OXFORD, Ohio -- Top finishes by Olivia Bechtel, Sean Torpy, and Finley Mclear, along with a championship trophy for the Miami men, were the highlight for the RedHawks on the final day 2021 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. After two days of events, the Miami men's track and field squad finished on top of the standings with 161 total points, while the women's team finished in third with 89 points, behind Kent State (102) and Eastern Michigan (90). With the title in hand, the men's outdoor track squad captures their first conference title since 1993. Miami director of track & field/cross country Tom Chorny was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Bechtel had a dominant performance in her final MAC Championships, breaking a MAC and meet record in the women's 400 meters final to take the title with a 51.65-second finish. She also competed in the 200-meter event, taking the title with 23.41 seconds. Faith Baxter joined Bechtel in the 400-meter event, taking fourth with a time of 54.13 seconds.
• Sarah Bruns scored 5151 points in the Heptathlon, taking the top marks in the 100 hurdles, 200-meter dash, and the long jump for both days of competition. 
• Sean Torpy was another senior with a successful day for the RedHawks, finishing on top in the men's 1500 with a time of 3:43.67. Miami swept the podium in the event, with Christopher Torpy (3.44.14) and Andrew Schroff (3:44.37) taking second and third, respectively.
• The men's 800 meters was a highlight for the RedHawks, as Mclear claimed the title in the event with a time of 1:49.04. Anthony Vlatko (second, 1:50.83) and Sean Torpy (third, 1:50.89) were close behind, giving the RedHawk men their second podium sweep on the day. Anthony Camerieri gave Miami more success in distance events as he placed second in the men's 5000 with a time of 14:12.12. 
• Emily Akin placed fourth in the women's 1500, finishing in 4:27.82. McKenna Fry wasn't too far behind as the junior took 11th with a time of 4:32.29. Ava Nuttall competed in the finals for the women's 5000-meter event, taking sixth with a 16:58.19 finish.
• For the Miami relays, the men's 1600 relay team of Sam Pearl, Mclear, Luke Finnegan, and Jacob Matthews took the top honor, finishing in 3:10.85. The women's team for the 1600 relay took second, with Baxter, Gabby Cossio, Bruns, and Bechtel finishing as a team in 3:40.15. The men's 400 relay team with Julian Wagner, Uduak Etuk, De'Yon Brown, and Finnegan finished in third with a 41.25 finish. Baxter, Meg Wilson, Kayla Walters, and Bechtel took fourth in the women's 400 relay with a 46.72.
• Finnegan capped off his junior campaign well in the sprint events, taking second in the 400 meters (47.87 seconds) and third in the 200 meters (21.38 seconds). Pearl was close behind Finnegan in the 400, taking third with a time of 48.59.
• Jacob Ranker took sixth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.44) and third in the 400 hurdles (52.83). CJ Patton took sixth in the 400 hurdles with Ranker, finishing with a time of 53.80.
• Ryan Smith took runner-up honors in the javelin on the field, clearing a distance of 61.97 meters. In the discus, Matt Lamb was the top RedHawk in the event with a 48.20-meter throw to take fourth, with Sean Mesue (6th, 47.33m) and Smith (7th, 45.94m) close behind. Elise Walker took seventh in the high jump, clearing 1.63m.

 
AWARDS RECAP: 
 
Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Dimitrije Novakovic, Akron
 
Men's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Jimmy Harkleroad, Akron
 
