The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Headlines MAC Track and Field Specialty Awards
May 21 | Track & Field
2026 MAC OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SPECIALTY AWARD RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio – University of Akron track and field redshirt seniors Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) and Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) and junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) were honored by the Mid-American Conference when the league unveiled its 2026 specialty awards on Thursday (May 21).
Wendl and Boes were tabbed as the league's Outdoor Track and Field Men's and Women's Most Outstanding Field Performers of the Year, while Styles garnered the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was selected by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Styles successfully defended his conference title in the 400 meters (46.20), while adding crowns in the 200 meters (20.70) and 4x400 relay en route to securing 22.5 points for the Zips to be named the meet's Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive MAC Championship (Indoor and Outdoor).
Wendl successfully defended his conference titles in both the shot put (59-9.25/18.22m) and discus (188-1/57.33m), while helping lead Akron to its fourth consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship team title.
Boes was named the MAC Women's Field Most Valuable Performer after capturing the MAC championship in the shot put with a throw of 49-9.75 (15.18m) and adding a runner-up finish in the hammer throw (191-7/58.40m) and a fourth-place finish in the discus (156-3/47.62m).
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 14-16) scoring 63 points en route to securing its 11th overall indoor league title.
The team produced five All-MAC performances, with Styles earning first team honors in the 200M, 400M and 4x400 relay alongside juniors Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.) and AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and freshman Tayven Crump (Vandalia, Ohio).
Jordan garnered second team accolades in the 200M (20.83), while also receiving second team recognition in the 4x100 relay was junior Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), Jordan, Styles and sophomore Garrett Tiller (Streetsboro, Ohio).
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Jordan, Crump and Styles, claimed victory, as did Styles in the 200M (20.70) and 400M (46.22). Jordan secured a second-place finish in the 200M (20.83), to go along with a runner-up finish alongside Gittens, Jr., Styles and Tiller in the 4x100 relay (40.09). Additionally, Farrington was third in the 400M (46.78) and Jordan in the 100M (10.47), while Gittens, Jr., placed fourth in the 100M (10.49).
CLEVELAND, Ohio – University of Akron track and field redshirt seniors Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) and Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) and junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) were honored by the Mid-American Conference when the league unveiled its 2026 specialty awards on Thursday (May 21).
Wendl and Boes were tabbed as the league's Outdoor Track and Field Men's and Women's Most Outstanding Field Performers of the Year, while Styles garnered the Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was selected by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Styles successfully defended his conference title in the 400 meters (46.20), while adding crowns in the 200 meters (20.70) and 4x400 relay en route to securing 22.5 points for the Zips to be named the meet's Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive MAC Championship (Indoor and Outdoor).
Wendl successfully defended his conference titles in both the shot put (59-9.25/18.22m) and discus (188-1/57.33m), while helping lead Akron to its fourth consecutive MAC Outdoor Championship team title.
Boes was named the MAC Women's Field Most Valuable Performer after capturing the MAC championship in the shot put with a throw of 49-9.75 (15.18m) and adding a runner-up finish in the hammer throw (191-7/58.40m) and a fourth-place finish in the discus (156-3/47.62m).
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 14-16) scoring 63 points en route to securing its 11th overall indoor league title.
The team produced five All-MAC performances, with Styles earning first team honors in the 200M, 400M and 4x400 relay alongside juniors Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.) and AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and freshman Tayven Crump (Vandalia, Ohio).
Jordan garnered second team accolades in the 200M (20.83), while also receiving second team recognition in the 4x100 relay was junior Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.), Jordan, Styles and sophomore Garrett Tiller (Streetsboro, Ohio).
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Jordan, Crump and Styles, claimed victory, as did Styles in the 200M (20.70) and 400M (46.22). Jordan secured a second-place finish in the 200M (20.83), to go along with a runner-up finish alongside Gittens, Jr., Styles and Tiller in the 4x100 relay (40.09). Additionally, Farrington was third in the 400M (46.78) and Jordan in the 100M (10.47), while Gittens, Jr., placed fourth in the 100M (10.49).
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