The University of Akron Athletics
Staff Directory
Kendra Reimer-Gonzales
- Title:
- Director of Track and Field/Cross Country (Jumps)
- Email:
- Phone:
- (330) 972-7964
AKRON, Ohio – Kendra Reimer-Gonzales is entering her her fifth year as Akron's Director of Track and Field/Cross Country in 2026-27 after being named to the position in August of 2022.
Reimer-Gonzales has been named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year for the men four times outdoors (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026), twice indoors (2025 and 2026) and once for the women during the 2026 outdoor campaign.
This spring she was tabbed by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association at the Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year.
In her fourth campaign leading the Akron track and field program in 2026, Reimer-Gonzales led Zips' men's and women's programs to team titles at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships, including the men's squad registering a program-record 212 points.
The men's program captured its fourth consecutive and 12th overall MAC outdoor championship on the strength of 11 league champions and seven runner-up performances this past May, while the women won the title for the first time since 2022.
Redshirt freshman Mercy Jebitok placed 12th in the women's 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships to earn second team All-America honors in a school- and conference record time.
Thirteen Zips garnered NCAA East Preliminary Round berths including Cassidy Allen, Brook Boes, Lane Graham, Gabrielle Griffiths, Megan Hipple, Jebitok, Jackline Nanjala, Amari Noble, Kaden Rambatt, Andrew Styles, Jeffrey Usman, Christopher Vance and Owen Wendl.
Akron ranked No. 14 in the men's hammer and shot put, 17th in the men's discus and 22nd in the men's pole vault in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA event squad rankings.
Akron captured its first ever MAC men's cross country championship in 2023 after winning the men's outdoor track and field title in the spring at Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex, for which Reimer-Gonzales was selected as the MAC Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
Reimer-Gonzales came to Akron after three successful campaigns at San Jose State University where she led the Spartans to a combined 22 school records and 109 all-time top performances in program history over her tenure.
A six-time USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honoree, Reimer-Gonzales led the revival of the men’s program after the program’s 30-year absence following her arrival at San Jose State in 2018.
San Jose State qualified a school-record six athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 2021 after earning a program-record 21 All-Mountain West Conference honors. The Spartans garnered 33 Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete citations, a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete laurels during her tenure.
Reimer-Gonzales arrived at San Jose State following four seasons (2015-18) as the head coach of women's cross country and track and field at San Francisco State, where her team won the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's track and field championship, the first in program history.
In 2017 and 2018 she was named CCAA Track and Field Head Coach of the Year and four-times (2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018) she earned USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Reimer-Gonzales was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Head Coach of the Year and in 2009 was a USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient.
Her 2018 Gators' team placed 10th at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships where eight Gators were named first-team All-America honorees. Her student-athletes earned 15 All-CCAA honors and 11 times were event winners.
In 2017, the Gators' women's 4x400 relay team won the NCAA Division II championship, the first in any sport at San Francisco State. Eight student-athletes advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the team finished in 16th place.
In four years at San Francisco State, her student-athletes garnered 18 first-team and five second-team All-America honors, set 17 school records and appeared on the program's all-time top-10 lists 68 times. She coached 17 individual conference champions
From 2010-13, Reimer-Gonzales was the head women and men's track and field coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III institution in Claremont, California. In four seasons she guided her women and men's teams to four SCIAC championships, while coaching nine All-Americans. Reimer-Gonzales mentored 35 individual conference champions and 153 All-SCIAC honorees, while 13 school records were set during her tenure.
From 2006 through 2010, Reimer-Gonzales was an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles (2006-2009) and Brown University (2009-2010). At both stops, she assisted in the development of 22 NCAA qualifiers, nine conference champions and 19 all-conference honorees.
As a collegian, Reimer-Gonzales attended and competed for Texas A&M. She was an All-American in the heptathlon and upon graduation held the school record in the pentathlon. She competed in the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in the heptathlon placing 11th.
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. Reimer-Gonzales is a USATF Level II coach in the sprints, jumps, distance, and combined events. Additionally, she is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA.
