“Following a considerably successful Mid American Conference Championship, The University of Akron’s Track and Field team looks to transfer their success to the NCAA Indoor Championship and then to the outdoors later this month. The UA Women won their fifth straight MAC Indoor Title, and their seventh straight MAC title overall.”
“
Following a considerably successful Mid American Conference Championship, The University of Akron’s Track and Field team looks to transfer their success to the NCAA Indoor Championship and then to the outdoors later this month.
The UA Women won their fifth straight MAC Indoor Title, and their seventh straight MAC title overall.
According to Head Coach Dennis Mitchell, the UA Women’s MAC dominance is a product of not only their physicality but also their will to win.
They’re great athletes and they are very focused on knowing how to win, Mitchell said.
The UA Men placed third in the MAC Championships. Although Mitchell thinks there were several spectacular performances, he said the UA Men are returning some athletes that were ineligible for the indoor season, and should have an even better outdoor crew.
We had a few great performances, but you have to be hot all around, Mitchell said.
With the performances this season and in the MAC Championships, a few of the team’s athletes will be participating or are being considered to participate in the NCAA Championships.
Junior Pole Vaulter Carrie Kayes, sophomore weight thrower Valerie Wert and senior weight thrower Stevi Large of the Women’s team will be competing in the NCAA Championships.
On the men’s team, sophomore high jumper Mike McCall will be heading to the NCAA Championships, while sophomore pole vaulter Michael Uhle and multi-event competitor Daniel Kinsey are being considered for the event.
For the athletes competing in the NCAA Championships, Mitchell believes the hard part is over, and now that you will be competing for a national championship, it is just about executing.
The goal is to place or win, Mitchell said. We always tell them the tough part was getting there, and that it is much easier to place there than it is to get there.
Mitchell said those not competing for a national title will be hard at work to improve for the outdoor season.
We’re going to hit training hard, if they hated losing indoors, they have to remember that feeling when they’re competing outdoors, Mitchell said.
The MAC Indoor Championships were held at Kent State University on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28.
The MAC Outdoor Championships will be held at UA at Lee Jackson Field May 14 to May 16.
We were grateful for our crowd during the season. It will be a tremendous event, Mitchell said. We’re looking forward to hosting.
March 27 marks the start of the outdoor season. The distance runners will be competing in Stanford, Calif., while the rest of the team will be competing in Baton Rouge, La. The event lasts through March 28.
“