2024-25 Track and Field

[zippy-claws]

I was disappointed with the results from Muncie in the Cross Country meet, although two of our men went 2nd and 3rd.  A 6th and an 8th place finish men/women was not what I expected, and I'm sure it's not what the coaches expected either.  Pretty strong field this year in the MAC, Toledo women win 4th straight, men won as well, and they do not field a track and field team!  It got me interested, so I checked out the upcoming schedule for Indoor track & field.  This would have been our year to host the annual Zips/Kent State dual meet, but it's not on the schedule.  Anyone know why?   Second, I know it was on the schedule last season as the opener, but does anyone ( if anyone would know it would be @Hilltopper )know who the Haynes Lancaster Open meet is named after, or is it a sponsor?  Just curious.  

[zippy-claws]

Glad to be back in chilly FLA, but not freezing in Akron.  Saw the results on-line of the Zips first home meet, and a few standouts popped up.  Joy Nwokike, I'm assuming the sister of Adaeze,, popped the 3rd fastest indoor time in school history in the 400 and the 5th fastest in the 200, and this is really early in the season.  Can't wait to see how she progresses as the year unfolds.  Also Brook Boes had the 5th best weight throw in school history.  Coach Bojalad and Overby producing results so far.  Looked at the schedule, and just like my un-answered question about who the Haynes Lancaster Open is named after, I ask this question:  No dual meet on the schedule with Kent State?  That's a first....

[adzip]

i believe Lancaster is the last name of the first black member of University of Akron track team. First name might be Elmer? Dont know who Haynes is

[adzip]

Emmer Lancaster

 was the first African American graduate of the Municipal University of Akron. Dr. Lancaster began his education at @uakron in 1918 and was a member of the baseball, track, and debate teams. He graduated with an A.B. (Bachelor of Arts) in 1921.

While his education experience at UA is remarkable in its own right, it is his career after he graduated and his commitment to small and minority owned businesses in Akron and across the country is why we are celebrating him and his accomplishments. From 1940 to 1968 he served as Special Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce concerning blacks in small businesses. While he was in Washington D.C., he would travel to New York City once a week to attend classes at NYU, where he earned his Masters of Science in Retailing.

Also during his time in Washington D.C., Dr. Lancaster instituted “business clinics” around the country to help African American business persons construct business plans and expand profitable enterprises that created jobs. Under the auspices of the Commerce Department, Lancaster organized several national conferences to help African American businesses in America. The conferences helped with strengthening business curriculums at historically black colleges and universities; communicating detailed information about government services available to them; assisting with submitting proposals for government contracts; and providing opportunities to meet and learn from the more successful black entrepreneurs in the country. Due to his work, many African Americans became entrepreneurs who might not have otherwise; many existing entrepreneurs became larger and more successful; and many African Americans became gainfully employed who may not have had opportunities otherwise.

After retiring, Dr. Lancaster returned to Akron and became active in the community until he passed away in 1984. In 1971, The University of Akron awarded Dr. Lancaster the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws “in recognition of his significant leadership in legal and social progress and understanding.” (📷 - UAkron Libraries)

[72 Roo]

Thanks for this post adZip. Emmer Lancaster made Akron, the university and African Americans in business all better because of his service. Your story comes at a good time to be reminded that UA produces many great individuals whom we should be proud of and celebrate. Now give us a football program to match them. 😀

[zippy-claws]

That is so cool!  Where did you find all of that info?  Like @72 Roo, I thank you for this.  I think we need to do a better job of publicizing this for next season, great story.

[zippy-claws]

Ran into former Kent State track coach at the airport this week.  He mentioned the MAC Indoor Championships had been moved from Akron to Eastern Michigan?  I know it shows on GoZips.com that it is at Stile Fieldhouse on Feb. 28 and March 1, but the MAC website says it's to be hosted by Eastern.  EMU website says it's in Ypsi.  Anyone know what's going on here?  He thought it had something to do with Akron not having an AD yet.  

