Update: Women’s track edges Zips as men’s team falls

Andrew Bugel

Kent State’s men’s and women’s track and field squared off against Mid-American Conference opponent and crosstown rival Akron in the Kent-Akron dual on Friday night at the Stile Field House in Akron.

While the men’s squad lost 77-74, the women’s team managed a victory by the same score.

Junior Wayne Gordon continued his strong start to the season by sprinting to a commanding victory in the men’s 60-meter dash with a time of 6.69 seconds.

Junior William Barnes added another Flashes victory by winning the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.83 seconds. This was Barnes’ second win in the hurdles in as many weeks as he took first place last weekend in the Doug Raymond Invitational.

Gordon and Barnes also took the top two spots in the 200-meter dash. Gordon clocked in with a time of 20.95 seconds, while Barnes finished in 21.54 seconds.

In the men’s weight throw, the Flashes finished first and second with junior Matthias Tayala throwing a top distance of 21.36 meters, and junior Reggie Jagers followed Tayala up with a mark of 19.04 meters.

Other winners in men’s competition included senior Michael King in shot put (17.19 meters), junior Roosevelt Dotson in high jump (2.10 meters) and junior Jailyn Twitty in triple jump (15.16 meters).

With its win, the women’s team saw success in several events.

Junior Taylor Farquhar and freshman Tyler Williams taking the top two spots respectively in the 400-meter dash. Farquhar posted a time of 55.75 seconds, while Williams finished with a time of 56.10 seconds.

Sophomore Jorian Ordway claimed victory in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.79 seconds.

Junior Rachel Slingluff won the 3000-meter dash with a total time of 9:58.76.

Junior Danniel Thomas added a victory in women’s shot put with a mark of 16.48 meters.

The team will travel to Bloomington, Indiana for the Gladstein Invitational next Friday.

Contact Andrew Bugel at [email protected].

Editor’s Note: Due to an editor’s error, the story said both teams lost 77-74 in a previous version. While men’s track lost by 77-74, women’s track won by that same score.