AKRON - University of Akron pole vaulters Carrie Kayes (Green, Ohio) and Mike Uhle (Powell, Ohio) will be competing in this weekend's NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held in Fayetteville, Ark., at the University of Arkansas' Tyson Track Center.

Uhle, making his first NCAA Championships appearance, will compete in the men's pole vault Friday (Mar. 12) at 7:25 pm (ET/6:25 (CT). Kayes, making her third NCAA Championships appearance, will compete in the women's pole vault at 6:00 pm (ET)/5:00 pm (CT).

Kayes participated in the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships, but posted a no height in her first experience at nationals. However, the senior bounced back to place sixth at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn All-American honors.

This season, Kayes is tied for seventh in the nationally heading into this weekend's championship with a vault of 14-1.25. She automatically qualified with an Akron and Mid-American Conference record vault of 14-1.25, breaking a six-year record held by former Zip and three-time All-American Kira Sims. Kayes won the pole vault five times this season, including the MAC Championship for her third overall league title. She cleared at least an NCAA provisional qualifying height each time, going at least 13-3.50, and reaching the NCAA automatic qualifying standard twice (clearing 13-11.25 at the Akron Quad and 14-1.25 at the Zips Invitational).

Uhle, who has won five MAC pole vault titles in five opportunities, also is tied for seventh nationally heading into this weekend's championship, clearing 17-9.25 this past weekend. That vault for the junior ranks second on the UA and MAC all-time lists behind former Zip and five-time All-American John Russell.

This season, Uhle competed in the pole vault eight times, winning six. (He finished behind to non-collegian Brian Mondschein both at the Penn State National and Virginia Tech Qualifier.) Uhle cleared at least an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in all eight meets, going at least 17-0.75 each time out in 2010.

Other Zips to post NCAA provisional qualifying marks in 2010, but not earning berths to the championships, include Phil Ferguson (200m), Eric Hubbard (weight throw), Bjorn Johansson (pole vault), Daniel Kinsey (heptathlon), Mike McCall (high jump), Tyshaun Peoples (long jump and 60m hurdles), Alina Bocicor (high jump), Brittany Cheese (pentathlon), Felicia Close (pentathlon), Katherine Lee (pole vault) and Valerie Wert (weight throw).