TAMPA, Fla. – Wichita State maintained its hold on the men’s title chase while Houston leapt to the front of the fray in the women’s draw following day two of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at the USF Track & Field Stadium. The Shockers combined for 102 points through two days to lead Cincinnati (72 points) and Memphis (36 points). The Cougars vaulted up to 58 points in the women’s competition to pass Memphis (48 points) and Tulsa (44 points) headed into Sunday’s final day of the meet.
Chonnor Ludolph began the day with a win for Wichita State in the 110-meter hurdles of the men’s decathlon, crossing the finish line in 14.63. Chandler Stiawalt earned the top placement in the men’s decathlon discus with a second attempt of 38.76m (127-2.0) representing Wichita State. Cannon Riddle extended his overall edge in the decathlon standings with a pole vault victory after clearing 4.50m (14-9.0). Wichita State’s Davis Dubbert claimed the javelin with a throw of 55.84 (183-2.0). Riddle brought home the 1500-meter title in 4:49.47 to clinch the decathlon championship with 7,013 points. Wichita State’s Nathan Vann was second in the final standings with 6,863 points and Ludolph was third with 6,454 points.
Wichita State’s Destiny Masters opened the day’s heptathlon events with a triumph in the long jump, narrowly missing the meet record in the event by jumping 5.73m (18-9.75). Tulane’s Migle Muraskaite vaulted into the overall lead in the heptathlon standings with a stellar showing in the javelin, throwing 43.57m (142-11.0) for the win. Katie Straus of Cincinnati earned a third event win with a time of 2:19.38 to take the 800-meter run but Muraskaite utilized a runner-up showing in the 800 to win the heptathlon with 5,478 points. Straus was second with 5,373 points and Claudia Rojo of Wichita State won bronze with 5,145 points.
Nu’uausala Tuilefano established a meet record in the women’s shot put to bring home the first win for Houston ever in the event, notching a top throw of 17.11m (56-1.75). Memphis’ Samantha Lenton placed second in the competition with a throw of 15.65m (51-4.25) and Cincinnati’s Malin Smith rounded out the podium finishers in third place with a top attempt of 15.61m (51-2.75).
East Carolina’s Sommer Knight outpaced the competition in the women’s high jump, clearing 4.28m (14-0.50) for a Pirate gold medal. Cincinnati’s Rachel Coghill took second with a top effort of 4.02m (13-2.25) and Houston’s Sarah Howe added a third-place showing with a 4.02m (13-2.25) clearance.
Houston’s Triston Gibbons added another meet record for the Cougars in the men’s shot put to win the event with a top attempt of 19.05m (62-6.0). Memphis’ Adam Neelly brought home the silver medal with a throw of 18.34m (60-2.0) and Tiger teammate Iason Machairas took bronze with a throw of 17.62m (57-9.75).
Austin Edwards clinched the first win for Cincinnati in the men’s long jump in meet history after clearing 7.67m (25-2.0) for the gold. Wichita State’s Dowdy Elazarig secured second with a clearance of 7.43m (24-4.50) and Houston’s Benjamin Okafor was third with a matching 7.43m (24-4.50) effort.
Shaniya Benjamin captured the women’s long jump for USF with a second attempt mark of 6.50m (21-4.0) to narrowly miss the meet record. Houston’s Samiyah Samuels joined Benjamin on the podium as the silver medalist with a jump of 6.35m (20-10.0). SMU’s Funminiyi Olajide carded a top attempt of 6.25m (20-6.25) for third place and the bronze medal.
UCF’s Rayniah Jones continued her strong meet with the top time in the prelims of the women’s 100-meter hurdles, clocking a 12.86 with the wind to earn an automatic spot in the finals. USF’s Shaneylix Davila (13.33) and UCF’s Alexis Woodley (13.44) also earned auto bids, while USF’s Jae’Nisa Heckstall (13.39), SMU’s Jernaya Sharp (13.41), Houston’s Sarah Belle (13.52), ECU’s Brooke Stith (13.66) and Cincinnati’s Victoria Abunaw (13.70) also advanced to the championship round.
