“The University of Akron women’s track team dominated Kent State on Friday night. The men however were not as lucky. Backed by a strong effort from Zips junior Stevi Large, the women rolled to a 90-57 win over rival Kent. The men’s side was close until the finish, but UA eventually was defeated by a final score of 79-72.”
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The University of Akron women’s track team dominated Kent State on Friday night. The men however were not as lucky.

Backed by a strong effort from Zips junior Stevi Large, the women rolled to a 90-57 win over rival Kent. The men’s side was close until the finish, but UA eventually was defeated by a final score of 79-72.

Kent’s men team matches up well with ours, head coach Dennis Mitchell said. There were a couple events we should have flipped the other way. We feel like we were the stronger team.

With the win, Large automatically qualified for the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw, setting a KSU Field House record while breaking her own UA and Mid-American Conference record with a distance of 69-2.50 (21.09).

Senior Crystal Goldsmith Dunn was also a standout for the women, winning the pole vault event with a provisional mark of 13-2.25 (4.02).

Crystal’s really doing well this year, Mitchell said. She got fired up last year at regionals and keeps improving each week.

In all, the Zips won 11 of the 14 women’s events, including a sweep of the field events. Niesha Kelly placed first in both the long and triple jumps while Kirsten English won the high jump.

Brittany Hocker continued her success in the sprints, winning both the 60 and 200 meters dashes.

Colleen Moran (mile) and Larisa Arcip (3,000 meters) rounded out the list of UA first-place finishers.

Hocker and Arcip, along with Seanlay Bell and Ashley Kaltwasser, wrapped up the night as UA won the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:56.84.

Although the men’s team only won five out of their 14 events, they still almost came away victorius. The meet came down to two events, with the Flashes winning the shot put early and the 4×400 relay in the last race of the evening to secure the win.

Anthony Thomas (60- meters), Mark Lattimore (200-meters) and Zach Harper (60-meter hurdles) all notched wins in their respective events.

This was a good wake up call for the men’s team, Mitchell said. Our hats go off to Kent State as they found a way to win some of the tightly contested events.

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” #1.1361380:3430764595.jpg:20080129_SteviLargeWeightThrow.jpg:Stevi Large broke the weight throw record, for Kent State’s Field House Saturday in the Zips’ 90-57 win over rival KSU. :BUCHTELITE FILE PHOTO”