Final Results
TOLEDO, Ohio - The race for the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship title came down to the final event of the day, triple jump. Michael Ohiembor recorded a jump of 15.30m, earning second place to give the Akron Zips enough points to claim the conference title.
The morning started off with pole vault, which was moved inside due to rain. Akron’s Matthew Rowland marked 5.30m (17’4.50”) to take first place. Kent State’s Jesse Oxley took second at 5.10m (16’8.75”) and Akron freshman Tyler Frank picked up third at 5.00m (16’4.75”).
Central Michigan’s Cole Walderzak repeats as discus champion and earned a conference record in the process with a throw of 58.47m (191’0.25”). The senior also selected as the Most Outstanding Men’s Field Performer.
In the high jump, Akron freshman Cody Stine leapt 6’11” to take the title. Peter Stefanski of Miami posted a vertical of 6’9” to finish second, while Akron’s Curtis Richardson cleared the same height, but picked up third for missing the first time.
The first running final of the day was the 4x100m relay. Kent State’s team of William Barnes, Jonathan Grant, Brian Smith, and Wayne Gordon posted a time of 40.10 to win gold.
Akron’s Clayton Murphy took home the 1500m run title for the third consecutive year with a time of 3:45.83. The junior also defended the gold in the 800m run with a time of 1:55.39. Murphy and teammates Sean Weems, Miles Baldwin, and Brent Gray edged Eastern Michigan by three quarters of a second to take first place.
Kent State’s William Barnes also claimed his third consecutive title, by finished the 110m hurdles in 13.70. The senior also claimed the title in the 200m with a time of 20.88. Barnes was also chosen as the Most Outstanding Men’s Track Performer.
Another three-peat performance came from Eastern Michigan junior Tyler Brown in the 400m with his finish of 46.55. Central Michigan’s Benjamin Hayes finished second with a time of 47.33. Hayes was selected as the Men’s Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
In the 100m dash, Kent State’s Wayne Gordon became a four-time MAC Champion after crossing in 10.44. UB’s Darien Johnson followed just .04 seconds later to claim second and Akron’s Kwadarrius Smith posted a 10.50 to take third.
After a second place finish in the 400m hurdles at last year’s championship, Central Michigan’s Ziemowit Dutkiewicz earned redemption this year by crossing the line in 51.34.
Eastern Michigan finished off the individual running events going 1-2 in the 5000m. Willy Fink crossed first at 14:43.83 to repeat as champion and his teammate, Nick Raymond finished two seconds later. Fink also defended his title as Most Valuable Performer after his first place finish yesterday in the 3000m steeplechase.
Akron Head Coach, Dennis Mitchell was selected by his peers as MAC Men’s Coach of the Year.
The Akron Zips finished the championship with 166 points. Eastern Michigan followed six points behind in second place and Kent State took third with 136.5 points. Central Michigan (81.5), Miami (55), and Buffalo (52) respectively completed the field.
The teams have about a week and a half to prep for NCAA Regionals on May 26-28.
Men’s Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men’s Most Valuable Performer
Willy Fink, Eastern Michigan
Men’s Track Freshman of the Year
Benjamin Hayes, Central Michigan
Men’s Field Freshman of the Year
Derek Ziegenfuss, Eastern Michigan
Most Outstanding Men’s Field Performer
Cole Walderzak, Central Michigan
Most Outstanding Men’s Track Performer
William Barnes, Kent State
Men’s First Team All-MAC
Miles Baldwin, Akron (4x400)
Brent Gray, Akron (4x400)
Clayton Murphy, Akron (800, 1500, 4x400)
Joseph Oduho, Akron (long jump)
Matthew Rowland, Akron (pole vault)
Cody Stine, Akron (high jump)
Sean Weems, Akron (4x400)
Ryan Cribbin, Buffalo (shot put)
Ziemowit Dutkiewicz, Central Michigan (400 hurdles)
Cole Walderzak, Central Michigan (discus, hammer)
Tyler Brown, Eastern Michigan (400)
Willy Fink, Eastern Michigan (5000, steeple)
Nick Raymond, Eastern Michigan (10000)
Solomon Simmons, Eastern Michigan (deca.)
Derek Ziegenfuss, Eastern Michigan (javelin)
William Barnes, Kent State (200, 110 hurdles, 4x100)
Jonathan Grant, Kent State (4x100)
Wayne Gordon, Kent State (100, 4x100)
Brian Smith, Kent State (4x100)
Donovan Tolbert, Kent State (triple jump)
Men’s Second Team All-MAC
Ian Behm, Akron (javelin)
Alex McCune, Akron (deca.)
Hakeen Lawrence, Akron (4x100)
Terrell McClain, Akron (long jump)
Michael Ohiembor, Akron (triple jump)
Taron Slone, Akron (4x100)
Kwadarrius Smith, Akron (4x100)
Anthony Young, Akron (4x100)
Daniel Zupan, Akron (steeple)
Darien Johnson, Buffalo (100)
Benjamin Hayes, Central Michigan (400)
Shane Moffo, Central Michigan (110 hurdles)
Mason Waynes, Eastern Michigan (4x400)
Keith Williams, Eastern Michigan (hammer)
Matthew Williams, Eastern Michigan (4x400)
Reggie Jagers, Kent State (discus)
Jesse Oxley, Kent State (pole vault)
David Paliscak, Kent State (shot put)
Jacob Swords, Kent State (800)
Andrew Dusing, Miami (1500)
Peter Stefanski, Miami (high jump)
Joe Stewart, Miami (10000)
