5/16/00

Karen Beasley and Jim Ingersoll

This week's male and female "Athletes of the Week" fit every category required to gain this honor. Both had to overcome adversity to reach the kind of performances they acquired at the Al Campbell/Kent Open. Karen Beasley provisional qualified for nationals in the high jump going 5'10.5". This puts her second on the all time Akron list. She made this jump after a disappointing no-height performance in the event the week before. She was pushed by no one in the competition and the weather was less than ideal, but her determination allowed her to clear the bar on her third attempt.

Jim Ingersol has been nursing a pulled hamstring and a string tough long fouls in competition, but the the last couple of weeks he has come on strong. At Kent Saturday he threw two school records. First he improved on his own school record in the hammer going 184'. The he came back to tie the school record in the discus with a throw of 168'.

5/9/00

LeShaunte Edwards and Chad Bullett

LeShaunte Edwards and Chad Bullett are this week's male track "Athletes of the Week" for their performances at the USTCA Ohio Quad Meet May 6. It is hard to separate the greatness of the performances of these two outstanding athletes last Saturday. Edwards was second in the 100 at 10:30, but Bullett edged him out recording the same time. Both of them ran on the MAC leading Ohio Quad winning 4 x 100 relay team. However, their most impressive performance was in the 200 where both broke the school record and ran automatic NCAA times. Edwards won at 20.34 with Bullett slightly behind at 20.38. What makes these performances most significant is that both had been struggling as late with their times, weather conditions and practice opportunities. Leading up to the meet and at the meet the weather changed to the positive. They were finally able to practice the way they should. Both took advantage of the opportunity and rose closer to their potential making the breakthrough all of us expected. For hanging in there during the tough times and capturing opportunity during good conditions they are both deserving of this week's "Athlete of the Week" honors.

LaTrese Taylor

During the senior recognition ceremony at Saturday's USTCA Ohio Quad Meet LaTrese Taylor made her entrance bouncing in and all smiles. This was an exciting event for her with all her friends and family there to honor and watch her compete. Her enthusiasm came through on the track as she broke two school records that were provisional national qualifying marks. She ran 11.47 for 100 and 23.44 in the 200. She also anchored the season best performance for the Zips in the 4 x 100 relay running 45.96 which was second in the meet and second on Akron's all time list. Taylor has done so much for the University of Akron program. Because of her dedication competitive desire she has made incredible improvements since her high school days at Canton McKinley High School. For her enthusiasm, improvement and performances at the meet she is this week's female "Athlete of the Week."

5/2/00

Michelle Rizzo blew away the school record in the 5000 this last weekend at the Penn Relays by 49 seconds. She ran 16:28.90. This time also qualified here provisionally for the NCAA Championships and is leading the MAC by 20 seconds. She did all of this after an impressive weekend at Kent where she was able to do the amazing winning double in the 1500 and 3000. The speed work at Kent paid off as the pace at Penn went out strong for the first part of the race running near 2:30 for the first 800. Rizzo was able to hang on aggressively with the prestigious field taking 7th overall and currently 27th in the country. Her great performance earned her this week's Female Track "Athlete of the Week" honors.

On a cold night in Philly Chad Bullett, Jamie Johnson, Oran Bell and Steve O'Bryan took on the elements and the chaos of Penn Relays to score a victory in their section of the sprint medley relay. The time was 3:26.51. This time was well of the school record of 3:22.97, but considering the conditions and the way they raced it was an impressive win for the men. Bullett led off in the first 200 leg giving to Johnson for anther 200, then to Bell for the 400 leg. O'Bryan put on the finishing touches in his 800 leg out kicking a dual race to the line with Michigan. For their performance in tough conditions in an impressive fashion the sprint medley relay team is this week's male "Athletes of the Week".

4/25/00

Bobbie Hardbarger and Chad Bullett were named this week's female and male "Athletes of the Week". Chad Bullett seemed to do everything in the Akron/Kent Dual Meet April 22nd. He started off the meet by running a strong winning come from behind anchor leg in the 4 x 100 relay. Later in the meet he scored victories in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. He also ran on the 4 x 400 relay. Was that enough for the Akron junior? No! He showed he can jump as well as he also competed and scored in the high jump.

Bobbie Hardbarger showed that she still had her patentent run from behind kick as she roared by several Kent Runners to help the Zips take 1-2 in the 1500 in the Akron Kent Dual Meet April 22. Winning the race was Michelle Rizzo. Harbarger came back in the 800 later in the meet to have another impressive performance. Hardbarger who struggled most of the track season showed she is ready to be a force in the MAC and earning "Female Athlete of the Week" honors.