TAMPA, Fla. – The first day of competition at the 2021 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships saw both Wichita State and Memphis as the early team leaders on Friday at the USF Track & Field Stadium. The Shockers scored 50 points on day one of the men’s competition to lead Cincinnati (31 points) and Memphis (13 points), while the Tigers tallied 37 points on the women’s side to gain an advantage over Tulsa (28 points) and Houston (18 points).
 
Cincinnati’s Cannon Riddle began the men’s decathlon with a victory in the 100-meter dash in 11.18. Riddle kept the momentum rolling in the long jump, clearing 7.13m (23-4.75) to outpoint Wichita State’s Nathan Vann (6.50m, 21-4.0). Chonnor Ludolph from Wichita State got the Shockers on the board in the shot put with a winning throw of 12.95m (42-6.0). Wichita State’s Davis Dubbert cleared 2.09m (6-10.25) to take the top spot in the long jump, just missing the meet record in the decathlon. Vann coasted to a win in 400-meter dash with a time of 49.05, just ahead of Riddle in 49.22. Riddle maintained the overnight lead in the decathlon standings with 3,797 points, as Vann was in second with 3,742 points and Ludolph in third with 3,474 points.
 
Katie Straus of Cincinnati set a meet record in the opening event of the women’s heptathlon, crossing the finish line in 14.05 in the 100-meter hurdles to take the top spot. Straus also finished at the top of the women’s high jump alongside Wichita State’s Destiny Masters, SMU’s Olivia Dobson and Tulane’s Migle Muraskaite by clearing 1.70m (5-7.0). Dobson moved to third in the overall standings with a win in the shot put (13.99m, 45-10.75), good for a meet record. Tulane’s Kristen O’Handley rounded out the day’s multi-events with a win in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.11. Straus sat atop the day one standings in the heptathlon with 3,307 points, followed by Muraskaite (3,245 points) and Wichita State’s Sydney Wilson (3,164 points).
 
The first gold medal of the weekend was earned by Houston’s Taylor Scaife, who established a PR with a championship throw of 64.79m (212-6.0) in the women’s hammer throw final. Teammate Mikaila Martin was the runner-up with a 63.61m (208-8.0) throw and Memphis’ Vigdis Jonsdottir placed third with a top attempt of 62.06m (203-7.0).
 
Ryan Davis of East Carolina won his first career American outdoor title by obliterating the previous conference record in the men’s hammer throw, logging a championship mark of 70.77m (232-2.0). Wichita State’s Michael Bryan also surpassed the previous meet record in a runner-up showing, covering 69.93m (229-5.0). Defending champion Sam Meece of Cincinnati placed third with a top throw of 61.38m (201-4.0).
 
Mona Jaidi brought home the fourth straight Memphis gold in the women’s javelin, with her fourth attempt covering 54.63m (179-2.0) for the event victory. Teammate Elina Nebl was second with a top throw of 49.07m (161-0) and Wichita State’s Kourtni Hubert was third with a 47.64m (156-3.0) showing.
 
Taran Taylor picked up the first event win of the meet for Wichita State, clinching the men’s javelin on his final throw of the night by covering 68.04m (223-2.0). Davis Dubbert joined Taylor as Shockers on the stand in second place with a second attempt of 66.60m (218-6.0). Memphis’ Max Emmerich leapt into third place with a 65.77m (215-9.0) throw.
 
Yazmine Wright of Wichita State paced the field in the prelim heats of the women’s 1500-meter run to set the pace at 4:25.89. Temple’s Grace Moore (4:29.38), Cincinnati’s Ellie Leather (4:25.96), Wichita State’s Rebekah Topham (4:30.81), Temple’s Helene Holm Gottlieb (4:27.86), Tulsa’s Keely Jones (4:31.11), UCF’s Charlotte Cook (4:28.27) and Valerie Lastra (4:31.25) rounded out the automatic qualifiers. Tulsa’s Katharina Pesendorfer (4:29.92), Cincinnati’s Katrina Patterson (4:31.52) and Jodie Pierce (4:32.27), and ECU’s Lindsay Yentz (4:33.15) also snagged slots in the final.
 
Tulsa’s Isaac Akers won a competitive first heat of the men’s 1500-meter run as the top finisher in the prelims with a time of 3:47.38. Teammate Patrick Dever (3:48.72), Wichita State’s Adam Moore (3:47.73) and Zach Penrod (3:49.31), Tulsa’s Christian Baker (3:48.60), Wichita State’s Jed Helker (3:50.04), Tulsa’s Cameron Field (3:48.66) and Cincinnati’s Matt Hoak (3:50.30) also claimed automatic bids into the final. Cincinnati’s Tyler Wirth (3:48.90), Wichita State’s Bryce Merriman (3:50.26), Houston’s Devin Vallejo-Bannister (3:51.22) and Tulsa’s Pete Johnson (3:51.37) all advanced based on time.
 
Brianne Bethel of Houston, the 2018 winner and meet record holder in the women’s 200-meter dash, opened up the prelim round with the top time of 23.11. Cincinnati’s Caisja Chandler was second with an automatic qualifying time of 23.18, followed by fellow auto qualifiers Cecilia Tamayo-Garcia of Houston (23.34) and UCF’s Rayniah Jones (23.70). USF’s Shaniya Benjamin (23.80) and Gabrielle DesRosiers (23.80) and Houston’s Tristan Evelyn (24.04) advanced based on time.
 
