The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, March 21
High Point, N.C.
All Day
University of Akron
vs
Bob Davidson Team Challenge
Akron Opens Outdoor Campaign at Bob Davidson Team Challenge
March 20 | Track & Field
BOB DAVIDSON TEAM CHALLENGE: MEET INFORMATION | LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team is set to commence the outdoor portion of its 2025 campaign traveling to North Carolina to compete at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge hosted by High Point on Friday and Saturday (March 21-22).
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to High Point, N.C., to participate in the Bob Davidson Team Challenge.
Competition gets underway with the men's and women's hammer and javelin on Friday before the meet concludes on Saturday with the men's high jump and women's long jump, pole vault, shot put and triple jump at noon before the men's and women's 4x400 relays wrap up action on the track at 5:15 p.m.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
GARRETSON EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES:
Akron redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) captured First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a third-place performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 14 in Virginia Beach, Va.
A five-time All-America honoree, Garretson captured First-Team laurels for the third time in his decorated career eclipsing 18-6.75 (5.66m).
After passing at the opening height of 17-7 (5.36m), Garretson cleared the next two bars of 17-11 (5.46m) and 18-3 (5.56m) on his initial runs at the heights.
He needed two attempts to clear 18-4.75 (5.61m) before besting the bar at 18-6.75 (5.66m) on his final attempt.
After missing his initial attempt at 18-8.34 (5.71m), Garretson passed his next two jumps. He was unable to clear the bar at 18-10.75 (5.76m) on each of his attempts and finished with a third-place effort.
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on March 14.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson became the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field and ninth overall three-time honoree across all sports in Division I.
The honor was the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
AKRON GARNERS TRIO OF MAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SPECIALTY AWARDS:
Hunter Garretson and freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2025 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on March 7.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Garretson earned his fifth consecutive MAC indoor pole title and eighth overall league championship besting the field at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1 with a mark of 17-9 (5.41m). His five indoor conference pole vault titles and eight overall combined (indoor/outdoor) pole vault championships are the most in league history.
Kipchirchir turned in a stellar effort at the MAC Championships garnering Most Valuable Performer and Freshman of the Year accolades with runner-up finishes in the men's mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
He opened his championship run crossing the line second in the men's 5,000 meters in a career-best time of 14:29.74, the fifth-fastest time in indoor program history. In final-day competition, Kipchirchir placed second in the men's mile in a time of 4:12.45 before capturing Second-Team All-MAC honors in the men's 3,000 meters in a time of 8:11.78.
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 28-March 1) scoring 54 points en route to securing its ninth overall indoor league title and first since 2020.
The team produced three All-MAC performances, with redshirt senior Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) earning First-Team honors in the 400M and 4x400 relay alongside sophomores Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas), while also receiving Second-Team recognition in the 200M.
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Harkelroad, Jordan, and Styles, claimed victory, as did Harkelroad in the 400M. Additionally, Jordan secured third-place finishes in the 60M and 200M, while junior Tysean Baronette (Middletown, Del.) (4th – 200M), sophomore Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.) (4th – 60M), Farrington (4th – 400M), and Styles (5th – 400M) delivered strong performances. Under expert coaching, the team has recorded the MAC's top times this season in the 400M and 4x400 relay, along with the second-best marks in the 60M and 200M.
AKRON CROSS COUNTRY EARNS USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC ACCOLADES: The Akron cross country team under the leadership of Zips' director of track and field/cross country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales and cross country head coach Evans Kiptoo garnered recognition for the squad's efforts in the classroom as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) tabbed Akron a Division I All-Academic team for the 2024 campaign.
The Akron men's squad was honored for recording a 3.335 GPA, while the women's team garnered recognition for its work in the classroom for the 11th straight year with a 3.356 cumulative GPA.
Overall, 209 women's teams and 183 men's teams earned All-Academic team honors.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2025 indoor season as the Zips were rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for three events released on March 11, 2025, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated 14th nationally in the men's shot put, 19th in the women's weight throw and 28th in the men's triple jump.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron had two individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 indoor campaign as Hunter Garretson was second in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-10.75/5.76m).
Additionally, senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.) was 45th in the women's pole vault (13-10/4.22m).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 28 overall top five performances and five school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 indoor campaign.
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron track and field team is set to commence the outdoor portion of its 2025 campaign traveling to North Carolina to compete at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge hosted by High Point on Friday and Saturday (March 21-22).
UP NEXT: Akron will travel to High Point, N.C., to participate in the Bob Davidson Team Challenge.
Competition gets underway with the men's and women's hammer and javelin on Friday before the meet concludes on Saturday with the men's high jump and women's long jump, pole vault, shot put and triple jump at noon before the men's and women's 4x400 relays wrap up action on the track at 5:15 p.m.
Live stats will be available at GoZips.com.
GARRETSON EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES:
Akron redshirt senior Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) captured First-Team All-America accolades on the strength of a third-place performance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 14 in Virginia Beach, Va.
A five-time All-America honoree, Garretson captured First-Team laurels for the third time in his decorated career eclipsing 18-6.75 (5.66m).
After passing at the opening height of 17-7 (5.36m), Garretson cleared the next two bars of 17-11 (5.46m) and 18-3 (5.56m) on his initial runs at the heights.
He needed two attempts to clear 18-4.75 (5.61m) before besting the bar at 18-6.75 (5.66m) on his final attempt.
After missing his initial attempt at 18-8.34 (5.71m), Garretson passed his next two jumps. He was unable to clear the bar at 18-10.75 (5.76m) on each of his attempts and finished with a third-place effort.
GARRETSON NAMED ELITE 90 WINNER: Hunter Garretson was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on March 14.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson became the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field and ninth overall three-time honoree across all sports in Division I.
