BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Opening Saturday with a wide lead in the men’s competition at the Birmingham CrossPlex, Houston held the course to win its sixth straight men’s American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Cougars repeated as men’s and women’s champion for the second straight year in the narrowest team point decision in conference history on the women’s side.
The Cougar men scored a meet record 179 points to claim the men’s championship over UConn (129). Cincinnati was third with 101 points, followed by Tulsa in fourth with 79 points. Wichita State rounded out the men’s top five with 59 points. In the women’s standings, Houston scored 84 points to edge past Cincinnati (83.5 points) by just a half a point. Temple placed third with 71 points, SMU was fourth with 60.5 points and Wichita State was fifth with 59 points.
Cincinnati’s Chris Borzor was named the men’s Most Valuable Performer of the meet after a highlight performance in the 200-meter dash. UConn’s David Ajama claimed conference Freshman of the Year honors on the strength of a gold medal in the triple jump. With first-place showings in the mile and 3000-meter run, Wichita State’s Rebekah Topham was named the women’s Most Valuable Performer. A strong showing in the 400-meter dash netted SMU’s Whitney Williams women’s Freshman of the Year accolades.
Jordan Wesner of Memphis defended his men’s high jump title to take the first gold medal of Saturday’s action, successfully clearing his only attempt at 2.16m (7-1) for the event victory. UConn’s Daniel Claxton was the runner-up after also getting over the 2.16m (7-1) mark, and Wichita State’s Weston Lewis picked up the bronze medal after clearing 2.12m (6-11.50).
Temple’s Aisha Brown became the first non-Cincinnati winner of the women’s high jump in meet history, clearing 1.79m (5-10.50) to earn the top spot in the field. Wichita State’s Sidney Sapp finished second with a mark of 1.76m (5-9.25) and UConn’s Patricia Mroczkowski placed third after also clearing 1.76m (5-9.25).
Wichita State’s Topham defended her title in the women’s mile, crossing the finish line in 4:51.25 for her second career conference championship in the distance. Conference leader Millie Howard from Temple was the race runner-up with a time of 4:51.84 and Cincinnati’s Ellie Leather logged a time of 4:51.91 for the bronze medal.
UConn’s Eric Van Der Els earned his first men’s mile indoor title in The American, as the conference’s top-ranked competitor secured first place with a time of 4:10.11. Tulsa’s Cameron Field (4:11.55) and Scott Beattie (4:12.41) joined Van Der Els on the podium, and Christian Baker (4:12.81) and Adam Breaux (4:12.83) capped a 2-5 finish for the Golden Hurricane.
Chika Iwuamadi of SMU brought home the first women’s 400-meter gold medal for the Mustangs in meet history, running a season-best 53.21. Memphis’ Paris Perkins was second with a time of 53.71 and Houston’s Birexus Hawkins claimed the third spot with a time of 54.42.
UConn’s Wellington Ventura joined the list of American indoor champions with a competitive men’s 400-meter dash final, crossing the line in 47.22 to edge out Cincinnati’s Borzor (47.43) for the victory. Houston’s Tyrell Valentine was the third-place finisher in 47.47.
After holding the overnight lead in the men’s heptathlon, Cincinnati’s Damien Berthenet became the first Bearcat to win the men’s heptathlon with 5,693 points. Berthenet won the shot put (14.29m, 46-10.75) and the pole vault (4.80m, 15-9) individual events in the course of the competition. UConn’s Jordan Torney was second with 5,395 points and Cincinnati’s Cannon Riddle placed third with 5,279 points.
Naomi Taylor won her second straight women’s 60-meter hurdles crown representing Houston, breaking her own meet record with a championship time of 8.03. Tulane’s Kyah Loyd was the runner-up in 8.33, followed by Green Wave teammate Brandi Hughes with a bronze time of 8.36.
Arthur Greenlee IV ran a personal-best time of 7.77 in the men’s 60-meter hurdles to take first place in the event for Cincinnati. Wichita State’s Joseph Holthusen was second in 7.84 and meet record holder Dayo Akindele of Houston placed third with a finals time of 7.90.
Houston’s Tristan Evelyn defended her number one seed from prelims in the women’s 60-meter dash final, running a championship time of 7.31 to unseat defending champion Chelsea Francis of SMU. Cincinnati’s Caisja Chandler was the runner-up in 7.35 and UCF’s Shian Hyde placed third with a time of 7.38.
