keegan Digby | Shot Put – Dec. 6 | No. 5 – 57-6.25 (17.53m) |
Brook Boes | Weight Throw – Dec. 6 | No. 5 – 64-7 (19.68m) |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Dec. 6 | No. 3 – 54.97 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Dec. 6 | No. 4 – 24.09 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Jan. 10 | No. 2 – 23.94 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Jan. 11 | No. 3 – 54.56 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Jan. 17 | No. 1 – 23.79 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Jan. 17 | No. 3 – 54.46 |
Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 3,000M – Jan. 17 | No. 4 – 8:08.57 |
Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – Jan. 17 | No. 3 – 18-10.50 (5.75m) |
Keegan Digby | Men's Shot Put – Jan. 17 | No. 5 – 58-3.25 (17.76m) |
Mary Munga | Women's Mile – Jan. 25 | No. 5 – 4:50.08 |
Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's Mile – Jan. 31 | No. 4 – 4:05.32 |
Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – Feb. 7 | No. 3 – 18-10.75 (5.76m) |
Mercy Jebitok | Women's 3,000M – Feb. 8 | No. 5 – 9:45.11 |
Rukia Omulisia | Women's 60MH – Feb. 8 | No. 4 – 8.48 |
Mercy Jebitok | Women's 5,000M – Feb. 15 | No. 1 – 16:23.67 |
Braylyn Farrington Jimmy Harkelroad AJ Jordan Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x400 Relay – Feb. 15 | No. 4 – 3:11.12 |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Feb. 14 | No. 1 – 53.29 |
Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 3,000M – Feb. 14 | No. 1 – 7:57.23 |
Moses Lekokei | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 14 | No. 2 – 13:56.25 |
Vanessa Horn | Women's 400M – Feb. 14 | No. 4 – 54.66 |
Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 28 | No. 5 – 14:29.74 |
Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – March 1 | No. 5 – 58-9.50 (17.92m) |
Joy Nwokike | Women's 60M – Feb. 28 | No. 1 – 7.34 |
Rukia Omulisia | Women's 60MH – March 1 | No. 2 – 8.38 |
Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault – Feb. 28 | No. 5 – 13.10 (4.22m) |
Vanessa Horn Rukia Omulisia Eve Clark Joy Nwokike |
Women's 4x400 Relay – March 1 | No. 5 – 3:44.85 |
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
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