Men's Most Valuable Performer
Amir Willis, Akron 
 
Men's Coach of the Year
Tom Chorny, Miami
 
Women's Freshman Field Performer of the Year
Fegor Clifford, Akron
 
Women's Freshman Track Performer of the Year
Emily Vining, Toledo
 
Women's Most Valuable Performer
Grace Tennant, Kent State
 
Women's Coach of the Year
Bill Lawson, Kent State
 
Women's All-MAC First Team 
Karlie Zumbro, Ball State - Heptathlon
Ashley Tutt, NIU - 10,000m/5000m
Semra Karaslan, Toledo - 3,000 Steeplechase
Quiara Wheeler, CMU - Hammer Throw
Grace Tennant, Kent State - Javelin
Leah Pasqualetti, Kent State - Pole Vault
Jazmyn Smith, NIU - Long Jump
Alyson Davis, EMU - 400m Relay
Micah Johnston, EMU
Brittni Mason, EMU
Kolby Ganther, EMU 
Petronela Simiuc, Toledo - 1,500m/800m
Alysse Wade, EMU - 100 Hurdles
Olivia Bechtel, Miami - 400m/200m
Amya Clarke, Akron - 100m
Ashleigh Kitrell, Ohio - 400 Hurdles
Chasatea Brown, Bowling Green - 1600 Relay
Ryen Draper, Bowling Green
Savannah Nevels, Bowling Green 
Iyanna Ross, Bowling Green 
Gabrielle Bailey, Kent State - Shot Put/Discus
Quintella Johnson, EMU - High Jump
Brianna Richard, Bowling Green -Triple Jump
 
Women's All-MAC Second Team 
Sarah Bruns, Miami - Heptathlon/1600 Relay
Stephanie Sherman, Toledo - 10,000m/5000m
Katie Vitou, Miami - 3,000 Steeplechase    
Abby Moore, Ohio - Hammer Throw
Kristine Bourg, EMU - Javelin
Kasey Staley, CMU - Pole Vault
Nina Ward, EMU - Long Jump
Travasia Singletary, UB - 400 Relay
Antoinette Miller, UB
Amy Villarini, UB
Priscilla Faa, UB 
Mackenzie Callahan, NIU - 1,500m
Remy Amarteifio, NIU - 100 Hurdles
Ruby Greenwood, Kent State - 400m
Kyra Keurentjes, Akron - 800m
Fegor Clifford, Akron - 400 Hurdles
MaQuila Norman, Ball State - 200m
Faith Baxter, Miami 1600 Relay
Gabby Cossio, Miami 
Charity Griffith, Ball State - High Jump
Jacqueline Pokuaah, Akron - Triple Jump
 
Men's All-MAC First Team 
Brandon Hochbein, Akron - Decathon
Liam Hilbert, Buffalo - 10,000
Charlie Harders, Miami - 3,000 Steeplechase
Jonathan Surdej, Buffalo - Shot Put
Kristian Kneffler, Kent State - Pole Vault
Dimitrije Novakovic, Akron - Long Jump
Zach Harkey, EMU - Discus
William Gross, Akron - Hammer Throw
Brandon Burke, Buffalo - High Jump
Dejon Manning, Kent State - 400 Relay
Asa Hodrick, Kent State
Xavier Williams, Kent State
Jaheim Jones, Kent State
Sean Torpy, Miami - 1500m
Payne Wylie, EMU - 110 Hurdles
Charles Sanders, Akron - 400m 
Amir Willis, Akron - 100m/200m
Finley Mclear, Miami - 800m/1600 Relay 
Jimmy Harkelroad, Akron - 400 Hurdles
Baldvin Magnusson, EMU - 5000m
Sam Pearl, Miami -1600 Relay
Luke Finnegan, Miami
Jacob Matthews, Miami 
Jacob Ranker, Miami 
Anthony Milliner, Kent State - Triple Jump
Scott Benco, Kent State - Javelin
 
Men's All-MAC Second Team 
Malik Hudson, Akron - Decathlon 
Jake Bertelsen, Miami - 10,000
Thomas Flannery, Buffalo - 3,000 Steeplechase
Chukwusom Enekwechi, EMU - Shot Put
Robert Artrip, Akron - Pole Vault
Baboucar Sallah-Mohammed, EMU - Long Jump/Triple Jump
Taige Bryant, EMU - Discus
Nuh Andu, Akron - High Jump
Jayce Shaffer, Akron - 400 Relay
Jace Roundtree, Akron
Christopher Torpy, Miami - 1500m 
Patrick Kimball, Akron - 110 Hurdles
Anthony Vlatko, Miami - 800m 
Dante Lander, EMU - 400 Hurdles
Anthony Camerieri, Miami - 5000m
Shakorie Davis II, Kent State - 1600 Relay
Kyle Sommer, Kent State
Quintin Cooks, Kent State
Ryan Smith, Miami - Javelin