Reimer-Gonzales has been named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year for the men four times outdoors (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026), twice indoors (2025 and 2026) and once for the women during the 2026 outdoor campaign.
This spring she was tabbed by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association at the Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year.
In her fourth campaign leading the Akron track and field program in 2026, Reimer-Gonzales led Zips' men's and women's programs to team titles at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships, including the men's squad registering a program-record 212 points.
The men's program captured its fourth consecutive and 12th overall MAC outdoor championship on the strength of 11 league champions and seven runner-up performances this past May, while the women won the title for the first time since 2022.
Redshirt freshman Mercy Jebitok placed 12th in the women's 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships to earn second team All-America honors in a school- and conference record time.
Thirteen Zips garnered NCAA East Preliminary Round berths including Cassidy Allen, Brook Boes, Lane Graham, Gabrielle Griffiths, Megan Hipple, Jebitok, Jackline Nanjala, Amari Noble, Kaden Rambatt, Andrew Styles, Jeffrey Usman, Christopher Vance and Owen Wendl.
Akron ranked No. 14 in the men's hammer and shot put, 17th in the men's discus and 22nd in the men's pole vault in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA event squad rankings.
Akron captured its first ever MAC men's cross country championship in 2023 after winning the men's outdoor track and field title in the spring at Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex, for which Reimer-Gonzales was selected as the MAC Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
Reimer-Gonzales came to Akron after three successful campaigns at San Jose State University where she led the Spartans to a combined 22 school records and 109 all-time top performances in program history over her tenure.
A six-time USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honoree, Reimer-Gonzales led the revival of the men’s program after the program’s 30-year absence following her arrival at San Jose State in 2018.
San Jose State qualified a school-record six athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 2021 after earning a program-record 21 All-Mountain West Conference honors. The Spartans garnered 33 Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete citations, a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete laurels during her tenure.
Reimer-Gonzales arrived at San Jose State following four seasons (2015-18) as the head coach of women's cross country and track and field at San Francisco State, where her team won the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's track and field championship, the first in program history.
In 2017 and 2018 she was named CCAA Track and Field Head Coach of the Year and four-times (2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018) she earned USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Reimer-Gonzales was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Head Coach of the Year and in 2009 was a USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient.
Her 2018 Gators' team placed 10th at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships where eight Gators were named first-team All-America honorees. Her student-athletes earned 15 All-CCAA honors and 11 times were event winners.
In 2017, the Gators' women's 4x400 relay team won the NCAA Division II championship, the first in any sport at San Francisco State. Eight student-athletes advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the team finished in 16th place.
In four years at San Francisco State, her student-athletes garnered 18 first-team and five second-team All-America honors, set 17 school records and appeared on the program's all-time top-10 lists 68 times. She coached 17 individual conference champions
From 2010-13, Reimer-Gonzales was the head women and men's track and field coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III institution in Claremont, California. In four seasons she guided her women and men's teams to four SCIAC championships, while coaching nine All-Americans. Reimer-Gonzales mentored 35 individual conference champions and 153 All-SCIAC honorees, while 13 school records were set during her tenure.
From 2006 through 2010, Reimer-Gonzales was an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles (2006-2009) and Brown University (2009-2010). At both stops, she assisted in the development of 22 NCAA qualifiers, nine conference champions and 19 all-conference honorees.
As a collegian, Reimer-Gonzales attended and competed for Texas A&M. She was an All-American in the heptathlon and upon graduation held the school record in the pentathlon. She competed in the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in the heptathlon placing 11th.
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. Reimer-Gonzales is a USATF Level II coach in the sprints, jumps, distance, and combined events. Additionally, she is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA.
