Championship Central
Final Results
VIDEO: Akron's Mackenzie Andrews
VIDEO: Akron HC Dennis Mitchell
MUNCIE, Indiana- The Akron Zips collected 120 points throughout three days of competition to win their third-straight Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship banner.
With a hop, skip and a jump of 12.42m (40'9"), NIU's Jehvania Whyte grabbed her second consecutive outdoor triple jump title. Buffalo's Crystal Henderson garnered second place with a jump of 12.33m (40'5.5") and Miami's Hannah Falcione landed third at 12.06m (39'7").
Akron's Abigale Wilson defended her discus title with a throw of 55.08m (108'8"). Kent State freshman Gabrielle Bailey took second with a throw of 54.27m (178'1") and CMU's Erin Howard landed in third with a loft of 52.92m (173'7").
In the jump, Central Michigan's Calli Stemple took the top spot on the podium in the with a clearance of 1.71m (5'7.25"). Kent State's Talia Falco and Akron's Maike Anstett also cleared that height, but respectively finished 2-3 based on attempts.
The first running title of the day went to the Eastern Michigan 4x100 relay team of Jessica Harris, Micah Johnston, Brittni Mason and Kolby Ganther. The quad posted a track and MAC Championship record of 45.04. Ball State crossed second in 45.20 and Western Michigan followed at 46.04 to claim third.
Akron's Mackenzie Andrews picked up her second individual title of the championships, finishing the 1500m in 4:27.51. Toledo took the 2-3 spots with Petronela Simiuc crossing in 4:27.86 and Janelle Noe in 4:28.10.
Akron continued to impress in the running events with Dara Perry defending her 100m hurdles title. The senior crossed in 13.55. Eastern Michigan's Allyson Goff just edged out NIU's Remy Amarteifio for second place at 13.60.
Miami's Olivia Bechtel took the 400m crown with a time of 52.85. Eastern Michigan's Micah Johnston followed in at 53.55 and CMU's Gabrielle Beauvais crossed third in 53.78.
Ball State's Bryeana Byrdsong flew to the finish line in 11.51 (wind-aided) to claim the 100m MAC title. Western Michigan's Madison Meredith crossed just .01 second later, while Eastern Michigan's Jessica Harris finished in third at 11.56.
Western Michigan's Sarah Anderson successfully defended her 800m title with a time of 2:06.96. Kent State's Rachel Banks finished second in 2:09.04 and Ohio's Emily Deering crossed at 2:09.45 to take third.
WMU's Erin Dowd won her second consecutive 400m hurdle crown, setting a track record in the process with a time of 58.19. NIU's Neshay Curtis followed at 58.78 and Akron's Sara Foster came in third at 59.96.
Kent State's Nicole Yeargin crossed in a flashing 23.52 to win the 200m. Ball State's Bryeana Byrdsong finished .01 later to take second and Miami's Olivia Bechtel garnered third at 23.88.
Sydney Meyers became Eastern Michigan's fourth consecutive 5000m champion, reaching the finish line in 16:45.28. Central Michigan's Megan O'Neil followed in at 16:48.43 to take second and Bowling Green's Rachel Walny grabbed third with a time of 16:51.15.
In the last event of the day, Miami ran away with their second consecutive 4x400 relay title. The team of Faith Baxter, Olivia Bechtel, Kalliopi Kountouri and Emily Hooker placed on top of the podium with a time of 3:40.96. Central Michigan crossed second in 3:42.98 and Ball State finished third in 3:43.65.
In the final team standings, Akron collected 120 points throughout the three-day competition. Central Michigan followed in second with 117.5 points, while Eastern Michigan listed 77 to take third. Kent State (75.5), Northern Illinois (71) and Miami (70) placed 4-5-6. Bowling Green (69), Western Michigan (63.5) and Ball State (57) respectively finished 7-8-9. Toledo (49), Ohio (27) and Buffalo (22.5) completed the field in order.
Women's Coach of the Year
Dennis Mitchell, Akron
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Bryant Wilson, Central Michigan
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Bryeana Byrdsong, Ball State
Women's Field Freshman of the Year
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State
Women's Track Freshman of the Year
Sara Foster, Akron
Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer
Olivia Bechtel, Miami
Most Outstanding Women's Field Performer
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green
Women's First Team All-MAC
Mackenzie Andrews, Akron (1500, Steeple)
Lucy Bryan, Akron (PV)
Sara Foster, Akron (Hep)
Dara Perry, Akron (100H)
Abigale Wilson, Akron (Discus)
Bryeana Byrdsong, BSU (100)
Kaila Butler, BGSU (HT)
Aliyah Gustafson, BGSU (SP)
Megan O'Neil, CMU (10000)
Calli Stemple, CMU (HJ)
Nadia Williams, CMU (LJ)
Kolby Ganther, EMU (4x100)
Jessica Harris, EMU (4x100)
Micah Johnston, EMU (4x100)
Brittni Mason, EMU (4x100)
Sydney Meyers, EMU (5000)
Nicole Yeargin, KSU (200)
Faith Baxter, MIA (4x400)
Olivia Bechtel, MIA (400, 4x400)
Danielle Collier, MIA (Javelin)
Kalliopi Kountouri, MIA (4x400)
Emily Hooker, MIA (4x400)
Jehvania Whyte, NIU (TJ)
Sarah Anderson, WMU (800)
Erin Dowd, WMU (400H)
Women's Second Team All-MAC
Abby Helminiak, Akron (PV)
Haley Hess, Akron (Steeplechase)
Ivy McKee, BSU (4x100)
Jasmine Harris, BSU (4x100)
Peyton Stewart, BSU (4x100)
Rachel Walny, BGSU (10000)
Crystal Henderson, UB (TJ)
Gabriella Beauvais, CMU (4x400)
Samantha Cuneo, CMU (4x400)
Simonae Dismuke, CMU (4x400)
Janelle Perry, CMU (LJ)
Jayden Williams, CMU (4x400)
Allyson Goff, EMU (100H)
Micah Johnston, EMU (400)
Gabrielle Bailey, KSU (Discus)
Rachel Banks, KSU (800)
Talia Falco, KSU (HJ)
Neshay Curtis, NIU (400H)
Gaza Odunaiya, Ohio (HT)
Tajah Haley, Ohio (Javelin)
Petronela Simiuc, UT (1500)
Allison Hufnagel, WMU (Hep)
Madison Meredith, WMU (100)