The honor was the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
AKRON GARNERS TRIO OF MAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SPECIALTY AWARDS:
Hunter Garretson and freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its 2025 Indoor Track and Field Men's Most Outstanding Track and Field Performers of the Year, the league unveiled on March 7.
Additionally, Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed by his peers as the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Garretson earned his fifth consecutive MAC indoor pole title and eighth overall league championship besting the field at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1 with a mark of 17-9 (5.41m). His five indoor conference pole vault titles and eight overall combined (indoor/outdoor) pole vault championships are the most in league history.
Kipchirchir turned in a stellar effort at the MAC Championships garnering Most Valuable Performer and Freshman of the Year accolades with runner-up finishes in the men's mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
He opened his championship run crossing the line second in the men's 5,000 meters in a career-best time of 14:29.74, the fifth-fastest time in indoor program history. In final-day competition, Kipchirchir placed second in the men's mile in a time of 4:12.45 before capturing Second-Team All-MAC honors in the men's 3,000 meters in a time of 8:11.78.
The Akron's men's team under Overby's tutelage dominated the sprints and hurdles at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships (Feb. 28-March 1) scoring 54 points en route to securing its ninth overall indoor league title and first since 2020.
The team produced three All-MAC performances, with redshirt senior Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) earning First-Team honors in the 400M and 4x400 relay alongside sophomores Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.), AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) and Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas), while also receiving Second-Team recognition in the 200M.
The 4x400M relay squad, consisting of Farrington, Harkelroad, Jordan, and Styles, claimed victory, as did Harkelroad in the 400M. Additionally, Jordan secured third-place finishes in the 60M and 200M, while junior Tysean Baronette (Middletown, Del.) (4th – 200M), sophomore Rennie Gittens, Jr. (Miami, Fla.) (4th – 60M), Farrington (4th – 400M), and Styles (5th – 400M) delivered strong performances. Under expert coaching, the team has recorded the MAC's top times this season in the 400M and 4x400 relay, along with the second-best marks in the 60M and 200M.
AKRON CROSS COUNTRY EARNS USTFCCCA ALL-ACADEMIC ACCOLADES: The Akron cross country team under the leadership of Zips' director of track and field/cross country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales and cross country head coach Evans Kiptoo garnered recognition for the squad's efforts in the classroom as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) tabbed Akron a Division I All-Academic team for the 2024 campaign.
The Akron men's squad was honored for recording a 3.335 GPA, while the women's team garnered recognition for its work in the classroom for the 11th straight year with a 3.356 cumulative GPA.
Overall, 209 women's teams and 183 men's teams earned All-Academic team honors.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2025 indoor season as the Zips were rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for three events released on March 11, 2025, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.
Akron is rated 14th nationally in the men's shot put, 19th in the women's weight throw and 28th in the men's triple jump.
ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2025 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron had two individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2025 indoor campaign as Hunter Garretson was second in the nation in the men's pole vault (18-10.75/5.76m).
Additionally, senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.) was 45th in the women's pole vault (13-10/4.22m).
CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 28 overall top five performances and five school records in program history to the record book during the 2025 indoor campaign.
| NAME | EVENT/DATE | RANK – MARK |
| Keegan Digby | Shot Put – Dec. 6 | No. 5 – 57-6.25 (17.53m) |
| Brook Boes | Weight Throw – Dec. 6 | No. 5 – 64-7 (19.68m) |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Dec. 6 | No. 3 – 54.97 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Dec. 6 | No. 4 – 24.09 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Jan. 10 | No. 2 – 23.94 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Jan. 11 | No. 3 – 54.56 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 200M – Jan. 17 | No. 1 – 23.79 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Jan. 17 | No. 3 – 54.46 |
| Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 3,000M – Jan. 17 | No. 4 – 8:08.57 |
| Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – Jan. 17 | No. 3 – 18-10.50 (5.75m) |
| Keegan Digby | Men's Shot Put – Jan. 17 | No. 5 – 58-3.25 (17.76m) |
| Mary Munga | Women's Mile – Jan. 25 | No. 5 – 4:50.08 |
| Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's Mile – Jan. 31 | No. 4 – 4:05.32 |
| Hunter Garretson | Men's Pole Vault – Feb. 7 | No. 3 – 18-10.75 (5.76m) |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 3,000M – Feb. 8 | No. 5 – 9:45.11 |
| Rukia Omulisia | Women's 60MH – Feb. 8 | No. 4 – 8.48 |
| Mercy Jebitok | Women's 5,000M – Feb. 15 | No. 1 – 16:23.67 |
| Braylyn Farrington Jimmy Harkelroad AJ Jordan Andrew Styles |
Men's 4x400 Relay – Feb. 15 | No. 4 – 3:11.12 |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 400M – Feb. 14 | No. 1 – 53.29 |
| Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 3,000M – Feb. 14 | No. 1 – 7:57.23 |
| Moses Lekokei | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 14 | No. 2 – 13:56.25 |
| Vanessa Horn | Women's 400M – Feb. 14 | No. 4 – 54.66 |
| Bismack Kipchirchir | Men's 5,000M – Feb. 28 | No. 5 – 14:29.74 |
| Owen Wendl | Men's Shot Put – March 1 | No. 5 – 58-9.50 (17.92m) |
| Joy Nwokike | Women's 60M – Feb. 28 | No. 1 – 7.34 |
| Rukia Omulisia | Women's 60MH – March 1 | No. 2 – 8.38 |
| Cassidy Allen | Women's Pole Vault – Feb. 28 | No. 5 – 13.10 (4.22m) |
| Vanessa Horn Rukia Omulisia Eve Clark Joy Nwokike |
Women's 4x400 Relay – March 1 | No. 5 – 3:44.85 |
TOP MARKS:
Akron Men
Click Here
Akron Women
Click Here
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