BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Bearcats of Cincinnati enjoyed the fast start on both sides of the leaderboard and took the overnight lead on Friday following session one of the 2022 American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Cincinnati led in the men’s competition with 41.5 points following the first day, ahead of Tulsa in second place with 35 points and Wichita State in third place with 33 points. In the women’s draw, Cincinnati sat atop the leaders with 34 points to outpoint co-second place squads SMU and Tulsa with 29 points each.
Cole Riddle from Memphis secured the weekend’s first medal by winning the men’s pole vault by clearing 5.37m (17-7.25) to earn the first gold for the Tigers on the weekend. Conference regular-season leader Christyan Sampy from Houston claimed the silver with a top clearance of 5.27m (17-3.50) and Cincinnati’s Austin Goolsby and Memphis’ Evan Puckett shared third place clearing 5.02m (16-5.50).
UCF’s Brittany Floyd captured the women’s pentathlon gold medal, scoring a meet record 3,993 points to take the victory. Floyd established the top meet mark in the 800-meter run in the pentathlon by clocking a 2:16.57 for the event win. Tulane’s Kristen O’Handley was the pentathlon runner-up with 3,884 points and Cincinnati’s Katie Straus took third with 3,849 points. SMU’s Olivia Dobson established a meet record in the pentathlon shot put with an attempt of 14.24m (46-8.75).
Wichita State’s Michael Bryan broke his own meet record in the men’s weight throw of 22.03m (72-3.50) on his fifth attempt with an impressive 22.58m (74-1.0) on his final throw to capture the gold medal in the event. Cincinnati’s Sam Meece, the 2019 champion, took the silver with a throw of 21.17m (69-5.50) and Memphis’ Robert Watson was third with an attempt of 20.79m (68-2.50).
South Florida’s Shaniya Benjamin turned in her best attempt of the day in the sixth and final round of the women’s long jump, covering 6.13m (20-1.50) for first place in the meet final. SMU’s Funminiyi Olajide captured the silver medal with a 6.11m (20-0.50) effort and UCF’s Jasmine Scott-Kilgo placed third with a 6.05m (19-10.25) fourth jump.
Tulsa’s Chloe Hershenow captured the first American conference women’s 5,000-meter run championship for the Golden Hurricane, crossing the finish line in 16:42.31 just ahead of teammate Caroline Miller in 16:43.10. SMU’s Kaitlyn Gearin grabbed the bronze medal with a time of 16:46.37.
American 2021 cross country champion Scott Beattie from Tulsa added an indoor men’s 5000-meter run title to his resume with a terrific showing of 14:14.16 to pick up the gold medal. Teammates Cormac Dalton (14:15.59) and Peter Lynch (14:18.63) completed the podium sweep for the Golden Hurricane.
Sommer Knight picked up the first American indoor women’s pole vault championship for East Carolina by clearing a top mark of 4.17m (13-8.25). Houston’s Sarah Howe cleared 4.07m (13-4.25) for second place, and Memphis’ Alyssa Morello took third place with a 3.97m (13-0.25) top clearance in the final heat.
Memphis’ DeeNia McMiller, the conference silver medalist in the women’s weight throw in 2020, improved on each of the final four attempts to shatter the meet record with a final throw of 24.08m (79-0) for a well-deserved conference championship. Houston’s Priscilla Adejokun took second with a 21.69m (71-2.0) throw on attempt three and Cincinnati’s Hannah Jackson finished third with a throw of 18.66m (61-2.75).
Austin Edwards from Cincinnati won a spirited battle to secure the men’s long jump championship, clearing 7.60m (24-11.25) on his fifth attempt to outpace the field. Houston’s Shaun Maswanganyi was the silver medalist with a jump of 7.52m (24-8.25) and Houston’s Benjamin Okafor placed third with a top attempt of 7.44m (24-5.0).
Cincinnati ran a brilliant heat in the women’s DMR to capture its first American title in the event with a meet record time of 11:26.86. UCF added an equally impressive 11:29.94 to bring home the silver medal and Tulsa was third with a time of 11:40.52.
Tulsa blew away its 2017 meet record in the men’s DMR by 12 seconds, capturing the victory in 9:39.90 for the gold medal. Cincinnati came home in second place with a time of 9:44.67 and Wichita State checked in with the third-fastest time in 9:54.42.