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| 2026 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • 2026 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • 12 Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • MAC Champions (12th title in program history) • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named MAC Coach of the Year • Owen Wendl named MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer • Andrew Styles named MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer • Randy Overby named MAC Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year • Andrew Styles named MAC Most Valuable Performer • Noah Nyageo named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Eight MAC titles • Isaac Baltic (pole vault), Garett Boe (pole vault), Lane Graham (hammer), Noah Nyageo (5,000m), Kaden Rambatt (pole vault), Andrew Styles (200m, 400m, 4x400 relay), Owen Wendl (discus, shot put) named First-Team All-MAC • Seven Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set one school-record marks (shot put) as part of 16 top five all-time performances in outdoor program history |
• 2026 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • 12 Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • MAC Champions (12th title in program history) • Mercy Jebitok posts 12th-place finish at NCAA Championships in 10,000 meters in school- and MAC-record time (32:26.81) to earn Second-Team All-America honors • Brook Boes named MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer • Brook Boes named MAC Most Valuable Performer • Mercy Jebitok named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Five MAC titles • Brook Boes (shot put), Gabrielle Griffiths (hammer), Mercy Jebitok (5,000m, 10,000m), Jackline Nanjala (400m) named First-Team All-MAC • Four Second-Team All-MAC Performances • Set three school-record marks (5,000m, 10,000m, 4x400 relay) as part of 19 top five all-time performance in outdoor program history |
| 2026 INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • MAC Champions (10th title in program history) • Nine Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Andrew Styles named MAC Most Valuable Performer • Noah Nyageo named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Nine MAC titles • Isaac Baltic (pole vault), Mason Birch (high jump), Tayven Crump (4x400 relay), Braylyn Farrington (4x400 relay), Lane Graham (weight throw), AJ Jordan (4x400 relay), Noah Nyageo (5,000m), Andrew Styles (200m, 400m, 4x400 relay), Jeffrey Usman (long jump), Owen Wendl (shot put) named First-Team All-MAC • Three Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set nine top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
• 10 Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Second at MAC Championships • Brook Boes named MAC Most Valuable Performer • Jackline Nanjala named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Five MAC titles • Brook Boes (shot put, weight throw), Megan Hipple (3,000m), Vanessa Horn (4x400 relay), McKenzie McNitt (4x400 relay), Mariyah Moore (4x400 relay), Jackline Nanjala (400m, 4x400 relay) named First-Team All-MAC • Three Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set three school-record marks (3,000m, 5,000m, 4x400 Relay) as part of 16 top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
| 2025 CROSS COUNTRY | • 2025 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Bismack Kipchirchir earns USTFCCCA All-Academic honors • Three Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Third at MAC Championships • Noah Nyageo named MAC Freshman of the Year • Bismack Kipchirchir (2nd place), Noah Nyageo (3rd place) and Titus Kirui (5th place) named First-Team All-MAC • Bismack Kipchirchir and Titus Kirui earn All-Region honors at NCAA Great Lakes Regional • Bismack Kipchirchir becomes first Zip to qualify for NCAA Championships in back-to-back years • Titus Kirui becomes fourth overall Zip to qualify for NCAA Championships |
• 2025 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Five Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Ninth at MAC Championships • Mercy Jebitok named MAC Freshman of the Year • Mercy Jebitok (2nd place) named First-Team All-MAC • Megan Hipple (10th place) named Second-Team All-MAC • Mercy Jebitok earns All-Region honors at NCAA Great Lakes Regional • Mercy Jebitok becomes fifth Akron runner to qualify for NCAA Championships |
