PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Following a historic outdoor track and field championship, the American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the 2018 Outdoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Performance awards, as student-athletes from Cincinnati, UConn and Wichita State collected the honors.
 
The award is presented to student-athletes who recorded the highest-ranking marks on the NCAA performance list at The American Outdoor Track and Field Championships this season. Wichita State swept the men’s awards, as Austin Corley and Aaron True each took home honors. Cincinnati’s Loretta Blaut and UConn’s Susan Aneno earned the women’s accolades.
 
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Austin Corley * R-So. * Wichita State * 400-Meter Hurdles
Corley dethroned The American’s two-time defending 400-meter hurdles champion, Amere Lattin of Houston, in a record-setting performance. He completed the full lap around the track in 50.07 seconds to take home the gold. His time is the fastest in American Athletic Conference Championship history, as he entered the day ranked 38th in the nation and  walked away with the ninth-fastest time in the NCAA this year.  
 
MEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Aaron True * Jr. * Wichita State * Javelin Throw
True guided the Shockers to a strong start on the final day of competition at The American Championship with his meet-record javelin toss of 77.49 meters (254-3) to win Sunday’s opening event. His distance ranks No. 5 in the nation and is good for the Shockers’ school record. He defeated two former American champions, including Memphis’ Michael Criticos, who set the former meet mark in 2016, and last year’s winner, Seth Zuidema of UConn.
 
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Susan Aneno * Jr. * UConn * 800-Meter Run
The 800-meter run featured two former conference champions, as Aneno successfully defended her title against 2016 winner Rosie Chamberlain of UCF in a meet-record setting time of 2:03.89. Her time pushed her up to No. 14 in the nation.
 
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Loretta Blaut * Sr. * Cincinnati * High Jump
Blaut, who also earned the conference’s Indoor Most Outstanding Performance honor, registered another stunning leap at the outdoor championship, clearing the nation’s No. 1 height at 1.88 meters (6-2) to win her second-straight conference outdoor high jump title. The All-America jumper owns four American titles and was the runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championship.