The University of Akron Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Sprints Coach
- Phone:
- (330) 972-2381
LeShaunte Edwards, who served as a volunteer coach for twoseasons, began his full-time duties at Akron during August of 2004.He brings his own world-class knowledge to the Akron sprinters andhurdlers. Edwards, who competed as an elite-level runner well pasthis time at Akron, ran for the Zips from 1999-2002, earning threeAll-American honors and setting - and still owning -every UA sprintrecord 200 meters and under.
In 2007, it was the strides in the Akron men's sprinters madewhich led to the program's best ever finishes at the MACChampionships at the time - third at the indoor meet and second atthe outdoor. During the indoor season, the men's only championshipscame from James Howell (200) and Anthony Harris (400) with Harrisadding a second-place finish in the 200. During the outdoor season,Harris won the MAC 200 and Howell placed second in the 400 with aUA record time of 46.81. Mike Meditz additionally broke his own UArecord in the 400m hurdles and, along with Howell and Harris, brokethe school record in the 4x400 relay.
Several Akron records fell on the women's side as well in 2007under Edwards' guidance. Jessica Bright set records in the 55, 60and 100 meter hurdles, while MAC Indoor 200 champion CorineGavin-Hall set the event record. Also, current Akron seniorBrittany Hocker set the UA 400 meter records for both indoors(53.39) and outdoors (54.22) in 2006 before sitting out last seasonwith an injury.
As good as 2007 was, 2008 was better as the women swept theirthird straight MAC Indoor and Outdoor titles, the men finished aprogram-best second at the MAC Indoors and the men won the MACOutdoors for their first title. During the indoor season, Thomaswon the 200m and Zach Harper was runner-up in the 60m hurdles forthe men, while Hocker won the 200 for the women. During the outdoorseason, Akron went 1-2 in the 200m with winner Aaron Dobson andrunner-up Thomas, while Hocker repeated in the 200m. Also, threemen - Dobson, Thomas and Lorenzo Brazzell -competed in five eventsat the 2008 NCAA Mid-East Regional with Hocker (in the 100m and200m) and LaTalia Jones (200m) also qualifying for theregional.
The 2009 season saw a young crop of sprinters burst on thescene. The Zips went 1-2 in the men's 60m hurdles as freshmanTyshaun Peoples set the UA record in the event and formerrecord-holder Zach Harper was second. Also, freshman Phil Fergusonwon the MAC 200m indoor title. During the outdoor season, he wasMAC champion in the 100 and on the winning 4x100 relay team, whileplacing second in the 200m. Harper rallied to win the MAC 110mhurdles, while People was runner-up. Ferguson qualified for theMideast Regional in the 100m and 200m, while Dobson qualified forthe 200m,
Prior to becoming a full-time assistant with the Zips, Edwardsran at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif. He had acareer-best 12th-place finish in the 200 meters at the trials,advancing to the semifinal round for the first time in his career.Edwards qualified for the trials by running a 'B' qualifying timeof 20.42 in the 200 meters at the Jesse Owens Track and FieldClassic at Ohio State, on May 1. His time, then the eighth-fastestin the United States and 12th-best in the world in 2004, set aJesse Owens Memorial Stadium track record. Edwards held theprevious mark of 20.71, set at the 2002 Classic.
Edwards, a 2002 UA graduate and native of Garfield Heights, Ohio(Rhodes HS), was fifth in the 200 meters at the 2004 USATF IndoorChampionships (21.63), won the invitational 200 meters at the DrakeRelays, April 24. He clocked a time of 20.99 and alsofinished second in the 100 meters (10.68) at that event.
Edwards was a three-time MAC Championship MVP honoree and one ofthe all-time greats to wear the Blue and Gold, being the first malestudent-athlete at UA to earn NCAA All-America honors three timesin a career.
Edwards placed seventh in the 200 meters at the 2000 NCAAOutdoor Track and Field Championship. The following year, he placedeighth in the 200 and 11th in the 60 meters at the 2001 NCAAIndoors.
He also earned the James Horrigan Award as the Akron MaleAthlete Of The Year three-straight times, from 1999-2002.
He holds seven school records including the 100 meters (10.23)and 200 meters (20.34) outdoors and the 60 meters (6.67) and 200meters (20.92) indoors.
Edwards is married to former UA sprinter Deanna Caldwell.
