2005 Track & Field Roster
Roster
Akobundu (AK) Ikwuakor
- Position:
- Hurdles
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- null
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Arvada, Colo.
- High School:
- Pomona HS
One of two returning NCAA veterans for Ducks in 110 hurdles with Eric Mitchum - both of whom are seniors. Two-time All-American for Ducks in 4x400 relay in 2005, and has also earned two NCAA invites in the 110 hurdles and another in the 400 hurdles that he ultimately declined. Climbed five spots on Duck all-time list in 110 hurdles in 2005 and improved best .20 seconds to now rank fifth (13.83). Also stands eighth all-time for UO in 400 hurdles as is team's top returnee (50.61) - 1.38 seconds better than his freshman best from 2003. Transferred to Oregon after he competed for the University of Colorado as a freshman in 2002-03.
2004-05: All-American (4x400 Relay). Made NCAA Championships outdoor return in 110 hurdles (14.02-prelims) and advanced to semifinals but false started. Two weeks before, ran personal best in West Regional 110 hurdles prelims (13.83), and then earned second NCAA invite in the final the next day (third, 14.16). Could have also made an NCAA trip in 400 hurdles with his fifth-place NCAA West Regional finish (fifth, 51.92) but declined to focus on the 110 hurdles and 4x400 relay. Posted best-ever Pac-10 finishes in 110 hurdles (third, 13.96) and 400 hurdles (third, 50.61) to help UO to team win against UCLA in Los Angeles. Altogether, competed in 110 hurdles contests on 10 occasions and five were better than his preseason best of 14.09. Ended outdoor season ranked 22nd and 14th nationally in 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles, and fourth and fifth in the region and Pac-10. Ran third leg on 4x400 relay in NCAA final (school record 3:00.81, 3:04.10-prelims), Pac-10 Championships (second, then-school record 3:03.27) and NCAA West Regional (second, 3:07.69). Altogether in 4x400 relay action, ran third leg on four relays that rank top-eight all-time in outdoor school history. Indoors, ran third leg on UO’s first indoor All-America 4x400 relay in NCAA Championships (fifth, 3:05.26). That same unit ranked second nationally with its indoor school record from the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier (first, 3:04.17). Overall, the Duck 4x400 relay ran four of the top six times in school history in ’05. Ranked second on team and fourth in school history in 60 hurdles (8.03), and fourth on squad in 400 (48.83). Personal/Seasonal Bests: Outdoors ? 400 - 47.59 (PR), Oregon Invitational, Eugene, Ore. (4/23/05). 110 Hurdles - 13.83, w:1.3 (PR), West Regional Championships prelims, Eugene, Ore. (5/28/05). 400 Hurdles - 50.61 (PR), Pac-10 Championships, 5/15/05. Indoors ? 60 Hurdles - 8.03 (I-PR), Mountain Pacific Championships prelims, Seattle (2/25/05). 400 - 48.83, Iowa State Classic, Ames, Iowa (2/12/05).
2003-2004: NCAA Qualifier (110 Hurdles). Capped first season in Eugene with an NCAA appearance in 110 hurdles (eighth-heat, 23rd-overall prelims, 14.09, w:0.4). Earned invite to collegiate finale after he grabbed the final automatic qualifier in the West Regional Championships (fifth, 14.13, w:). Finished third in Pac-10 Championships (14.26) two weeks earlier - two places higher than his pre-meet seed. Was also a conference scorer in the 400 hurdles (eighth, 54.46), thanks to a .22-second season best in the preliminary round (sixth-heat, ninth-overall prelims, 52.32). Overall, ran 10 short-hurdle races, and went under 14.40 eight times, and eclipsed the 14.20 barrier four times. During the regular season, he always finished top three in front of the home crowd, with performances in the Oregon Preview (second, 14.66), Oregon Invitational (third, 14.30w w:3.2), and the Oregon Twilight (second, 14.33w w:2.6). Also ran seven 400 hurdle races, and ran sub 53 seconds four times, and once again. Broke 53 seconds in three of his four 400 hurdles races at Hayward Field - the Oregon Preview (second, 52.93), the Oregon Invitational (second, 52.55), and the Oregon Twilight (second, 52.70). Ended outdoor slate ranked fifth in Pac-10, sixth in region and 50th nationally based on pre-NCAA season bests. Indoors, tuned up for the outdoor season with three 400-meter races, and three 60-meter hurdle efforts. Ranked fifth on squad in the 400 with his season best in the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier (second, 48.60), and was the second-fastest 60-hurdler indoors, with a personal best in the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier (fourth, 8.38). Personal/Seasonal Bests: Outdoors ? 110 Hurdles - 14.09, w:2.0 (then-PR), NCAA Championships prelims, Austin, Texas (6/10/04). 400 Hurdles - 52.32, Oregon Invitational, Eugene, Ore. (4/24/05). Indoors ? 400 - 48.60 (I-PR), NCAA Last Chance Qualifier, Seattle, Wash. (3/6/04). 60 Hurdles - 8.28, Mountain Pacific Championships, Seattle (2/27/05).
