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2000 Edwards, Johnson, Bell, Bullett- 4x100m Relay Champions AGAIN!!! For the second consecutive year, the MAC men’s 4x100m relay title belongs to the Akron Zips. The Zips ran with targets on their backs for the entire outdoor campaign. Many raised doubts as to weather or not the Akron quartet of LeShaunte’ Edwards, Jamie Johnson, Oran Bell, and Chad Bullett could repeat the feat of the 1999 championship. Edwards got things started by blowing out the competition at the crack of the gun. Johnson, battling a painful foot injury, rumbled down the backstretch and passed the stick to newcomer Oran Bell. O.B. had his ankle taped and his game face on…churning through the turn Bell handed off to Chad Bullett. Bowling Green looked to be in a position to challenge the Zip quartet, but the Zip All-American responded by blowing past B.G. and leaving the rest of the MAC in his wake. The clock read 40.20 as Bullett crossed the finish line, not bad for temperatures in the 30 degree range. As this foursome moves into the 2001 season, they hope to bring home their 3rd MAC title and qualify to the NCAA championships.

Edwards Starts 2000 with Record Runs

Junior sprinter LeShaunte’ Edwards kicked of his 2000 indoor track season in fine fashion this past Saturday with two record breaking runs. Edwards, a 1999NCAA outdoor Championships Qualifier at 100m and 200m, set school records of 6.23 for the 55m and 21.33 for 200m at the Kent Winter Open last Saturday.

The 55m meter effort is a provisional National Qualifying mark which currently ranks 5th in the country. LeShaunte’ also holds the Zip 100m record at 10.23, has a personal record of 20.58 in the 200m, was the lead off runner for the Zips Championship 400m relay squad and has qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the100m. Impressive credentials for a young man with only one year of college track and field under his belt. Te’ is looking to garner his first individual MAC Championship and performing well at nationals.

Edwards is a graduate of J.F. Rhodes high school in Cleveland. He was the 1997 Ohio High School 200m Champion. Expect big things from this young speedster as he refines his technique and improves his strength…you just might see him in Sydney this summer.

DOUBLE VISION-

Akron sprinters LaTrese Taylor and Jasmine Reynolds were vital parts of the BIG GOLD MACHINE that

Captured the 1999 MAC Outdoor Championship. Reynolds raised her game to new levels with a runner up finish in the 100m and a third place run in the 200m. Taylor bounced back from season long injury to contribute needed points in the same events. The ladies, after combining talents and with teammates Deanna Norflee and Terra Jones were MAC Champs in the 400m relay. The 2000 indoor season sees the two senior sprinters once again flying down the track. Canton
McKinley grad Taylor has broken her own school record in the 55m twice during the young indoor season with NCAA Provisional times of 6.94 and 6.93. and is currently ranked in the top 5 in the nation. Reynolds has improved in similar fashion dropping her personal best in the 55m to 6.95 and 24.67 in the 200m. Both athletes were a part of the Zip’s 1600m relay squad which set a school record of 3:48.92 this weekend. Top finishes in the 55,200 and 1600m relay are vital if the
Zips are to capture the 2nd jewel in the MAC Triple Crown…the MAC indoor title….the goal that Taylor, Reynolds and their teammates are shooting for.

Kent Open "TAYLOR MADE" for Senior Sprinter

MAC 400m RelayChampion, 2x All-Ohio dash winner and now NCAA Qualifier.
This Saturday, senior sprinter LaTrese Taylor took the first step toward
accomplishing her goal of being a national qualifier. The senior from
Canton's McKinley high school
recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 6.94 while winning the 55m
dash at the Kent Open. LaTrese was also victorious in the 200m with a time
of 24.53. Taylor's effort highlighted an outstanding performance by the
lady Zip sprint crew which resulted in one school record (6.94 55m Taylor)
a runner-up and third place finish(55m 7.04, 200m 25.12) from Jasmine
Reynolds, and two Personal Records (7.14 55m, 25.69 200m) from Deanna
Norflee. All in all a great opener for the Lady Zip sprinters as they seek
to be major contributors in the Akron effort for the 2000 MAC indoor crown.

