The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Track and Field Opens April with Pair of Weekend Meets
April 03 | Track & Field
CHERRY BLOSSOM INVITATIONAL: MEET INFORMATION | LIVE STATS
FLORIDA RELAYS: MEET INFORMATION | LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team will compete in a pair of weekend meets as the Zips are set to participate in the Florida Relays hosted by Florida as well as the Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by Ohio.
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to Gainesville, Fla., and Athens, Ohio, to compete at the Florida Relays and Cherry Blossom Invitational.
The Zips will send their top sprinters to the Florida Relays on Friday and Saturday (April 4-5), while the bulk of the squad will run at the Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by Ohio on Friday.
The men's shot put and women's hammer commences the Cherry Blossom Invitational on Friday at 11 a.m. before action on the track gets underway with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at noon. The meet concludes with the running of the men's 4x400 relay at 6 p.m.
The two-day Florida Relays kicks off on the track on Friday with the 4x800 relay at noon before the men's 5,000 meters concludes opening night action at 8:45 p.m. Competition on Saturday on the track commences with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at noon before the meet wraps up with the men's 4x400 relay invitational at 6:09 p.m.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
USTFCCCA HONORS GARRETSON AS GREAT LAKES REGIONAL FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Hunter Garretson 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.
KIPCHIRCHIR NAMED MAC MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:
Akron freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 1).
Kipchirchir ran a school-record time of 8:37.85 in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays on March 27.
Kipchirchir's performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase represents the fastest time by a MAC runner since TFRRS records began in 2013 and is just shy of the MAC record set in 2004.
A WEEK AGO:
The University of Akron track and field team posted five top five performances to round out the weekend efforts for the Zips.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Bismack Kipchirchir ran a school-record time of 8:37.85 in 3,000-meter steeplechase.
• Sophomore Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) posted a time of 14:27.68 in the men's 5,000 meters, the fifth-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
• Junior Josiah Cox (New Franklin, Ohio) placed second in the men's shot put with a career-best and fourth-best mark in outdoor program history of 58-7.25 (17.86m), while redshirt senior Keegan Digby (Bowling Green, Ohio) finished fourth with a mark of 56-1.50 (17.11m).
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) bested the field in the women's discus with a mark of 160-10 (49.03m), while finishing third in the women's shot put with a mark of 45-11.50 (14.01m).
• Redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) placed fourth in the elite men's pole vault at the Texas Relays with a clearance of 17-10.50 (5.45m).
Redshirt junior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) won the men's discus with a mark of 180-2 (54.91m).
• Sophomore Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) placed second in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 204-7 (62.36m).
• Redshirt junior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) garnered a runner-up finish in the women's hammer with a career-best throw of 186-6 (56.85m), while placing fifth in the shot put with a throw of 43-5.75 (13.25m).
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 Bismack Kipchirchir 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), sophomore Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.) (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 eight events released on April 1, 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 third nationally in the men's shot put, 11th in the women's hammer, 12th in the men's hammer, 18th in the women's discus, 19th in the men's 100 meters, 21st in the men's discus, 22nd in the women's 400 meters and 30th in the women's shot put.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have six individual student-athletes and one relay team ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 outdoor campaign as Hunter Garretson is third in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-10.50/5.45m) and Bismack Kipchirchir is rated third in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:37.85)..
Additionally, senior Joy Nwokike is 26th in the women's 200 meters (23.40) and 42nd in the women's 400 meters (54.17), AJ Jordan is 40th in the men's 200 meters (20.91), Owen Wendl is 43rd in the men's discus (180-2/54.91m) and Josiah Cox is 45th in the men's shot put (58-7.25/17.86m).
Additionally, the women's 4x400 relay is rated 47th (3:42.22).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added three overall top five performances and one school record 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
FLORIDA RELAYS: MEET INFORMATION | LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team will compete in a pair of weekend meets as the Zips are set to participate in the Florida Relays hosted by Florida as well as the Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by Ohio.
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to Gainesville, Fla., and Athens, Ohio, to compete at the Florida Relays and Cherry Blossom Invitational.
The Zips will send their top sprinters to the Florida Relays on Friday and Saturday (April 4-5), while the bulk of the squad will run at the Cherry Blossom Invitational hosted by Ohio on Friday.
The men's shot put and women's hammer commences the Cherry Blossom Invitational on Friday at 11 a.m. before action on the track gets underway with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at noon. The meet concludes with the running of the men's 4x400 relay at 6 p.m.
The two-day Florida Relays kicks off on the track on Friday with the 4x800 relay at noon before the men's 5,000 meters concludes opening night action at 8:45 p.m. Competition on Saturday on the track commences with the preliminary round of the women's 100-meter hurdles at noon before the meet wraps up with the men's 4x400 relay invitational at 6:09 p.m.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
USTFCCCA HONORS GARRETSON AS GREAT LAKES REGIONAL FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Hunter Garretson 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.
KIPCHIRCHIR NAMED MAC MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:
Akron freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 1).
Kipchirchir ran a school-record time of 8:37.85 in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays on March 27.
Kipchirchir's performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase represents the fastest time by a MAC runner since TFRRS records began in 2013 and is just shy of the MAC record set in 2004.
A WEEK AGO:
The University of Akron track and field team posted five top five performances to round out the weekend efforts for the Zips.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Bismack Kipchirchir ran a school-record time of 8:37.85 in 3,000-meter steeplechase.
• Sophomore Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) posted a time of 14:27.68 in the men's 5,000 meters, the fifth-fastest effort in outdoor program history.
• Junior Josiah Cox (New Franklin, Ohio) placed second in the men's shot put with a career-best and fourth-best mark in outdoor program history of 58-7.25 (17.86m), while redshirt senior Keegan Digby (Bowling Green, Ohio) finished fourth with a mark of 56-1.50 (17.11m).
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) bested the field in the women's discus with a mark of 160-10 (49.03m), while finishing third in the women's shot put with a mark of 45-11.50 (14.01m).
• Redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) placed fourth in the elite men's pole vault at the Texas Relays with a clearance of 17-10.50 (5.45m).
Redshirt junior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) won the men's discus with a mark of 180-2 (54.91m).
• Sophomore Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) placed second in the men's hammer with a career-best mark of 204-7 (62.36m).
• Redshirt junior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) garnered a runner-up finish in the women's hammer with a career-best throw of 186-6 (56.85m), while placing fifth in the shot put with a throw of 43-5.75 (13.25m).
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 Bismack Kipchirchir 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), sophomore Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.) (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 eight events released on April 1, 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 third nationally in the men's shot put, 11th in the women's hammer, 12th in the men's hammer, 18th in the women's discus, 19th in the men's 100 meters, 21st in the men's discus, 22nd in the women's 400 meters and 30th in the women's shot put.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have six individual student-athletes and one relay team ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 outdoor campaign as Hunter Garretson is third in the nation in the men's pole vault (17-10.50/5.45m) and Bismack Kipchirchir is rated third in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:37.85)..
Additionally, senior Joy Nwokike is 26th in the women's 200 meters (23.40) and 42nd in the women's 400 meters (54.17), AJ Jordan is 40th in the men's 200 meters (20.91), Owen Wendl is 43rd in the men's discus (180-2/54.91m) and Josiah Cox is 45th in the men's shot put (58-7.25/17.86m).
Additionally, the women's 4x400 relay is rated 47th (3:42.22).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added three overall top five performances and one school record 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 |
Josiah Cox | Men's Shot Put – March 29 | No. 4 – 58-7.25 (17.86m) |
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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