Akron Track and Field Set to Host Northeast Ohio Open

Thursday, April 9

Akron, Ohio

All Day

University of Akron

Northeast Ohio Open

Track 4-8-26

Akron Track and Field Set to Host Northeast Ohio Open

April 08 | Track & Field

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field team will host the Northeast Ohio Open at the Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex on Thursday and Friday (April 9-10).

DIGITAL TICKETING: Mobile tickets are available for $8 for Thursday and $10 for Friday at www.GoZips.com/tickets and must be purchased in advance. Mobile ticketing will be utilized for all home Akron track and field meets this season. Akron students with valid ID will be admitted free of charge. All fans should enter through the main stadium entrance at the corner of Vine and South Union Streets across from InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field. Doors will open to the public at 11 a.m. both days.

PARKING UPDATE: Akron track and field fans are encouraged to park in Lots 1 (Corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets), 6, 9 and 10 for track and field meets. Parking in other lots without appropriate UA permit is subject to ticketing by parking services.

UP NEXT: The Zips will host the Northeast Ohio Open on Thursday and Friday (April 9-10).

The 38-event meet will commence with the men's and women's hammer and javelin on Thursday (April 9). Action on the track kicks off with the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday (April 10) at 2 p.m. before the men's and women's 4x400 relays conclude the meet at 5:45 p.m.

Live stats from the Northeast Ohio Open will be available at GoZips.com.

TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips have posted 16 overall performances that lead the Mid-American Conference during the outdoor campaign.

Outdoor

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
AJ Jordan	Men's 200M	No. 1 – 20.77
Jackline Nanjala	Women's 400M	No. 1 – 52.87
Andrew Styles	Men's 400M	No. 1 – 46.87
Rennie Gittens, Jr. AJ Jordan Garrett Tiller Andrew Styles	Men's 4x100 Relay	No. 1 – 40.02
Amari Pratt Te'Aira Branham-Patrick Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore	Women's 4x100 Relay	No. 1 – 44.68
Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles	Men's 4x400 Relay	No. 1 – 3:08.29
Vanessa Horn McKenzie McNitt Mariyah Moore Jackline Nanjala	Women's 4x400 Relay	No. 1 – 3:37.05
Kaden Rambatt	Men's Pole Vault	No. 1 – 16-9.25 (5.11m)
Jeffrey Usman	Men's Long Jump	No. 1 – 24-1.50 (7.35m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put	No. 1 – 62-0.50 (18.91m)
Brook Boes	Women's Shot Put	No. 1 – 50-4.50 (15.35m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Discus	No. 1 – 184-0 (56.09m)
Brook Boes	Women's Discus	No. 1 – 165-4 (50.40m)
Lane Graham	Men's Hammer	No. 1 – 219-11 (67.03m)
Gabrielle Griffith	Women's Hammer	No. 1 – 194-3 (59.21m)

TOP TIMES IN THE MAC: The Zips registered 10 overall top performances in the Mid-American Conference during the indoor campaign.

Indoor

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault	No. 1 – 14-2 (4.32m)
Isaac Baltic	Men's Pole Vault	No. 1 – 17-4.50 (5.30m)
Brook Boes	Women's Shot Put	No. 1 – 52-2.75 (15.92m)
Brook Boes	Women's Weight Throw	No. 1 –67-4.25 (20.53m)
Lane Graham	Men's Weight Throw	No. 1 – 67-4 (20.52m)
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000 Meters	No. 1 – 15:53.23
AJ Jordan	Men's 200 Meters	No. 1 – 21.12
Jackline Nanjala	Women's 400 Meters	No. 1 – 53.92
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put	No. 1 – 60-8 (18.49m)
4x400 Relay (W)	Women's 4x400 Relay	No. 1 – 3:41.04

