Akron Men and Eastern Michigan Women Repeat as MAC Indoor T&F Champions
Complete Results
AKRON, Ohio - After an intense final day of competition the women from Eastern Michigan University and the men from the University of Akron held onto the title of MAC Indoor Track & Field Champions. This is the fifth conference championship title for both programs.
Eastern Michigan's Solomon Simmons started the day off by claiming victory in the men's heptathlon with 5608 points. Akron's Alex McCune finished second with 5586 points and his teammate, Quentin Cieslinski took third with 5366.
In the high jump, Akron's Claudia Garcia Jou defended her title from 2015 with a jump of 1.84m (6-00.50). Roosevelt Dotson from Kent State took the men's title with a vertical of 2.12m (6-11.50).
Over in the pit, Akron's Ariadna Ramos Gand claimed the women's triple jump title with the length of 12.88m (42-03.25). Donovan Tolbert of Kent State set a field house record for his hop, skip, and jump of 16.04m (52-07.50).
Defending her shot put title, Akron's Alexis Cooks threw 17.07m (56-00.00) to take the women's crown. Buffalo's Ryan Cribbin tossed 18.12m (59-05.50) to walk away with the men's title.
Akron continued their domininance in field events with Caroline Hasse clearing 4.15m (13-07.25) in the women's pole vault.
Buffalo swept the 60 meter dash with Malayah White crossing at 7.44 for the women, and Darien Johnson edging out Kent State's Wayne Gordon by five thousandths of a second (6.734) to take the men's title.
A Stile Athletics Field House record was set in the 200 meter dash for both the men and women. Western Michigan's Sarita Dotson clocked 23.72 for the women and for the men, Kent State's William Barnes entered a 20.19.
Western Michigan's Ayiana Gaines set the women's MAC Championship record in the 400 meter dash (53.76). On the men's side, Tyler Brown from Eastern Michigan took the top spot with time of 47.24. He podiumed four time over the weekend, earning him the title Men's Most Valuable Performer.
Akron swept the 800 meter run, with Natalie Zidd crossing for the women in 2:07.89 and Clayton Murphy for the men in 1:48.65, a MAC Championship record. Murphy also claimed first in the men's one mile run (4:07.19).
Eastern Michigan's Alsu Bogdanova claimed the women's one mile run title with a time of 4:53.58. She then went on to take third place in EMU's 1-2-3 sweep of the women's 3000 meter run. Jordann McDermitt crossed first for the Eagles in 9:35.45 and Sofie Gallein followed with 9:37.56. Bogdanova had three top three finishes throughout the weekend, giving her the title, Women's Most Valuable Performer.
The Eastern Michigan men also went 1-2-3 in the 3000 meter run. Willy Fink defended his title by crossing in 8:14.63. Mitchell Lenneman followed behind at 8:17.73 and Lahsene Bouchikhi finished third in 8:20.34.
In the 60 meter hurdles, Le'Tristan Pledger of Northern Illinois placed first in the women's final with a time of 8.35. On the men's side, Kent State's William Barnes set a field house record with his time of 7.69.
In the final event of the day, Western Michigan's 4x400 meter relay team of Ayiana Gaines, Naiomi Dulaney, Jordan Anderson, and Sarita Dotson claimed the women's title by crossing the line in 3:40.27. The Akron men's team of Miles Baldwin, Taron Slone, Brent Gray, and Clayton Murphy were able to defend their 2015 title and set a MAC Championship record by finishing in 3:07.58.
The NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are set for March 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama. Selections will be released on March 1st.