| 2025 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • 2025 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Isaac Baltic, Mason Birch, Hunter Garretson, Bismack Kipchirchir, Kaden Rambatt and Christopher Vance earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors • Bismack Kipchirchir earns Second-Team All-America honors in 3,000m steeplechase at NCAA Championships • Hunter Garretson competes in pole vault at NCAA Championships • Hunter Garretson named First-Team CSC Academic All-America recipient • Majid Abuaun, Hunter Garretson, Benjamin Hudak and Christopher Vance earn CSC Academic All-District accolades • 6 Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • MAC Champions (11th title in program history) • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named MAC Coach of the Year • Owen Wendl named MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer • Bismack Kipchirchir named MAC Most Valuable Performer and MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Eight MAC titles • Mason Birch (high jump), Hunter Garretson (pole vault), Bismack Kipchirchir (3,000m steeplechase), Moses Lekokei (5,000m, 10,000m), Andrew Styles (400m) and Owen Wendl (discus, shot put) named First-Team All-MAC • Seven Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set one school-record marks (3,000m steeplechase) as part of 16 top five all-time performances in outdoor program history |
• 2025 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Cassidy Allen, Brook Boes, Vanessa Horn and Joy Nwokike earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors • Cassidy Allen, Grace Henderson, Vanessa Horn, Jessica Mason and Joy Nwokike earn CSC Academic All-District accolades • 13 Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed fourth at MAC Championships • Rukia Omulisia named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Three MAC titles • Cassidy Allen (pole vault), Vanessa Horn (4x100 relay), Joy Nwokike (4x100 relay), Rukia Omulisia (100m hurdles, 4x100 relay), Ayanna Stafford (4x100 relay) named First-Team All-MAC • Two Second-Team All-MAC Performances • Set two school-record marks (400m, 4x100 relay) as part of 12 top five all-time performance in outdoor program history |
| 2025 INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • Hunter Garretson earns First-Team All-America honors placing third at NCAA Championships in pole vault • Hunter Garretson wins NCAA Elite 90 award • Hunter Garretson named USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year • MAC Champions (ninth title in program history) • Eight Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Hunter Garretson named MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer • Bismack Kipchirchir named MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer • Randy Overby named MAC Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year • Bismack Kipchirchir named MAC Most Valuable Performer and MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named MAC Coach of the Year • Six MAC titles • Braylyn Farrington (4x400 relay), Hunter Garretson (pole vault), Jimmy Harkelroad (400m, 4x400 relay), AJ Jordan (4x400 relay), Moses Lekokei (3,000m, 5,000m), Andrew Styles (4x400 relay), Owen Wendl (shot put), named First-Team All-MAC • Five Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set one school-record marks (3,000m) as part of 11 top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
• 11 Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Second at MAC Championships • Four MAC titles • Cassidy Allen (pole vault), Eve Clark (4x400 relay), Vanessa Horn (4x400 relay), Joy Nwokike (60m, 4x400 relay), Rukia Omulisia (60m hurdles, 4x400 relay) named First-Team All-MAC • One Second-Team All-MAC performance • Set four school-record marks (60m, 200m, 400m, 5,000m) as part of 17 top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
| 2024 CROSS COUNTRY | • 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Two Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Sixth at MAC Championships • Bismack Kipchirchir named MAC Freshman of the Year • Bismack Kipchirchir (2nd place) and Moses Lekokei (3rd place) named First-Team All-MAC • Bismack Kipchirchir earns All-Region honors at NCAA Great Lakes Regional • Bismack Kipchirchir qualifies for NCAA Championships |
• 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipient • Two Zips earn Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Eighth at MAC Championships • Mary Munga (6th place) named First-Team All-MAC • Mary Munga earns All-Region honors at NCAA Great Lakes Regional |
| 2024 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipients • Hunter Garretson, Jimmy Harkelroad and Owen Wendl earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors • Hunter Garretson named First-Team CSC Academic All-America recipient • Hunter Garretson earns CSC Academic All-District accolades • Nine Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • MAC Champions (10th title in program history) • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named MAC Coach of the Year • Timothy Chesondin named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Nine MAC titles • Tysean Baronette (4x400 relay), Timothy Chesondin (10,000m), Braylyn Farrington (4x400 relay), Hunter Garretson (pole vault), Jimmy Harkelroad (400m hurdles, 4x400 relay), Brian Masai (1,500m, 5,000m), Dimitrije Novakovic (long jump), Charles Sanders (400m, 4x400 relay) and Owen Wendl (discus) named First-Team All-MAC • Six Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set one school-record marks (5,000m) as part of eight top five all-time performances in outdoor program history |
