Men's Track and Field Attempt First-Ever MAC Indoor Title
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
KENT, Ohio The Kent State University mens and womens track and field teams will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, this Friday, Feb. 24, for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men will be looking to gain their first-ever MAC Indoor Championships title, while the women will seek their second after claiming the crown in 2003.
Last year at the MAC Indoor Championships, the KSU men finished second and the women were third. The MAC preseason poll, voted on by head coaches, picked Central Michigan Universitys men and University of Akrons women to finish on top. The Golden Flash men were predicted to end the 2006 indoor season second and the women, third
Action will begin Friday, 10:30 a.m., at Bowling Green State Universitys Perry Fieldhouse with the womens long jump. Saturday, the tournament resumes at 10:30 a.m. with the mens long jump.
Men at the 2005 MAC Indoor Championships
At the 2005 MAC Championships in Mount Pleasant, Mich., the Kent State mens track and field team placed second out of six teams with 177.50 points.
Marc Mitchell led on day one (Feb. 25), winning his second-straight MAC indoor long jump title and third overall with a personal-best and NCAA provisional leap of 24-8.50. Adrian Ghioroaie won his second-MAC triple jump title with a distance of 49-5.50. Senior Brent Shelby (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) won his first MAC Indoor title in the shot put with a personal-best and NCAA provisional qualifying throw of 59-1.25.
On the track, Mike Inge (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) won the 800 meters in 1:49.95, his second MAC Indoor 800 title and fourth overall.
Women at the 2005 MAC Indoor Championships
Last year at the MACC Championships in Mount Pleasant, Mich., the Kent State womens track and field team placed third out of 13 teams with 88.5 points. The Golden Flashes were leading after the first day (Feb. 25), carried by senior Jackie Rodgers (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin). She was first in the pole vault competition, posting a season-best and NCAA provisional mark of 12-11.50.
In the second day (Feb. 26) of the meet, KSU was narrowly outscored by University of Akron (97 points) and Eastern Michigan University (95.5 points). Both Breann Smith and Colleen Ramharak gave memorable performances as they won the shot put and triple jump, respectively. Smith claimed her first MAC crown in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 51-7.25 while bettering her previous NCAA provisional mark. Ramharak collected her second MAC indoor triple jump title and third overall with a personal-best tying mark of 42-11.75
KSUs Competition in the MAC
Men
| Event | Top KSU Athlete in Event | Season-Best Time | Top Athlete in MAC | Top Time in MAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 Meters | Marc Johnson (Jr.) | 00:06.75 (2nd) | Pierre Vinson (CMU) | 00:06.67 |
| 200 Meters | Marc Johnson (Jr.) | 00:22.21 (11th) | Roy Shavers (EMU) | 00:21.44 |
| 400 Meters | Nicholas Ivancic (So.) | 00:49.13 (10th) | Steve Wezner (CMU) | 00:46.97 |
| 800 Meters | Ray Armstrong (Jr.) | 01:51.77 (2nd) | Abraham Mach (CMU) | 01:49.75 |
| 3000 Meters | Kyle Bowman (Sr.) | 08:39.54 (11th) | Josh Karanja (EMU) | 08:10.29 |
| 5000 Meters | Seth Hutchinson (Sr.) | 14:21.80 (4th) | Josh Karanja (EMU) | 14:17.37 |
| Mile | Bouke Onstenk (Sr.) | 04:12.38 (7th) | Corey Nowitzke (EMU) | 04:08.97 |
| 60-MH | Greg Keys (Fr.) | 00:08.22 (3rd) | Nick Stout (CMU) | 00:08.08 |
| 4x400 Meters | KSU | 03:16.63 (4th) | EMU | 03:14.08 |
| DMR | KSU | 09:54.80 (2nd) | EMU | 07:97.00 |
| High Jump | Shamel Smith (Jr.) | 06-09.75 (4th) | Tomasz Smialek (UA) | 07-03.75 |
| Long Jump | I.P. Harris (Jr.) | 24-01.00 (5th) | Scott Mayle (OU) | 24-11.75 |
| Triple Jump | I.P. Harris (Jr.) | 47-05.25 (3rd) | Rayshon Higgins (UB) | 49-05.75 |
| Shot Put | Brent Shelby (Sr.) | 60-07.25 (2nd) | Dave Adamek (EMU) | 60-08.75 |
| 35-Lb. Weight | Andy Nicholas (Jr.) | 66-01.00 (2nd) | David Stallworth (CMU) | 68-09.75 |
| Pole Vault | Chris Caine (Jr.) | 14-01.25 (12th) | John Russell (UA) | 18-01.00 |
| Heptathlon | Chris Caine (Jr.) | 5232 (1st) | Chris Caine (KSU) | 5232 |