Men's Team Results
1. Akron 145.5
2. Eastern Michigan 135
3. Kent State 109
4. Buffalo 71.5
5. Central Michigan 64
Women's Team Results
1. Eastern Michigan 127
2. Akron 126
3. Kent State 87
4. Northern Illinois 75.5
5. Western Michigan 46
6. Buffalo 44
7. Central Michigan 41
8. Bowling Green 39
9. Miami 29
10. Ohio 21. 5
11. Ball State 14
12. Toledo 13
Coach of the Year
M: Dennis Mitchell, Akron
W: Sue Parks, Eastern Michigan
Most Valuable Performer
M: Tyler Brown, Eastern Michigan
W: Alsu Bogdanova, Eastern Michigan
Most Outstanding Track Performer
M: Clayton Murphy, Akron
W: Ayiana Gaines, Western Michigan
Most Outstanding Field Performer
M: Anthony Jones, Eastern Michigan
W: Jackie Siefring, Akron
Freshman Track Performer of the Year
M: Ben Hayes, Central Michigan
W: Jessica Harris, Eastern Michigan
Freshman Field Performer of the Year
M: Kevin Weiler, Central Michigan
W: Jade Nolan, Bowling Green
Women’s All-MAC 1st Team
Alexis Cooks, Akron (SP, WT)
Ariadna Ramos Gand, Akron (TJ)
Caroline Hasse, Akron (PV)
Claudia Garcia Jou, Akron (HJ)
Jaclyn Siefring, Akron (Pentathlon)
Natalie Zidd, Akron (800m)
Malayah White, Buffalo (60m)
Alsu Bogdanova, EMU (Mile, 5000)
Natalie Cizmas, EMU (DMR)
Sofie Gallein, EMU (DMR)
Khadesha James, EMU (DMR)
Jordann McDermitt, EMU (3000)
Sydney Meyers, EMU (DMR)
Roseanne Erickson, KSU (LJ)
Le'Tristan Pledger, NIU (60Hurdles)
Jordan Anderson, WMU (4x400)
Sarita Dotson, WMU (200m, 4x400)
Naiomi Dulaney, WMU (4x400)
Ayiana Gaines, WMU (400m, 4x400)
Women’s All-MAC 2nd Team
Daniella Johnson, Akron (LJ)
Rebecca Szabo, Akron (PV)
Devene Brown, CMU (SP)
Jessica Harris, EMU (60m)
Dior Delophont, KSU (HJ, LJ)
Taylor Farquhar, KSU (4x400)
Gabrielle Figueroa, KSU (WT)
Chelsea Laury, KSU (4x400)
Jorian Ordway, KSU (4x400)
Tyler Williams, KSU (4x400)
Megan Beaver, MIA (DMR)
Laura Bess, MIA (DMR)
Alexus Jimson-Mill, MIA (60Hurdles)
Alesha Vovk, MIA (DMR)
Kathie Wollney, MIA (DMR)
Kedisha Dallas, NIU (200m)
Hope Schmelzle, NIU (800m)
Asia Thomas, NIU (400m)
Chanda Cuckler, Ohio (Pentathlon)
Men’s All-MAC 1st Team
Miles Baldwin, Akron (4x400)
Garrett Crichlow, Akron (DMR)
Brent Gray, Akron (4x400)
Clayton Murphy, Akron (800m, Mile, DMR, 4x400)
Matthew Rowland, Akron (PV)
Taron Slone, Akron (4x400, DMR)
Daniel Zupan, Akron (DMR)
Ryan Cribbin, Buffalo (SP)
Darien Johnson, Buffalo (60m)
Tyler Brown, EMU (400m, LJ)
Willy Fink, EMU (3000, 5000)
Anthony Jones, EMU (WT)
Solomon Simmons, EMU (Heptathlon)
William Barnes, KSU (200m, 60 Hurdles)
Roosevelt Dotson, KSU (HJ)
Donovan Tolbert, KSU (TJ)
Men’s All-MAC 2nd Team
Alex McCure, Akron (Heptathlon)
Michael Ohiembor, Akron (TJ)
Cody Stine, Akron (HJ)
Brian Crimmins, Buffalo (Mile, DMR)
Craig Kaiser, Buffalo (DMR)
Treyvon Mask, Buffalo (DMR)
Tyler Scheving, Buffalo (DMR)
Shane Moffo, CMU (60 Hurdles)
Cole Walderzak, CMU (WT)
Kevin Weiler, CMU (SP)
Hlynur Andresson, EMU (5000)
Scott Bradley, EMU (800m)
Jeff Elam, EMU (4x400)
Mitchell Lenneman, EMU (3000)
Mason Waynes, EMU (4x400)
Matthew Williams, EMU (4x400)
Wayne Gordon, KSU (60m)
Jonathan Grant, KSU (LJ)
Jesse Oxley, KSU (PV)