LAST TIME OUT:
A pair of school-records and six top five program marks highlighted the performances for Akron at a quartet of weekend meets.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The women's 4x400 relay team of seniors Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) and McKenzie McNitt (Cleveland, Ohio), sophomore Mariyah Moore (Cleveland, Ohio) and freshman Jackline Nanjala (Kitale, Kenya) crossed the line in a school-record time (since 2014) of 3:37.05.
• The men's 4x400 relay squad of juniors Braylyn Farrington (Alabaster, Ala.) and AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio), sophomore Jalen McCoy (Rochester, N.Y.) and junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) registered the No. 3 time in outdoor program history (since 2014) with a time of 3:08.29.
• Redshirt senior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) captured the men's shot put besting his own school record with a mark of 62-0.50 (18.91m), while also finishing first in the men's discus with a throw of 184-0 (56.09m).
• Nanjala posted a personal-best time of 52.87 in the women's 400 meters, the No. 2 time in outdoor program history.
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) won the women's discus with a throw of 164-11 (50.27m), while finishing second in the shot put with a mark of 49-1 (14.96m).
• Redshirt senior Lane Graham (Killbuck, Ohio) established a career-best mark of 219-11 (67.03m) to win the men's hammer with the No. 2 effort in outdoor program history, while junior Christopher Vance (Parma, Ohio) placed second with a throw of 201-5 (61.40m).
• Redshirt senior Gabrielle Griffiths (Fort Worth, Texas) bested the field in the women's javelin with a mark of 140-1 (42.71m), while finishing second in the women's hammer with a career-best throw of 194-3 (59.21m), the No. 5 mark in outdoor program history.
• Junior Olin Frank (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) won the men's javelin with a mark of 164-1 (50.02m).
• Junior Augustine Davis (Lewis Center, Ohio) finished second in the women's triple jump with a career-best mark of 37-9.50 (11.52m).
• Sophomore Amari Noble (Virginia Beach, Va.) placed second in the men's discus with a career-best mark of 177-5 (54.09m).

GRIFFITHS, NANJALA AND WENDL GARNER MAC WEEKLY AWARDS: Gabrielle Griffiths, Owen Wendl and Jackline Nanjala were recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its Track and Field Athletes of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (April 7).

Wendl and Griffiths were tabbed the men's and women's Field Athletes of the Week, while Nanjala garnered women's Track Athlete of the Week honors.

Griffiths won the javelin at the Wooster Invitational with a throw of 140-1 (42.71m), while also placing second in the hammer throw with a career-best mark of 194-3 (59.21m). Her mark in the hammer throw leads the MAC and ranks 50th in the NCAA this season.

Nanjala delivered a standout performance at the Florida Relays, posting a career-best time of 52.87 in the 400 meters. Her effort ranks No. 2 in program history, leads the league and sits 39th in the NCAA this season. She also anchored Akron's record-breaking 4x400 relay team that clocked 3:37.05, the top time in the MAC and No. 35 nationally.

Wendl delivered another record-breaking performance at the Wooster Invitational, winning both the shot put and discus. He surpassed his own school record in the shot put with a mark of 62-0.50 (18.91m), which leads the MAC and ranks 13th in the NCAA this season, while also posting a league-leading discus throw of 184-0 (56.09m), ranking 43rd nationally.

AKRON GARNERS MAC POSTSEASON HONORS: Akron assistant coach Randy Overby was tabbed the Mid-American Conference Men's Assistant Coach of the Year after Akron captured back-to-back indoor team titles and its fourth consecutive overall league crown.

Brook Boes was selected as the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet, after sweeping the throwing events winning the women's shot put (49-11.25/15.22m) and weight throw (68-4.50/20.84m).

Andrew Styles was honored as the MAC Men's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after winning the 200M (21.67) and 400m (47.99) and anchoring the winning 4x400 relay (3:16.25).

Junior Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) was tabbed the MAC Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet after a pair of All-MAC performances winning the women's 3K (9:18.79) and placing second in the 5K (16.03.86).

NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams have garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2026 outdoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for eight events released on April 7, 2026, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

Akron is rated fifth nationally in the men's shot put, sixth in the women's hammer, ninth in the men's discus, 16th in the men's hammer and women's discus, 17th in the women's shot put and triple jump and 25th in the women's 400 meters.

ZIPS RANKED AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2026 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron have five individual student-athletes and four relay squads are ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2026 outdoor campaign as redshirt senior Owen Wendl (Medina, Ohio) is 13th in the men's shot put (62-0.50/18.91m) and 43rd in the men's discus (184-0/56.09m).

Additionally, Lane Graham is 16th in the men's hammer (219-11/67.03m), AJ Jordan is 36th in the men's 200 meters (20.77), Jackline Nanjala is 39th in the women's 400 meters (52.87) and Gabrielle Griffiths is 50th in the women's hammer (194-3/59.21m).

