” Austin Papay set a University of Akron record and moved to eighth in the NCAA standings in the shot put when UA’s indoor track and field team traveled to Bloomington, Indiana Friday to compete in the Hoosier Hills Open. Papay’s record-setting throw went a distance of 60-11.”
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Austin Papay set a University of Akron record and moved to eighth in the NCAA standings in the shot put when UA’s indoor track and field team traveled to Bloomington, Indiana Friday to compete in the Hoosier Hills Open.

Papay’s record-setting throw went a distance of 60-11.25. Papay now holds the UA indoor and outdoor shot put, and discus record.

It was a thing we’ve been expecting and we’re glad he did it, head coach Dennis Mitchell said. He set a school record and he has a good shot at going to the nationals.

The 6-2, 250-pound senior from Sharon, Pa. was also named the Mid-American Conference Male Field Performer of the Week on Tuesday.

He became the fifth Zip this season to with a weekly MAC Performer of the Week award.

As a junior, Papay placed third at the NCAA Mideast Regional in the discus with a throw of 180-2.

During the team’s 2007 outdoor season, Papay was voted the Male MVP by his teammates in a season the he placed 15th in the discus and 24th in the shotput at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

To coincide with his athletic achievements, Papay also earned Akron’s Scholar Baller honor for posting at least a 3.0 G.P.A during the academic year.

Tougher competition

Papay wasn’t the only Zip to have a good meet in Bloomington Indiana though.

Despite there being little competition in the meet, the women’s distance team dominated the 800 and 3,000 meter races.

Larisa Arcip finished first in the 800 meter race with a time of 2:11.12. Coming in a close second, Danielle Sidell finished with a time of 2:11.36. In the 3,000 meter, the Zips took the top four finishes. Carol Eckerly placed first with a time of 9:59.43 and was followed by Colleen Moran, Cassie Schenck and Heidi Gross.

There wasn’t a lot of competition at the meet, but they made their own competition amongst themselves, Mitchell said. They helped each other out.

The team performed well at the meet, but Mitchell believes the team performs better at home.

I thought we didn’t perform as well on the road overall, Mitchell said. It was a meet we were shooting for, but we’ve been doing better at home overall. At home or on the road, I think you would have seen some of the same thing.

UA will host the Zips Open Friday at the Stile Fieldhouse.

It’s our last big shot before conference and a last chances to see some athletes, Mitchell said. It’ll be a good chance to get us tuned up for the MAC Championship.

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” #1.1361271:2654060777.jpg:AustonPapaybw.jpg:Austin Papay had a UA record setting throw of 60-11.25.:Jeff Harwell / Zips Sports Photography”