Final Results
KALAMAZOO, Michigan - In three days of competition, the University of Akron accumulated 166.5 points, earning them the title 2017 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champions. MAC Coach of the Year Dennis Mitchell and the Zips also captured the MAC Indoor Track & Field title. This is the first time in program history UA has captured both the indoor and outdoor titles in back-to-back season.
The morning started off with Kent State's Reggie Jagers picking up his second individual title of the championships. The senior broke the discus meet and conference record with a throw of 61.49m (201-09). With his two titles at the championship and record breaking showing in the discus, Jagers was named the Most Outstanding Men's Field Performer.
In the high jump, Akron sophomore Curtis Richardson leapt 2.13m (6-11.75) to take the title. DJ Ohlson of Kent State posted a vertical of 2.09m (6-10.25) to finish second, while Eastern Michigan's Cameron Hart cleared 2.05m (6-08.50) to claim third.
Akron claimed gold in the first running even of the day. The 4x100 relay team of Hakeem Lawrence, Miles Baldwin, Joe Harrington, and Taron Slone finished in 40.36. Buffalo's quad of Gali, Cummiskey, Fuller, and Billian crossed second in 40.55. Miami crossed third in 41.54 with the team of Hunter, Cole, Muresan, and Asseh.
UA's Miles Baldwin (Akron) earned an individual title in the 400m with a 47.06 performance. Josh Gali of Buffalo followed .1 second behind to take second, while Kent State's Jason Drake crossed in 47.67 to take third.
Kent State's Craig Stevens grabbed the triple jump title with a 16.06m (52-08.25) jump. Akron's Michael Ohiembor finished second with a leap of 15.79m (51-09.75) and Central Michigan's Jake Peister took third after posting a 15.32m (50-03.25).
Adding to his 4x1 relay title, UA's Hakeem Lawrence claimed the 100m crown with a time of 10.22. The senior was honored as the Most Outstanding Men's Track Performer based on his championship showcase. Buffalo's Brian Cummiskey notched a 10.38 to take second and Eastern Michigan's Leighton Antonio finished third in 10.48.
Later in the meet, Antonio gained an individual title in the 200m. The junior finished in 21 flat, followed by Buffalo's Gali in 21.01 and Akron's Taron Slone in 21.25.
Miami claimed the 1-2 spot in the 1500m. Stephen Biebelhausen crossed first in 3:47.97 and Andrew Dusing followed in 3:48.81. Eastern Michigan's Willy Fink rounded out the top three finishing in 3:49.15.
Buffalo's Ryan Billian reclaimed the 110m hurdle title with a time of 14.11. The redshirt senior first claimed the crown in 2013. Kent State sophomore Dairius Ragland crossed in 14.41 to take second and Eastern Michigan senior Bryce Lindsey grabbed third with a time of 14.45.
UB would add another MAC individual title holder to their roster with Mitchell Moore crossing the finish line in 52.76 to take the 400m hurdle crown. Miami's Aaron Muresan took the silver with a time of 54.83. Eastern Michigan's Elijah Barber registered a 55.21 to take the bronze.
The Bulls continued to rack up individual honors with a 1-2 finish in the 800m. Tyler Scheving took the top spot with a 1:52.33 finish. Brian Crimmins followed behind in 1:52.76 and Akron's Sean Poholski rounded out the top three with a 1:53.01 finish.
Eastern Michigan capped off the individual running events with a 1-2-3 finish in the 5000m. Redshirt senior Willy Fink ran a 14:38.22, garnering a 3-peat. Lahsen Bouchikhi followed in second at 14:38.23 and Hlynur Andresson crossed third in 14:50.91. Fink also defended his title as Most Valuable Performer after his first place finish yesterday in the 3000m steeplechase.
The final event of the evening went to Buffalo's 4x400 relay team of Gyasi Morris, Josh Gali, Brian Cummiskey, and Mitchell Moore. The quad finished in 3:12.49 to take the 2017 crown. Akron's team of Harrington, Ohiembor, Slone, and Baldwin finished second in 3:12.85. Dye, Torpy, Muresan, and Minosky of Miami crossed in 3:18.26 to claim third.
The Akron Zips finished the championship with 166.5 points. Eastern Michigan followed behind in second place with 140 points and Buffalo took third with 117. Kent State (112), Miami (72), and Central Michigan (42.5) respectively completed the field.
Men's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Men's Most Valuable Performer
Willy Fink, Eastern Michigan
Men's Field Freshman of the Year
TJ Lawson, Kent State
Men's Track Freshman of the Year
Sean Torpy, Miami
Most Outstanding Men's Field Performer
Reggie Jagers, Kent State
Most Outstanding Men's Track Performer
Hakeem Lawrence, Akron
First Team All-MAC
Miles Baldwin, Akron (400m, 4x100)
Joe Harrington, Akron (4x100)
Jordan Latimer, Akron (long jump)
Hakeem Lawrence, Akron (100m, 4x100)
Matt Ludwig, Akron (pole vault)
Curtis Richardson, Akron (high jump)
Taron Slone, Akron (4x100)
Ryan Billian, UB (110m hurdles)
Brian Cummiskey, UB (4x400)
Josh Gali, UB (4x400)
Mitchell Moore, UB (400m hurdles, 4x400)
Gyasi Morris, UB (4x400)
Devon Patterson, UB (shot put)
Tyler Scheving, UB (800m)
Leighton Antonio, EMU (200m)
Willy Fink, EMU (5000m, 3000m steeplechase)
Nick Raymond, EMU (10000m)
Derek Ziegenfuss, EMU (javelin)
TJ Lawson, Kent State (decathlon)
Reggie Jagers, Kent State (hammer, discus)
Craig Stevens, Kent State (triple jump)
Stephen Biebelhausen, Miami (1500m)
Second Team All-MAC
Phillip Jagers, Akron (discus)
Terrell McClain, Akron (long jump)
Michael Ohiembor, Akron (triple jump, 4x400)
Brian Crimmins, UB (800m)
Mitchell Fuller, UB (4x100)
Mike Morgan, UB (decathlon)
Joseph Avery, CMU (javelin)
Hlynur Andresson, EMU (3000m steeplechase)
Lahsen Bouchikhi, EMU (5000m, 10000m)
Anthony Jones, EMU (hammer throw)
Christian Chapmen, Kent State (pole vault)
DJ Ohlson, Kent State (high jump)
David Paliscak, Kent State (shot put)
Dairius Ragland, Kent State (110m hurdles)
Andrew Dusing, Miami (1500m)
Aaron Muresan, Miami (400m hurdles)