Additionally, the women's 4x400 relay is 35th (3:37.05), the men's 4x400 relay is 42nd (3:08.29) and 50th in the men's 4x100 relay (40.02) and women's 4x100 relay (44.68).

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 18 overall top five performances and four school records in program history to the record book during the 2026 outdoor campaign.

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
Lane Graham	Men's Hammer – March 20	No. 4 – 210-0 (64.02m)
Jackline Nanjala	Women's 400M – March 21	No. 2 – 53.34
Brook Boes	Women's Shot Put – March 21	No. 5 – 50-4.50 (15.35m)
Vanessa Horn McKenzie McNitt Mariyah Moore Jackline Nanjala	Women's 4x400 Relay – March 21	No. 2 – 3:39.14
Amari Pratt Te'Aira Branham-Patrick Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore	Women's 4x100 Relay – March 21	No. 3 – 44.68
Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles	Men's 4x400 Relay – March 21	No. 3 – 3:08.94
Rennie Gittens, Jr. AJ Jordan Garrett Tiller Andrew Styles	Men's 4x100 Relay – March 21	No. 4 – 40.02
Noah Nyageo	Men's 5,000M – March 26	No. 4 – 14:04.68
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put – March 28	No. 1 – 61-9 (18.82m)
Lane Graham	Men's Hammer – March 27	No. 2 – 212-6 (64.76m)
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000M – March 27	No. 1 – 16:10.45
Gabrielle Griffiths	Women's Hammer – March 27	No. 5 – 156-4 (47.66m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put – April 3	No. 1 – 62-0.50 (18.91m)
Lane Graham	Men's Hammer – April 3	No. 2 – 219-11 (67.03m)
Jackline Nanjala	Women's 400M – April 4	No. 2 – 52.87
Gabrielle Griffiths	Women's Hammer – April 3	No. 5 – 194-3 (59.21m)
Vanessa Horn McKenzie McNitt Mariyah Moore Jackline Nanjala	Women's 4x400 Relay – April 4	No. 1 – 3:37.05
Braylyn Farrington AJ Jordan Jalen McCoy Andrew Styles	Men's 4x400 Relay – April 4	No. 3 – 3:08.29

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips added 25 overall top five performances and a trio of school records in program history to the record book during the 2026 indoor campaign.

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
AJ Jordan	Men's 200M – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 21.12
Vanessa Horn	Women's 400M – Dec. 12	No. 2 – 54.31
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000M – Dec. 6	No. 1 – 16:15.66
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.30m)
Brook Boes	Women's Shot Put – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 52-2.75 (15.92m)
Brook Boes	Women's Weight Throw – Dec. 12	No. 5 – 65-0.75 (19.83m)
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Jan. 16	No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.31m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put – Jan. 23	No. 3 – 59-4.25 (18.09m)
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000M – Jan. 30	No. 1 – 15:53.23
Noah Nyageo	Men's 5,000M – Jan. 30	No. 3 – 14:12.62
Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore McKenzie McNitt Jackline Nanjala	Women's 4x400 Relay – Jan. 31	No. 1 – 3:41.04
Megan Hipple	Women's 3,000M – Feb. 7	No. 1 – 9:17.94
Noah Nyageo	Men's 3,000M – Feb. 7	No. 5 – 8:07.98
Lane Graham	Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 6	No. 4 – 66-3.25 (20.20m)
Abigael Kiplagat	Women's 5,000M – Feb. 6	No. 3 – 16:35.76
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Feb. 13	No. 4 – 14-2 (4.32m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put – Feb. 20	No. 2 – 60-8 (18.49m)
Lane Graham	Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 20	No. 2 – 67-4 (20.52m)
Te'Aira Branham-Patrick	Women's 60M – Feb. 20	No. 2 – 7.48
Jackline Nanjala	Women's 400M – Feb. 20	No. 2 – 53.92
Brook Boes	Women's Weight Throw – Feb. 20	No. 5 – 67-4.25 (20.53m)
Lane Graham	Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 27	No. 2 – 68-3.25 (20.81m)
Abigael Kiplaget	Women's 5,000M – Feb. 27	No. 3 – 16:30.74
Brook Boes	Women's Weight Throw – Feb. 27	No. 4 – 68-4.50 (20.84m)
Titus Kirui	Men's 5,000M – Feb. 27	No. 5 – 14:20.81