Freshman UA pole vaulter Shaun Barber earns National Athlete of the Week Honors by the U.S. Track & Field Coaches Association.

"NEW ORLEANS - This week’s U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athletes of the Week range from seniors improving upon already impressive resumes to a freshman making his mark not only on the NCAA level but also the world stage, and the award’s first repeat winners.

Representing Division I are Akron’s freshman pole vault phenom Shawn Barber and senior Kansas horizontal jumper Andrea Geubelle.

Barber (Kingwood, Texas) continued his dominating freshman campaign in the pole vault this past weekend at the Zips’ home Akron Invitational. With a winning vault of 18-3¾ (5.58m) – the top mark in the competition by 17 inches – Barber has now won all four of his pole vault competitions on the young season. He owns the top three vaults in the nation this season, including the NCAA leader at 18-4 (5.60m), and four of the top six. After clearing 18-3¾ on his first attempt, he raised the bar to 18-8 (5.69m) for three attempts at the World Junior record, which he could not attain. He became the first student-athlete in the nine-year history of the Akron Invitational to record a vault higher than 18 feet."

Is Akron a traditional Track power?

(02-05-2013 03:39 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Is Akron a traditional Track power?

At the MAC level. Some success in big meets. The MAC ain't what it was.

Akron's T&F programs see about three or four all-American honors every year, divided between Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor.

The guy already has the top three vaults this year and yet he is only a freshman? Wow.

Plus I noticed he is from Texas. How in the world did Akron get him? Did you tell him there are a lot Poles in nearby Parma?