BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
– Houston raced out to a large lead in the men’s competition and East Carolina clung to a slim lead in the women’s draw following Friday’s opening day of the American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Cougar men scored 72.5 points to take a 47.5-point advantage over Tulsa (25), with Cincinnati in third with 24 points. ECU staked a 1.5-point lead with 29.5 points, just ahead of Tulsa (28). Houston was third with 25 points, and Memphis rounded out the top four with four points.
Ben Percefull brought home the top spot in the men’s pole vault by clearing 5.21m (17-1) to earn the first Houston gold medal finish of the championship meet. Teammate Antonio Ruiz matched Percefull with a top mark of 5.21m (17-1), and USF’s Stone Baker was third with a clearance of 5.11m (16-9.25).
East Carolina’s Mackenzie Whitaker earned the first women’s gold medal of the 2020 championships, winning the women’s pentathlon with a meet record 3,954 points. Whitaker won the long jump with a pentathlon top mark of 6.05m, and was the runner-up in the high jump (1.70m) and the 800-meter run (2:20.92). USF’s Adriana Janic was the event runner-up with 3,867 points, establishing records in the 60-meter hurdles (8.48) and the high jump (1.76m) in the process. SMU’s Olivia Witt claimed the bronze medal with 3,708 points.
ECU’s Ryan Davis won his second career American weight throw crown, adding a 2020 gold medal to a winning showing two years ago with a meet record 21.75m (71-4.25). Houston’s Miles Marhofer of Houston placed second with a top throw of 20.88m (68-6.00), and UConn’s Sebastian Castano was the bronze medalist with a 19.62m (64-4.50) showing.
Tulsa’s Carsyn Spurgeon earned her first career gold in the women’s long jump, unseating two-time defending American champion Samiyah Samuels of Houston. Spurgeon’s initial mark of 6.14m (20-1.75) brought home the win over silver medalist Samuels at 6.09m (19-11.75). Tanalaya Gordon of Memphis placed third with a 5.95m (19-6.25) showing.
Conference leader Hannah Miller from SMU earned her second career indoor women’s 5000-meter championship with a near record time in the distance, crossing the line in 16:08.593 to claim the top spot. Defending champion Winny Koskei of Wichita State was second with a time of 16:18:077, and Tulsa’s Caitlin Klopfer took home third in 16:30.992.
League leader Aaron Bienenfeld of Cincinnati added indoor conference champion to his impressive career resume in the men’s 5000-meter run, shattering the previous meet record by nearly 15 full seconds with a 13:55.374 showing. Bienenfeld became a four-time American champion, adding the indoor 5000-meter to a pair of outdoor titles and a 2019 cross country championship victory. Tulsa’s Isaac Akers (14:15.393) and Patrick Dever (14:15.485) scored crucial all-conference points for the Golden Hurricane on the podium.
Stephanie Lambeth of USF won the first American pole vault championship program history, clearing 4.13m (13-6.50) to finish atop the standings. Tulane’s Nastjia Modic was the silver medalist with a top clearance of 4.13m (13-6.50), and ECU’s Sommer Knight placed third with a top mark of 4.03m (13-2.50).
Houston’s Taylor Scaife defended her title from a season ago in the women’s weight throw, establishing a meet record on her second throw by covering 22.75m (74-7.75). Memphis’ DeeNia McMiller was the silver medalist with a throw of 22.53m (73-11) and Houston’s Mikaila Martin took the bronze after an attempt of 20.59m (67-6.75).
Dayo Akindele rose to the top of the field to etch his name on his first American men’s long jump championship, covering 7.58m (24-10.50) on his second attempt to win gold. Teammate Allen Blair was the runner-up thanks to an effort of 7.27m (23-10.25), Kenneth Pree completed the Cougar sweep with a bronze showing of 7.22m (23-8.25).
Temple picked up its first women’s DMR championship as members of The American, running a meet record time of 11:26.882 to unseat 2019 champion Wichita State. Cincinnati also eclipsed the previous record place in 11:28.634 for the silver medal, and Tulsa crossed the finish line in third with a time of 11:34.207.
Wichita State added its first men’s DMR title in The American era to close the track portion of day one. The Shockers earned an impressive win in 10:01.413 to secure the gold medal. Cincinnati made a late charge into second place in 10:05.500, followed Houston in third place with a time of 10:06.658.