• 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipients • Maddie Heimlich, Makenna Heimlich, Vanessa Horn, Adaeze Nwokike Joy Nwokike earn CSC Academic All-District accolades • Nine Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Placed fourth at MAC Championships • Joy Nwokike named MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer • Two MAC titles • Joy Nwokike (200m, 400m) named First-Team All-MAC • Three Second-Team All-MAC Performances • Set two school-record marks (400m, 4x400 relay) as part of seven top five all-time performance in outdoor program history |
| 2024 INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD | • Hunter Garretson competed in pole vault at NCAA Championships • Hunter Garretson wins NCAA Elite 90 award • Placed Third at MAC Championships • Eight Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Hunter Garretson named MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer • Brian Masai named MAC Most Outstanding Track Performer • Brian Masai named MAC Most Valuable Performer • AJ Jordan named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Five MAC titles • Hunter Garretson (pole vault), Jimmy Harkelroad (4x400 relay), AJ Jordan (4x400 relay), Brian Masai (mile, 3,000m), Charles Sanders (400m, 4x400 relay), Andrew Styles (4x400 relay) named First-Team All-MAC • Five Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set one school-record mark (3,000m) as part of five top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
• 10 Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Eighth at MAC Championships • One MAC title • Cassidy Allen (pole vault) named First-Team All-MAC • One Second-Team All-MAC performance • Set three school-record marks (5,000m) as part of five top five all-time performances in indoor program history |
| 2023 CROSS COUNTRY | • MAC Champions (first title in program history) • Timothy Chesondin named MAC Freshman of the Year • Timothy Chesondin (2nd place), Brian Masai (3rd place) and Chase Easterling (5th place) named First-Team All-MAC • Titus Kirui (12th place) named Second-Team All-MAC • Timothy Chesondin earns All-Region honors at NCAA Great Lakes Regional • Timothy Chesondin becomes second Zips to qualify for NCAA Championships |
• Placed Fifth at MAC Championships • Mary Munga named MAC Freshman of the Year • Mary Munga (5th place) named First-Team All-MAC |
| 2023 OUTDOOR TRACK | • Hunter Garretson named First-Team Academic All-America honoree by College Sports Communicators • 2023 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipients • Earning USTFCCCA All-Academic honors were Hunter Garretson, William Gross, Jimmy Harkelroad, Oscar Prieto and Milton Wilson • 10 Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • MAC Champions (9th title in program history) • Hunter Garretson posts second-place finish at NCAA Championships in pole vault 18-8.25/5.70m) to earn First-Team All-America honors • William Gross garners second-team All-America accolades (weight throw) • Brian Masai (5,000m) and Charles Sanders (400m) named Honorable Mention All-America recipients • Kendra Reimer-Gonzales named MAC Coach of the Year • Brian Masai named MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Josiah Cox named MAC Freshman Field Performer of the Year • Eight MAC titles • Hunter Garretson (Pole Vault), William Gross (Hammer), Jimmy Harkelroad (400MH | 4x400), Brian Masai (5,000m | 10,000m), Dimitrije Novakovic (Long Jump), Charles Sanders (400m | 4x400), Jameel Williamson (4x400), Quentin Woodall (4x400) named First-Team All-MAC • Six Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set three school-record marks (400MH, 5,000m, 10,000m) as part of seven top-five all-time performances in outdoor program history |
• 2023 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipients • Nine Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Placed Sixth at MAC Championships • Four MAC titles • Amya Clarke (100m | 200m), Makenna Heimlich (800m) and Brynn Rychlik (pole vault) named First-Team All-MAC • Two Second-Team All-MAC Performances • Recorded one top-five all-time performance in outdoor program history |
| 2023 INDOOR TRACK | • Placed third at MAC Championships • Hunter Garretson places 12th at NCAA Championship in pole vault (18-1/5.51m) to earn Second-Team All-America honors • Nine Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Brian Masai named Freshman Track Performer of the Year • Four MAC titles • Nuh Andu (high jump), Hunter Garretson (pole vault), Jimmy Harkelroad (400m) and Oscar Prieto (pole vault) named First-Team All-MAC • Five Second-Team All-MAC performances • Set two school-record marks (3,000m | 5,000m) as part of five top-five all-time performances in indoor program history |
• 10 Zips earns Academic All-MAC honors • Placed 10th at MAC Championships • One MAC titles • Amya Clarke (60m) named First-Team All-MAC • Posted one top-five all-time performance in indoor program history |
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