Once is nice, but two times is twice as nice for University of Akron track and field standout Hunter Garretson.
Garretson, a redshirt junior pole vaulter from Newcomerstown, earned his second consecutive Mid-American Conference men’s indoor pole vault title going 18 feet, 2 inches at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. last Saturday.
Garretson went one inch better in 2024 than he did in 2023, claiming the crown for a second consecutive season.
It was Garretson’s sixth career collegiate title, combining the indoor and outdoor campaigns he has competed in his career at Akron.
Meanwhile, current Kent State University senior and former New Philadelphia vaulter Kristian Kneffler made it a one-two finish for former Tuscarawas County vaulters with a second place and school-record showing of 17-9.75 inches.
His performance helped the Golden Flashes win the men’s title with 155 points. Host Eastern Michigan was second with 140 and Akron took third with 128.
Kneffler cleared 17-6.5 at the Meyo Invitational hosted by Notre Dame earlier this month to originally break the Kent State track and field indoor record.
It was Garretson’s second straight win after his performance in the Al Campbell Invitational held on Feb. 16 at the Stile Athletics Field House on Akron’s campus.
Garretson registered a career-best mark of 18-9.5, the No. 2 performance in the NCAA this season. He attempted to set the No. 1 mark at 19-1 but was unsuccessful in his
three attempts.
For his efforts, he captured MAC Men's Field Athlete of the Week accolades.
In 2023, he earned Second-Team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships last March, eclipsing 18-1 to place 12th in the nation.
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