MEN AND WOMEN WIN MAC TRACK TITLES
Posted May 18th, 2008 by mrasor
Track
Akron can confidently boast one of the best track programs in the Midwest, and it’s certainly the MAC’s elite.
This weekend, the men joined the women as MAC champions, consummating a rise that seemed always to fall a few points short in past seasons.
Last year, the men lost by one point to Eastern Michigan, despite a four-point lead heading into the final event. This championship almost went the same way, but the Zips sprinters performed just well enough in the final event to beat EMU by one point.
It was the men’s first ever conference championship — indoor or outdoor. Cadeau Kelly was MAC Male Field Performer of the Year. He won the long jump and triple jump competitions.
The women’s win was a blowout. The Zips beat Western Michigan by 55.5 points. Stevi Large earned MAC Female Field Performer of the Year.
Zips fans have come to expect such dominance, but Dennis Mitchell deserves mountains of credit for the consistency at which his women’s team wins. The women have won three straight outdoor championships and four straight indoor championships.
Mitchell was named MAC Coach of the Year. It was an easy decision, considering the male/female sweep has only been done three times in conference history, and not since 2000.
About 18 Zips will head to Fayetteville, Ark., for the NCAA Regional Meet at the end of the month. If the individuals are successful at the national level, this could be the most successful season any program has enjoyed in school history.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Lots of comments on this blog about the character of the athletes who transfer into Kent (most of which have been inaccurate). I can also remember the crap the fans gave to Singletary about his .13. At least our athletes don’t shoot at police officers (see Rydell Brooks). Should fit right in at Akron.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I would guess Brooks will never dribble a ball as a Zip.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Go Kent is completely right. It is a blog, but it is also your job to keep us informed about whats going on with Akron athletics. Can you please give us the information you are hearing. Whether its heresay or not, I heard they were looking for somebody. Any thoughts?
May 19th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Brooks will never be associated with UA again.
He was a walk-on transfer, not recruited. He was given a favor from Dambrot after he got homesick at Niagara. The guy never played, nor was he ever on the team since he sat out last year due to transfer rules.
At least we don’t let criminals back on our team after only one game. See: Singletary, Kent Men’s Track, ect.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Zach-
“At least we don’t let criminals back on our team after only one game.”
Must you be reminded on good old Jami Bosley? He was a convicted criminal BEFORE he came to Akron, which is why he was forced to leave Ohio State in the first place. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones…
The sad thing is that if this player had been a KSU walk-on who had never played, it would be all over THIS blog; yet I find no mention of Rydell Brooks on the KSU blog…hmmmm.
As for this actual post…NICE to see a blog on something besides football and men’s basketball. Akron really does have other successful teams playing sports!