Jordan Booker (20.64), Shaun Maswanganyi (20.89) and Christian Hamberlin (20.94) swept the automatic spots representing Houston in the men’s 200-meter prelims. Cincinnati’s Chris Borzor (20.77) also joined Houston’s Travis Collins (20.97), Edward Sumler IV (21.14), Nicholas Alexander (21.24) and Dylan Brown (21.30) as event finalists.
 
USF’s Jae’Nisa Heckstall established an American meet record in the first prelim heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles, pacing the field with a time of 57.36. Teammate Shaneylix Davila (58.93) and SMU’s Ashton Woods (59.30) also secured automatic bids to the finals. ECU’s Shelbi Chapman (59.03), Houston’s Imari Chatman (59.91), UCF’s Selena Wright (1:00.29), Houston’s Erin Derrow (1:00.36) and Wichita State’s Claudia Rojo (1:00.66) are also bound for the championship heats.
 
Quivell Jordan of Houston set a conference meet mark in the prelims of the men’s 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 49.76 as the automatic qualifier. USF’s Duncan Agyemang (51.29), Memphis’ Adam Yakobi (52.11), Tulsa’s Henry Visser (52.20), Yuben Concalves of Wichita State (52.20), Memphis’ Clayton Elder (52.38) and Houston’s DJ Akindele (52.69) also recorded qualifying times.
 
Tulsa’s Caitlin Klopfer broke through for her first American outdoor championship by racing to the front of the pack from the outset of the finals of the women’s 10,000-meter run on her way to victory with a time of 34:45.79, claiming the first distance title in meet history for the Golden Hurricane. Temple’s Michelle Joyce engaged Klopfer in a spirited battle all race long to claim silver with a time of 34:47.69. Jenny O’Bryan joined teammate Klopfer on the podium in third place with a time of 34:54.47.
 
Cincinnati’s Aaron Bienenfeld cemented his status as one of the most decorated distance runners in American history, breaking his own championship record in the men’s 10,000-meter run with a blazing time of 29:40.27 to take his third straight gold medal in the distance. Teammate Alec Sandusky was second with a time of 29:55.97 and Memphis’ Payton Gleason was third with a time of 30:50.84.
 
 
SATURDAY, MAY 15 (ESPN+)

Field Events

3:00 p.m. Long Jump - Women's Trials and Final
3:30 p.m. Shot Put - Women's Trials and Final
4:30 p.m. Pole Vault - Women's Trials and Final
5:00 p.m. Long Jump - Men's Trials and Final
5:30 p.m. Shot Put - Men's Trials and Final

Heptathlon

11:00 a.m. Long Jump
1:00 p.m. Javelin
2:30 p.m. 800-Meter Run

Decathlon

10:30 a.m. 110-Meter Hurdles
11:20 a.m. Discus
12:30 p.m. Pole Vault
3:30 p.m. Javelin
5:00 p.m. 1500-Meter Run

Track Events

5:25 p.m. 100-Meter Hurdles - Women's Trials
5:45 p.m. 110-Meter Hurdles - Men's Trials
6:00 p.m. 800-Meter Run - Women's Trials
6:15 p.m. 800-Meter Run - Men's Trials
6:30 p.m. 400-Meter Dash - Women's Trials
6:45 p.m. 400-Meter Dash - Men's Trials
7:00 p.m. 100-Meter Dash - Women's Trials
7:15 p.m. 100-Meter Dash - Men's Trials
7:30 p.m. 3000-Meter Steeplechase - Women's Final
7:45 p.m. 3000-Meter Steeplechase - Men's Final

SUNDAY, MAY 16 (ESPN+)

Field Events

2:30 p.m. High Jump - Men's Trials and Final
2:30 p.m. Triple Jump - Women's Trials and Final
2:30 p.m. Discus - Women's Trials and Final
3:30 p.m. Pole Vault - Men's Trials and Final
4:30 p.m. High Jump - Women's Trials and Final
4:30 p.m. Triple Jump - Men's Trials and Final
4:30 p.m. Discus - Men's Trials and Final

Track Events

4:30 p.m. 400-Meter Relay - Women's Final
4:40 p.m. 400-Meter Relay - Men's Final
4:50 p.m. 1500-Meter Run - Women's Final
5:00 p.m. 1500-Meter Run - Men's Final
5:10 p.m. 100-Meter Hurdles - Women's Final
5:20 p.m. 110-Meter Hurdles - Men's Final
5:30 p.m. 400-Meter Dash - Women's Final
5:35 p.m. 400-Meter Dash - Men's Final
5:45 p.m. 100-Meter Dash - Women's Final
5:50 p.m. 100-Meter Dash - Men's Final
6:00 p.m. 800-Meter Run - Women's Final
6:05 p.m. 800-Meter Run - Men's Final
6:15 p.m. 400-Meter Hurdles - Women's Final
6:20 p.m. 400-Meter Hurdles - Men's Final
6:30 p.m. 200-Meter Dash - Women's Final
6:35 p.m. 200-Meter Dash - Men's Final
6:40 p.m. 5000-Meter Run - Women's Unseeded Final
7:05 p.m. 5000-Meter Run - Women's Seeded Final
7:25 p.m. 5000-Meter Run - Men's Final
7:45 p.m. 1600-Meter Run - Women's Final
7:55 p.m. 1600-Meter Run - Men's Final

8:15 p.m.  Awards Ceremony