Wichita State’s Adria Navajon climbed to the top of the leaderboard after day one of the men’s heptathlon, scoring 3,128 points with wins in the long jump (7.42m, 24-4.25) and high jump (2.02m, 6-7.50). Teammate Tanner Brown was second in the standings with 3,107 points and established a meet record in the heptathlon 60-meter dash with a time of 6.87 and a shot put win with a throw of 12.50m (41-0.25).
In the women’s mile, Wichita State’s Yazmine Wright earned the top seed in prelims with a time of 4:54.72. Cincinnati’s Ellie Leather posted the second-fastest time in 4:56.13, followed by SMU’s Steffi Jones with a time of 4:54.86. Other qualifiers for the final were Temple’s Helene Holm Gottlieb (4:57.17), Tulane’s Mackenzie Callahan (4:55.00), Tulsa’s Keely Jones (4:57.91), Tulsa’s Chloe McEachern (4:55.53), UCF’s Valerie Lastra (4:59.51), Tulane’s Therese Olshanski (4:59.58), Cincinnati’s Lauren Kemper (4:59.91), SMU’s Leoni Mierswa (5:00.20) and UCF’s Mariana Rodriguez (5:02.32).
UCF’s Latasha Smith locked down the top spot in the women’s 400-meter dash prelims, placing first with a time of 53.54. Defending champion Chika Iwuamadi was second with a time of 54.90, Temple’s Marissa White was third in 54.96 and SMU’s Whitney Williams was fourth with a time of 55.05. Additional finalist times were posted by Cincinnati’s Faith Banks (55.16), UCF’s Samieryah Bradwell (55.25), Tulane’s Hunter Robinson (55.33) and UCF’s Danielle Bess (55.41).
In the men’s 400-meter prelims, Houston’s Tyrell Valentine claimed the top spot with a time of 47.51. Evan Sanni-Thomas from Tulsa was second in 47.66, followed by Cincinnati’s Steven McElroy in third with a time of (47.68). Cincinnati’s Chris Borzor (47.89), East Carolina’s RJ Russell (47.98), Houston’s Quivell Jordan (48.01), Trey Johnson (48.02) and Joshua White (48.94) also qualified for the final.
Conference leader Rayniah Jones from UCF outpointed two-time defending league champion Naomi Taylor from Houston in the prelims of the women’s 60-meter hurdles, with Jones clocking a time of 8.07 to best the 8.16 of Taylor. UCF’s Kaylor Harris was third with a time of 8.61. Cincinnati’s Victoria Abunaw (8.43), Houston’s Destiny Smith (8.44), East Carolina’s Brooke Stith (8.46), Tulane’s Kyah Loyd and Cincinnati’s Calista Manns (8.59) added qualifying times.
De’Vion Wilson from Houston led the way in in the men’s 60-meter hurdles prelims, clocking in at 7.88 to claim the top seed. East Carolina’s Terence Booth was second with a time of 8.06 and was followed closely by South Florida’s Michael Bourne III at 8.10. Additional qualifiers included South Florida’s Victor Steiner (8.12), Wichita State’s Navajon (8.28), East Carolina’s Asa Simmons (8.40), Wichita State’s Hudson Bailey (8.40) and Chonnor Ludolph (8.46).
UCF’s Jones locked down the top placement in the women’s 60-meter dash, cruising across the line with a time of 7.37. Wichita State’s Faith Turner checked in second at 7.46 and was followed by South Florida’s Hannah Connell (7.47) and UCF’s Ciara Holback (7.48). Also bound for the final was East Carolina’s Melicia Mouzzon (7.39), Houston’s Cecilia Tamayo-Garza (7.44), UCF’s I’Asia Wilson (7.48) and South Florida’s Kadesha Prescott (7.50).
Houston’s Maswanganyi outdueled East Carolina’s Royal Burris in the men’s 60-meter dash prelims with a time of 6.70, just edging out the 6.76 of Burris. Joshua Sutton of Tulsa was third after logging a 6.72 in his heat, followed by Houston’s Jordan Booker with a time of 6.77. Houston’s Edward Sumler IV (6.82), Trenton McDonald (6.86) and Nicholas Alexander (6.90) and South Florida’s Tyler Dunigan (6.84) also posted qualifying times.