[ZipsBBjunkie]

Haven’t heard from zippy-claws in a while …

 

 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[ZippyRulz]

On 12/26/2024 at 10:10 AM, zippy-claws said:

Ran into former Kent State track coach at the airport this week.  He mentioned the MAC Indoor Championships had been moved from Akron to Eastern Michigan?  I know it shows on GoZips.com that it is at Stile Fieldhouse on Feb. 28 and March 1, but the MAC website says it's to be hosted by Eastern.  EMU website says it's in Ypsi.  Anyone know what's going on here?  He thought it had something to do with Akron not having an AD yet.  

 

Yeah, probably need adequate staffing to coordinate an event like that. Worked out for us though.

 

[72 Roo]

I have been critical of the state of our track program, but winning an indoor championship proves me wrong. Congratulations to coach Kendra Reimer-Gonzales for capping a good season with a championship trophy. Well done.

[Blue & Gold]

It can't be too common to have a female as head Men's T&F coach, can it?  I would think that'd be a bit of a handicap in the recruiting game.  Good for her!!!  Go Zips!

[MDZip]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

It can't be too common to have a female as head Men's T&F coach, can it?  I would think that'd be a bit of a handicap in the recruiting game.  Good for her!!!  Go Zips!

You'd be right but T&F is by far the most female head coaches for men's teams but still under 12%. Heck of an accomplishment after the Akron track and field teams were effectively gutted a few years ago. 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[Z.I.P.]

On 3/3/2025 at 4:52 AM, MDZip said:

You'd be right but T&F is by far the most female head coaches for men's teams but still under 12%. Heck of an accomplishment after the Akron track and field teams were effectively gutted a few years ago. 

I knew I had seen a reference to the U. of Chicago soccer having a woman head coach of their men's team, and indeed, Juli Stitch coached the Maroons to the D-3 College Cup in 2023.  Then took over the D-1 Univ of Denver women's soccer program.

 

https://chicagomaroon.com/39462/news/ncaa-title-winning-soccer-coach-julianne-sitch-to-leave-maroons-for-university-of-denver/

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

 

[ZipsBBjunkie]

Where you at @zippy-claws?

 

 

 

[zippy-claws]

I'm right here.  You can post all the glitzy photos on Instagram you want, but winning the men's MAC T & F title, which is a good thing, isn't as prestigious as you might think.  Beating 3 other full-roster teams and a team featuring only distance runners is like winning the NEO Quad meet.  I respect the athletes ad their accomplishments, but let's face it, Bismark, Garretson, a few throwers.  That's it, and Garretson was a Mitchell holdover.  Go on out to the TFFRS page and check out how the UA men's times and marks correspond to national ranking.  Bismark is at #7, Garretson is up there.  But there is only 4 marks/times in the top 150.  Not saying the title isn't an accomplishment, but if you really believe this coach is the way to make T & F the Gold Standard it used to be, with 14 to 20 athletes qualifying for Nationals every season, then you are delusional.

[ZipsBBjunkie]

First, overall I'm just teasing a bit. Jousting on the board with insights and opinions is what it's all about right? Second, I'm not delusional, I'm simply making sure these student-athletes and the coaches get their due - the joy they are obviously experiencing in those glitzy photos and videos is REAL and winning a title matters. Absolutely, a MAC title is not as 'prestigious' in T&F as other accomplishments, rankings, and Nationals appearances. Maybe the squad is lacking those with Mitchell gone, but the reality is if MAC Titles were easy Mitchell would have won them every year, he didn't. Mitchell had 16 men's titles (8 indoor/8 outdoor) over his 27 campaigns per his bio. If it were easy, he would have won the Cross Country Championship with Clayton Murphy, etc. He didn't. In 2023 the school won it's first ever Men's CC championship.

 

MAC Championships mattered under Coach Mitchell. He won 33 of them! I would argue, Conference titles are perhaps considered the most important accomplishment for a NCAA TEAMS year in and year out no matter what NCAA level and the quality of competition in the conference itself. A conference title is a title for the team. Last I checked only those 'nationally' ranked athletes and the coaches get to truly bask in the joy of qualifying to go onto Nationals, it is not as team-oriented as a conference title is.