Before Oregon: Led Colorado in both hurdles events outdoors as a freshman in 2003. Ran 400 hurdle personal best in Pepsi Team Invitational (third, 51.99) in Eugene in mid-April. Clocked 110-hurdle personal best in the Big 12 Championships in mid-May (14.79, ninth-final / 14.10-prelim (fifth-best)) in Austin, Texas. Also ran 400 hurdles prelims in conference outdoor showdown (fourth, 52.34-final / 52.83-prelim (eighth)), and ran on 4x400 (10th, 3:12.32). Indoors saw limited action, running 600 yards once (1:17.04, and 60-meter dash once (7.31).
Personal: Psychology major. AK is one of three triplets, two that competed for the University of Colorado track and field team (In 2003, Emme triple jumped 46-0 indoors as a frosh, and OB owned an indoor best of 40-2 in both the shot put and weight throw).
Personal Bests
110 Hurdles - 13.83, w:1.3, NCAA West Regional, Eugene, Ore., May 28, 2005
400 Hurdles - 50.61, Pac-10 Championships, Los Angeles, Calif., May 15, 2005
NCAA Championship Performances
2005 - 110 Hurdles, 23rd-prelim, 14.02, w:-0.6; 4x400 Relay, 3rd, 3:00.81 (3:04.10-prelim)
2004 - 110 Hurdles, 23rd-prelim, 14.09
West Regional Championship Performances
2005 - 110 Hurdles, 3rd, 14.16, w:-1.1; 13.83-prelim, w:1.3; 4x400 Relay, 2nd, 3:07.69
2004 - 110 Hurdles, 5th, 14.13/14.24-prelim
Pac-10 Championship Performances
2005 - 110 Hurdles, 3rd, 13.96, w:0.5; 4x400 Relay - 2nd, 3:03.27
2004 - 110 Hurdles, 3rd, 14.26/14.16-prelim
2004 - 400 Hurdles, 8th, 54.46/52.32-prelim
South Regional Performances (University of Colorado)
2003 - 110 Hurdles, 9th, 14.79/14.10-prelim
Big 12 Championships Performances (University of Colorado)
2003 - 400 Hurdles, 4th, 52.34/52.83-prelim
2003 - 4x400, 10th, 3:12.32
Ikwuakor's Top Oregon Performances
110 Hurdles
13.83-prelims, w:1.3, 3rd, West Regional Champs, Eugene, Ore., 5/28/05
13.96, w:0.5, Pac-10 Championships, Los Angeles, 5/15/05
14.02-prelims, w:-0.6, 8th, NCAA Championships, Sacramento, Calif., 6/10/05
14.03, w:1.3, 1st, Oregon Invitational, Eugene, Ore., 4/23/05
14.06, w: 0.6, 5th, Drake Relays, Des Moines, Iowa, 4/29/05
14.09-prelims, w:2.0, 23rd, NCAA Championships prelims, 6/10/04
14.10, w:0.7, 3rd, Golden Bear Invitational, Berkeley, Calif., 4/16/05
14.13, w:0.4, 5th, NCAA West Regional, Northridge, Calif., 5/29/04
14.14, 2nd, Pepsi Team Invitational, Eugene, Ore., 4/9/05
14.16, 5th, Pac-10 Championships, Tucson, Ariz., 5/15/04
14.16-prelims, 3rd, Pac-10 Championships, Tucson, Ariz., 5/14/04
400 Hurdles
50.61, 3rd, Pac-10 Championships, Los Angeles, 5/15/05
51.08, 23rd, USA Championships prelims, Carson, Calif., 6/24/05
51.47, 1st, Pepsi Invitational, Eugene, Ore., 4/9/05
51.49-prelims, 5th, West Regional Champs, Eugene, Ore., 5/27/05
51.58, 2nd, Golden Bear Invitational, Berkeley, Calif., 4/16/05
51.92, 5th, West Regional Champs, Eugene, Ore., 5/28/05