After the opening day of the men’s heptathlon, Cincinnati’s Damien Berthenet staked his name on the top of the leaderboard with 3,146 points. Berthenet won the shot put with a top mark of 14.29m (46-10.75) and was second in the 60-meter dash (7.16), the long jump (7.01m) and the high jump (1.95m). UConn’s Jordan Torney sits second with 2,943 points, Cincinnati’s Cannon Riddle is third with 2,930 points, UConn’s Benjamin Grosse is fourth with 2,883 points and Wichita State’s Chonnor Ludolph is fifth with 2,774 points.
In the women’s mile, Ellie Leather of Cincinnati led the way during the prelim heats with the top time in 4:57.43. UConn’s Mia Naholm was second in 4:57.79, with American mile leader Millie Howard of Temple in third with a time of 4:58.07. Wichita State’s Rebekah Topham placed fourth (4:58.28), Temple’s Helene Holm Gottlieb was fifth (4:58.12), Nuria Tillo-Prats of ECU was sixth (4:58.80), Victoria Jung of UCF placed seventh (4:58.43) and Cincinnati’s Sam Mikula was eighth (4:59.21).
Conference leader Erik Van Der Els earned the top seed in the men’s mile with a time of 4:11.79. Devin Vallejo was seeded second with a time of 4:15.48, followed by the Tulsa contingent of Scott Beattie (third, 4:12.23), Cameron Field (fourth, 4:15.55) and Jacob Brown (fifth, 4:12.51). Wichita State’s Jed Helker qualified sixth in 4:15.71, Tulsa’s Christian Baker was seventh with a time of 4:12.70 and Cincinnati’s Tyler Wirth claimed the eighth spot in 4:12.81.
SMU’s Chika Iwuamadi held true to form as the conference 400-meter dash leader with the top showing in prelims, placing first in 53.81. Teammate Whitney Williams was second with a time of 54.63, and UCF’s Samieryah Bradwell finished third in 55.33. Memphis’ Paris Perkins was seeded fourth (55.48), Cincinnati’s Faith Banks claimed fifth (55.56), Birexus Hawkins from Houston ranked sixth (55.66), Marissa White of Temple was seventh (55.68) and ECU’s D’Nia Freeman placed eighth with a time of 55.72.
UConn’s Wellington Ventura picked up the top men’s time in the 400-meter dash prelims with a time of 47.58. Tyrell Valentine of Houston checked in second with a 47.66 and teammate Frederick Lewis finished third in 48.22. Adam Gauzy from Wichita State was fourth with a time of 48.46, Adam Khriss of UConn and Henry Visser were fifth in 48.58, Cincinnati’s Chris Borzor qualified in seventh with a time of 48.71 and Wichita State’s Austin Corley rounded out the field in 48.80.
Reigning American champion Naomi Taylor brought home the top seed in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, as the Houston junior qualified first in 8.27. Tulane’s Kyah Loyd (8.35) and Brandi Hughes (8.47) were second and third, respectively, followed by UCF’s Rayniah Jones in fourth with a time of 8.42. Shaneylix Davila from USF was fifth with a time of 8.49, followed by teammate Adriana Janic in sixth in 8.50. Cincinnati’s Victoria Abunaw placed seventh (8.53) and ECU’s Brooke Stith eighth (8.54) in the prelim round.
Houston’s Akindele blazed the track in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, running a meet record time of 7.73 to pick up the top seed. Cincinnati’s Arthur Greenlee IV was second with a time of 7.94, and Wichita State’s Joseph Holthusen rounded out the top three with a time of 7.88. Houston’s Quivell Jordan was fourth in 8.05, Wichita State’s Antonio Norman was fifth in 8.05, Cincinnati’s Connor Duricky was sixth with a time of 8.06, UConn’s Xavier Smith placed seventh in 8.27 and Memphis’ Hunter Miniard secured the last place in the finals with a time of 8.42.
Tristan Evelyn from Houston earned the first overall seed in the women’s 60-meter dash with a top time of 7.31. Cincinnati’s Caisja Chandler was the second qualifier in 7.38, followed by conference leader Chelsea Francis of SMU in third with a time of 7.40. ECU’s Melicia Mouzzon was fourth (7.46), UCF’s Ciara Holback was fifth (7.38), Houston’s Brianne Bethel checked in sixth (7.41), and UCF’s Shian Hyde (7.46) and Imani Clark (7.47) both reached the finals.
Houston swept the top four spots in the men’s 60-meter dash prelim heats, guided by conference leader Travis Collins with a time of 6.73. Terence Ware was second (6.75), Jordan Booker was third (6.76) and Nicholas Alexander was fourth (6.79) representing the Cougars. UConn’s Myles Calhoun was fifth with a time of 6.82, followed by Memphis’ Calvin Austin (6.83), ECU’s Royal Burris (6.84) and Houston’s Christian Hamberlin (6.87).
