Written by: Parker Perry
Coming off consecutive indoor championships, a dynasty seems to be in reach. The University of Akron men’s track team will be seeking their second outdoor championship in as many years, and forth in five, when their season begins Saturday at the LSU Relays. The event will last the weekend.
Akron returns many key parts that made up the 2011 championship team, including pole-vaulter Michael Uhle, runner Bjorn Johansson and sprinter Willie Brown. All of these men played a massive part in the recent success of their team and have an opportunity to highlight the dominance of the Zip squad with another MAC Championship this spring.
Head track and field coach Dennis Mitchell was very excited after his team took home the MAC Championship.
“It was a great heat; once those guys get rolling, they keep rolling,” Mitchell said
The Zips will attempt to continue to roll as they head into the spring. The momentum has carried them far, as not only have they competed against the best in the MAC, but also recently competed and finished atop teams from all of Ohio and the Midwest. They will again compete in the All-Ohio meet this upcoming season.
Akron will compete in eight different meets in the next two months, including Texas, Tennessee, Northeast Ohio Quads and the Campbell/Wright Invitational.
The outdoor MAC Championships will be held on the Campus of Central Michigan May 10 and 11.
On the women’s side, a rebuilding process has begun. After the Indoor championships, Mitchell admitted that it was a “tough meet” for the women after their sixth place finish, but reminded everyone that things were looking bright for the future.
“We’re very young; we had a little trouble here and there,” Mitchell said.
However, that does not mean that the cupboard is empty on the team. Senior thrower Valerie Fraizer accomplished the feat of qualifying for the NCAA nationals and finished in 15th place on the national stage.
Fraizer will have to lead her team and try to capitalize off the okay finish from the winter. The young team should only improve with the extra months under their belt.
Mitchell will push his squad even further as they attempt to become one of the top teams in the Midwest.