1999-2000 Indoor Season Approaches; ZIP Sprinters Prepare

December 11^th marks the beginning the indoor track season for The University of Akron Zips.

At the 1999 MAC Indoor Championships the Akron Zip sprint crew dominated the finals of the Men’s and Women’s 60m dashes by qualifying the maximum three athletes to the finals. No other MAC school qualified more than two athletes to the finals. Both the Men’s and Women’s squads have been practicing hard in preparation for another "Record Run" in 2000.

The majority of both sprint crews return for 99-2000. Defending MAC 60 Champion Chad Bullett looks to retain his crown, improve upon his MAC record run of 6.67 and again qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. LeShaunte’ Edwards, who placed 4^th in the 60m and 3^rd in the 200m returns along with Jamie Johnson a MAC placer in the outdoor 100m & 200m. All have expectations of winning the MAC and qualifying for the "Show".

The Zip women also return three 60m finalists. Seniors LaTrese Taylor and Jasmine Reynolds and soph. Deanna Norflee. Taylor is a 2 time All-Ohio sprint champion and the 1999 MAC 60m Runner up and 7^th placer in the 200m. Reynolds place 4^th in the 60m and 6^th in the 200m. Norflee Paced 8^th in the 60m.

Sophomore sprinters Chad Bullett and LeShaunte' Edwards made the most of their initial season of collegiate competition. The two spent most of the 1999 season traveling the country, swapping school records in the 100m and 200m. The twin speedsters were 100m finalists at the Texas Relays, the Penn Relays and North Carolina State Relays. They also teamed with C.J. Lemp and Jamie Johnson to record the 8th fastest time in the U.S. and 13th fastest time in the world in winning the Sea Ray Relays 4x200m event. Chad and LeShaunte both qualified for the NCAA Championships and the USATF National Championships in the 100m and 200m. At the NCAA meet Chad became the first Div. I Men's All-American in Akron Track and Field history with a tenth place finish in the 100m. Both young men are eagerly awaiting the 2000 season and Olympic Trials.

REYNOLDS EMERGES IN 1999

When Jasmine Reynolds graduated from Brookhaven High School in Columbus,
she had an impressive resume that included State Championships at 100m,
200m and 400m. 1999 saw Reynolds fulfill some of the promise she
demonstrated in high school. She has emerged as the top returning
100m/200m sprinter in the MAC.
At the 1999 MAC outdoor Champinships Jasmine set UA school records of 11.58
for 100m, finishing second and 23.48 for 200m where she placed third. The
200m performance was also a NCAA provisional qualifying time. Reynolds
also was a key in Akron's MAC 400m relay championship. Jasmine teamed with
Terra Jones, Deanna Norflee and LaTrese Taylor to turn the oval in 45.59.
Jasmine also contributed a leg to the 1600m relay squad. What goals does
she have for the 2000 season? Hopefully individual and team MAC
Championships as well as a trip to the NCAA Championshipsand the Olympic
trials. Don't be surprised if she accomplishes all four.

Jasmine Reynolds- 1999 outdoor P.R.s 100m- 11.58 200m- 23.48
400m Relay-45.59 1600m Relay-3:47.16

Senior LaTrese Taylor Gears up for Senior Campaign

Senior sprinter LaTrese Taylor is getting ready for her final season of competition as a University of Akron Zip. Over the past three seasons the Canton McKinley product has established herself as one of the top sprinters in University history and the Mid-American Conference. Taylor is the top indoor sprinter in the annals of UA track and field. She currently holds individual school records in the 55m,60m and 200m dashes. LaTrese is a two All-Ohio Champion in the 55m and the MAC 60m runner up in 1999. Outdoors Taylor anchored the zips 400m relay team of Terra Jones, Jasmine Reynolds and Deanna Norflee to a MAC championship time of 45.59. Although hampered by a hamstring injury for most of the outdoor season LaTrese was able to score in both the 100m and 200m at the 1999 outdoor MAC Championships. The 2000 season is one in which LaTrese will seek to garner her first individual MAC championship and qualify for the NCAA championships.

LaTrese Taylor: Personal Bests 55m-7.00 60m-7.46 200m-24.44 100m-11.70 200m-23.75 400m Relay-45.59 1600m Relay -3:52.48