Temple’s Gottlieb led three Owl runners to the top spots in women’s 800-meter prelims, crossing the finish line in 2:11.96. Howard was second with a time of 2:13.17, followed by Alanna Lally in third place in 2:14.47. UCF’s Caitlin Pinnell (2:12.47) and Charlotte Cook (2:13.28) were fourth and fifth, respectively, with Cincinnati’s Sydney Kilgore (2:14.70) and Carmen Licht (2:13.34) qualifying sixth and seventh. UConn’s Ayoola Gbolade earned the last slot in the finals heat by crossing in 2:13.66.
Tyler Gleen of UConn powered the men’s 800-meter prelim heats with a time of 1:52.74 to bring home the top seed. Houston’s Christian Gilmore (1:53.09) and Zion Smith (1:53.31) rounded out the top three prelim performers. USF’s Derwin Moultrie was fourth with a time of 1:53.55, followed by Cincinnati’s Jase Headings in fifth with a 1:53.79. UConn’s Omar Gebril (1:54.13), Wichita State’s Mel Obadiah (1:54.92) and UConn’s Stephen Sutton (1:55.35) were the final qualifiers.
Evelyn of Houston continued her steady performance in the prelim session by logging the top time in the women’s 200-meter dash, clocking a 23.58. Cincinnati’s Chandler was in second after posting a 23.65, followed by Cecila Tamayo-Garza from Houston in third place (23.69). UCF’s Clark (23.70), Hyde (23.77) and Holback (23.85) claimed spots four through six, with Houston’s Taylor Bennett (23.93) and Bethel (23.93) also headed to the finals.
Borzor of Cincinnati claimed the first seed in the men’s 200-meter dash, cruising in with a time of 21.13. Houston’s Booker (21.18) and Alexander (21.37) were second and third, with Memphis’ Calvin Austin (21.37) Kolbeinn Gunnarsson (21.43) fourth and fifth, respectively. Houston’s Travis Collins was sixth with a time of 21.47, followed by Memphis’ Imri Persiado in seventh (21.51) and UConn’s Calhoun in eighth (21.71).
Men’s Teams Scores
1. Houston – 72.5
2. Tulsa – 25
3. Cincinnati – 24.5
4. UConn – 21
5. ECU – 14
5. USF – 14
5. Wichita State – 14
8. Memphis – 10
Women’s Teams Scores
1. ECU – 29.5
2. Tulsa – 28
3. Houston – 25
4. Memphis – 24
5. Wichita State – 22
6. Cincinnati – 21.5
7. USF – 21
8. SMU – 20
9. Temple – 18
10. Tulane – 12
11. UConn – 10
12. UCF – 3
Championships Schedule:
Saturday, February 29
Men's Heptathlon
9:00 a.m. M-Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
10:00 a.m. M-Heptathlon Pole Vault
3:05 p.m. M-Heptathlon 1000m Run
Field Events
9:45 a.m. High Jump - Men Trials & FINAL
9:45 a.m. High Jump - Women Trials & FINAL
10:00 a.m. Shot Put - Men Trials & FINAL
11:00 a.m. Triple Jump - Women (Pit A) Trials & FINAL
12:30 p.m. Shot Put - Women Trials & FINAL
1:00 p.m. Triple Jump - Men (pit B) Trials & FINAL
Track Events - ALL FINALS
11:20 a.m. Mile Run - Women
11:30 a.m. Mile Run - Men
11:40 p.m. 400m Dash - Women (2-Section Final)
11:50 p.m. 400m Dash - Men (2-Section Final)
12:10 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Women
12:20 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Men
12:30 p.m. 60m Dash- Women
12:40 p.m. 60m Dash - Men
1:00 p.m. 800m Run - Women
1:10 p.m. 800m Run - Men
1:20 p.m. 200m Dash - Women (2-Section final)
1:30 p.m. 200m Dash - Men (2-Section final)
1:40 p.m. 3,000m Run - Women Unseeded
1:55 p.m. 3,000m Run - Men Unseeded
2:10 p.m. 3,000m Run - Women Seeded
2:25 p.m. 3,000m Run - Men Seeded
2:40 p.m. 4 x 400m Relay - Women
2:50 p.m. 4 x 400m Relay - Men
3:20 p.m. AWARDS CEREMONY
All times central