 

I get T&F could be considered more of an individual sport vs. a team sport in terms of what matters more. I know to some extent this is comparing apples and oranges and T&F enthusiasts like yourself and 72 Roo will argue you can't compare at all... but think about some of the other Akron's sports that win consistently in the MAC and move onto higher levels of competition and rankings. Swimming & diving for example - would Akron and Peresie have 11 out of 12 titles if they weren't competing in the MAC? Once Peresie's team celebrates the MAC title, jumps in the pool etc. you don't hear much after that about the athletes that move on and qualify for Nationals unless you're a specific fan of that sport. In MBB, the MAC is not even in the Top 20 of Conferences - this year MAC MBB could have been dead last at times Nationally based on the horrendous level of competition. For Akron fans does the weak level of conference competition take away at all from the MBB team result winning the regular season MBB title? Did it matter to the coaches or athletes? Do they add an asterisk by the title based on how bad the competition is? The past 3 of 4 yrs they've made the NCAA Tourny - the MBB equivalent of the 'Nationals' so to speak and lost in the first round, yet Akron fans celebrate Akron and John Groce for what they do in the conference, despite how horrible it is.

 

Seriously, help those of us less informed about T&F understand, what do you have against Coach RG? Is it just the lack of success outside of the MAC, at the Regional and National level? Back in 2022/23 you were ranting about all the wins fueled by mostly leftovers from Coach Mitchell and here we are again with you pointing out that Garretson is a Mitchell holdover. I guess next year we'll see where things stand as you can stop crediting Mitchell holdovers for the team's success. If Akron is at the bottom of the MAC once Mitchell's lone holdover is gone, I promise I will be right there when you ask where I'm at in your post and I'll take the heat.

 

Finally, I am also realistic, Coach Mitchell had a 27-year career as Akron's T&F HC -- phenomenal! This isn't a comparison and shouldn't be of Mitchell vs. Gonzales head to head, but you seem to want Coach RG to boil the ocean in her brief tenure at Akron based on what Mitchell achieved across 27 years at the school. Coach Mitchell is a HOF coach no doubt but it took John Groce time to come behind the footsteps of Coach Dambrot. The reality is many times it's impossible to ever replace a HOFer. I'm just happy to see our Zips student athletes celebrating conference championships as a team! Go Zips!

[zippy-claws]

Hey there @ZipsBBjunkie,  thanks for your response.  I appreciate your teasing, really.  I agree the "jousting" part is all in play.  And I agree, all of these athletes deserve their due and recognition.  They did accomplish something major, and a win is a win no matter when or where.  They are truly champions.  Thanks for reminding me of that.  Please remember when Coach Mitchell won many, and also lost a few MAC titles there were 8 teams competing, which made it a little harder.  And your point on XC is well taken as well.  Coach Lab and Scotty were the XC coaches in reality but none the less, it was under Mitchell's watch.  

 

I don't "have anything against" the head coach as a person, and I admit I am biased because of the stature and respect that the Akron program had for so long in the 21st century.  I've had some "up close and personal" time with her, and I scratch my head in wonder afterwards.  When Coach Mitchell left, there were plenty of his coaches that were more than qualified to take over the program on a seamless basis.  But then-Ad Guthrie decided to gut the staff and went this route.  She was touted on her experience producing 'multis" champions, combined-event athletes, decathlon, pentathlon, heptathlon.  During her tenure so far, Akron has not had a single combined-event athlete.  Not one has competed in the Outdoor or Indoor MACS, and to my knowledge not one at the Akron Invitational.  Her biggest accomplishment, IMHO, was to hire Randy Overby as her sprint coach.  His success was followed by Tom Bojalad being hired for throws.  These two are the driving force behind the recent successes.  A good manager knows how to hire good assistant managers, I get it.  

 

You are right, my negativity should not gravitate to the fact that these athletes have won titles, both individually and as a team, in an NCAA DI program in a good solid Conference.  They should be applauded and should get the recognition they deserve.  I stand corrected, if it came across I was anti-Zips Athletes.  It is, as you said, always a good thing when the Zips Win!  Go Zips!