Conference leader Travis Collins earned the seventh straight men’s 60-meter dash victory for Houston, narrowly missing the meet record with a season-high and gold medal time of 6.61. Teammates Terence Ware (6.69) and Jordan Booker (6.77) joined Collins on the podium.
ECU’s Brooke Stith won a competitive women’s triple jump final, taking the conference crown with a top mark of 12.82m (42-0.75). Two-time defending champion and meet record holder Irati Mitxelena from Cincinnati was second with a mark of 12.81m (42-0.50) and Bearcat teammate Kennedy Marable was third in 12.78m (41-11.25).
Ajama of UConn brought home the gold medal in a competitive men’s triple jump final, covering 15.69m (51-5.75) on his second jump for the victory. Teammate Safir Scott was second with a final attempt of 15.40m (50-6.25), followed by ECU’s Niejel Wilkins in third at 15.31m (50-2.75).
Temple took the top three slots in the women’s 800-meter run, led by first-time event champion Alanna Lally and her winning time of 2:08.80. Helene Holm Gottlieb was the runner-up with a time of 2:09.49, and Howard snagged the bronze medal with a time of 2:10.36.
Houston’s Christian Gilmore kept the momentum flowing for the Cougars in the men’s 800-meter run, winning the final heat with a time of 1:52.24. Teammate Zion Smith was across in second with a time of 1:52.48, and defending champion Tyler Gleen of UConn placed third in 1:52.54.
Evelyn turned in her second victory of the day in the women’s 200-meter dash, finishing just off the meet pace with a winning time of 23.16. Cincinnati’s Chandler was second with a time of 23.22, following by Hyde of UCF (23.56).
Borzor from Cincinnati ran a school record time in the men’s 200-meter dash, taking the championship in a conference season-best 20.84 to give the Bearcats their first win in the event. Houston’s Booker (21.03) and Nicholas Alexander (21.11) garnered the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Iason Machairas, the conference’s men’s shot put leader entering the championship meet, earned his first career indoor conference title in the event with his second attempt of 17.99m (59-0.25). UConn’s Matthew Brady threw his way to the silver with a top distance of 17.20m (56-5.25), and defending champion Sam Meece from Cincinnati was third with a 17.18m (56-4.50).
Houston’s Nora Monie claimed the first American women’s shot put title for Houston after entering the meet as the league’s top performer. Monie won the event with a leadoff attempt of 16.07m (52-8.75), followed by Memphis’ DeeNia McMiller at 15.81m (51-10.50). Cincinnati’s Malin Smith was third with an attempt of 15.40m (50-6.25).
Topham from Wichita State ran an impressive women’s 3000-meter finals heat to bring home her second straight American title in the event, winning with a time of 9:30.46. SMU’s Hannah Miller was the runner-up with a time of 9:31.58. UConn’s Danielle Jordan won a race to the line for third place in 9:34.62.
Tulsa’s Patrick Dever turned on the jets late and pulled away from Cincinnati’s Aaron Bienenfeld to bring home the men’s 3000-meter championship in a back-and-forth battle. Dever’s time of 8:03.10 earned him his first gold medal in the event, with 5000-meter champion Bienenfeld just behind at 8:05.51. Tulsa’s Beattie was third with a time of 8:09.41.
SMU picked up the victory in the women’s 4x400-meter relay, posting a winning time of 3:40.26. UCF grabbed the team silver medal with a time of 3:41.58, and Tulane was the bronze medalist in 3:42.43.
Houston capped the men’s team victory with a triumphant showing in the 4x400-meter relay. The Cougars came across in 3:09.11 to take the event victory and establish a meet record. UConn was the event runner-up with a time of 3:12.89, with USF just behind in 3:14.36.
Men’s Teams Scores
1. Houston – 179
2. UConn – 129
3. Cincinnati – 101
4. Tulsa – 79
5. Wichita State – 59
6. Memphis – 57
7. ECU – 30
8. USF – 29
Women’s Teams Scores
1. Houston – 84
2. Cincinnati – 83.5
3. Temple – 71
4. SMU – 60.5
5. Wichita State – 59
6. ECU – 57
7. Memphis – 54
8. UCF – 53
9. UConn – 43
10. Tulane – 37
11. USF – 31
11. Tulsa – 31
Most Valuable Performers
Chris Borzor, So., Cincinnati (Men’s)
Rebekah Topham, RSr., Wichita State (Women’s)
Freshmen of the Year
David Ajama, UConn (Men’s)
Whitney Williams, SMU (Women’s)
Coaching Staff of the Year
Leroy Burrell, Houston (Men’s and Women’s)