Cincinnati’s Leather took home the top spot in the prelims of the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:09.64. UCF’s Charlotte Crook was second with a time of 2:09.75, and Tulsa’s Jaidah McCallon was third in 2:09.86. Caitlin Pinnell from UCF (2:10.36), Carmen Licht from Cincinnati (2:10.78), Jones from SMU (2:11.21), Callahan from Tulane (2:11.60) and Janae Dean from Tulane (2:12.20) also punched their tickets to the final.
Defending champion Christian Gilmore from Houston got off to a great start in the men’s 800-meter run prelims, posting a time of 1:53.20 to lead the way. Cincinnati’s Siro Pina Cardona was second with a time of 1:54.01, with Memphis’ Zachary Wyatt (1:53.25), Houston’s Adam Mason (1:54.02), Cincinnati’s Matt Hoak (1:53.55), Wichita State’s Josh Cable (1:54.13), Cincinnati David Endres (1:54.19) and Tulsa’s Pete Johnson (1:54.84) also final bound.
UCF’s Jones posted a third top seed of the afternoon in the women’s 200-meter dash prelim heats, earning a place in the final with a time of 23.52. Connell from South Florida checked in with 23.87 and Cincinnati’s Banks hit the mark on 24.00 even. Also headed to the final was UCF’s Holback (24.02), Houston’s Tamayo-Garza (24.04), UCF’s Bess (24.10), East Carolina’s Mouzzon (24.15) and UCF’s Beyonce Defreitas (24.21).
Burris from East Carolina won a rematch with Houston’s Maswanganyi head-to-head in the men’s 200-meter dash prelims, flying through the line at 20.96. Maswanganyi was second with a time of 21.16, followed immediately by teammate Sumler IV at 21.17. Defending champion Borzor from Cincinnati (21.32), Houston’s Booker (21.33), Cincinnati’s McElroy (21.48), Tulsa’s Sutton (21.50) and Wichita State’s Joakim Genereux (21.55) clocked qualifying times.
2022 American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships
Men’s Teams Scores
1. Cincinnati – 41.5
2. Tulsa – 35
3. Wichita State – 33
4. Houston – 32.5
5. Memphis – 26.5
6. South Florida – 19.5
7. East Carolina – 6
Women’s Teams Scores
1. Cincinnati – 34
2. SMU – 29
2. Tulsa – 29
4. UCF – 28
5. Memphis – 25
6. Houston – 21
7. Tulane – 20
8. South Florida – 18
9. East Carolina – 14
10. Temple – 9
11. Wichita State – 7
CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 26 (ESPN+)
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's Trials & FINAL
9:45 a.m. High Jump - Women's Trials & FINAL
10:00 a.m. Shot Put - Men's Trials & FINAL
11:00 a.m. Triple Jump - Women's Trials & FINAL (pit A)
12:30 p.m. Shot Put - Women's Trials & FINAL
1:00 p.m. Triple Jump - Men's Trials & FINAL (pit B)
Track Events
11;20 a.m, Mile Run - Women's FINAL
11:30 a.m. Mile Run - Men's FINAL
11:40 a.m. 400m Dash - Women's 2-section FINAL
11:50 a.m. 400m Dash - Men's 2-section FINAL
12:10 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Women's FINAL
12:20 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Men's FINAL
12:30 p.m. 60m Dash - Women's FINAL
12:40 p.m. 60m Dash - Men's FINAL
1:00 p.m. 800m Run - Women's FINAL
1:10 p.m. 800m Run - Men's FINAL
1:20 p.m. 200m Dash - Women's 2-section FINAL
1:30 p.m. 200m Dash - Men's 2-section FINAL
1:40 p.m. 3000m Run Unseeded - Women's
1:55 p.m. 3000m Run Unseeded - Men's
2:10 p.m. 3000m Run Seeded - Women's
2:25 p.m. 3000m Run Seeded - Men's
2:40 p.m. 4x400m Relay - Women's
2:50 p.m. 4x400m Relay - Men's
3:20 p.m.
Awards Ceremony