Dayo Akindele of Houston was the first across the line in the men’s 110-meter hurdle prelims, posting a time of 13.65 to win his heat. Wichita State’s Antonio Norman brought home heat two with a time of 13.84. Other qualifiers on time were Houston’s DJ Akindele (13.97), Cincinnati’s Isaiah McCall (14.26) and Arthur Greenlee IV (14.34), ECU’s Terence Booth (14.49) and Wichita State’s Jaleel Montgomery (14.62) and Joseph Holthusen (14.64).
Wichita State’s Yazmine Wright (2:07.82) edged out Temple’s Lea Kerbiriou (2:07.93) for the top time in the women’s 800-meter run prelims but both athletes earned automatic spots in the finals. Temple’s Alanna Lally (2:08.03), USF’s Jasmine Knowles (2:10.34), Cincinnati’s Carmen Licht (2:10.89) and SMU’s Leoni Mierswa (2:12.79) each added qualifying times.
Wichita State’s Jed Helker owned the top finish in the prelims of the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.96. Cincinnati’s Harry Custer threw down a 1:53.26, Wichita State’s Zach Penrod a 1:52.01 and Houston’s Christian Gilmore a 1:53.47 to secure the automatic qualifying positions. Joining the foursome in the finals will be Wichita State’s Adam Moore (1:53.47), Cincinnati’s Matt Stump (1:54.57), USF’s Justin Bridgewater (1:56.22) and Tulane’s Bethel Tum (1:59.52).
Brianne Bethel of Houston logged the fastest time in the women’s 400-meter dash prelims at 52.76 to earn a place in the event finals. Additional automatic qualifiers were SMU’s Chika Iwuamadi (53.32), Cincinnati’s Tiona Lattimore (53.93), Tulane’s Maya Harewood (53.99), UCF’s Latasha Smith (54.28) and Temple’s Marissa White (54.40). ECU’s Nyah Gore (54.24) and USF’s Gabrielle DesRosiers (54.36) advanced on time.
Cincinnati’s Chris Borzor set the pace in the men’s 400-meter dash prelim heats with a time of 46.96. Houston’s Jermaine Holt (47.53) and USF’s Stefone Moore-Green (47.67) chipped in automatic finals bids. USF’s Monte Parker (47.68), Wichita State’s Adam Gauzy (47.91), Houston’s Tyrell Valentine (47.92), Memphis’ Brian West II (48.08) and Houston’s Joshua White (48.11) are also bound for the finals.
Cincinnati’s Caisja Chandler (11.22) and UCF’s Rayniah Jones (11.23) led a fast qualifying group in the women’s 100-meter dash prelims, as Houston’s Tristan Evelyn (11.27) and Cecilia Tamayo-Garza (11.28) joined the fray with automatic finals berths. Qualifying on time was Houston’s Camille Rutherford (11.32), SMU’s Chelsea Francis (11.47), ECU’s Melissa Mouzzon (11.48) and Wichita State’s Paula Garcia (11.60).
Houston’s Shaun Maswanganyi narrowly missed the top time in meet history to lead all men’s 100-meter dash prelim runners with a 10.05 showing. Teammates Jordan Booker (10.20) and Travis Collins (10.22) added automatic finals berths for the Cougars. Houston’s Christian Hamberlin (10.23), Nicholas Alexander (10.25), Edward Sumler IV (10.30) and Dylan Brown (10.38) and Wichita State’s Jaleel Montgomery (10.44) also punched tickets to the finals.
Wichita State’s Rebekah Topham successfully defended her 3000-meter steeplechase championship by smashing her own meet record with a time of 10:05.57. Temple’s Emma Gee was just off the pace of the original record with a runner-up time of 10:14.93 and Tulsa’s Ashley Barnes crossed the line third with a time of 10:16.77.
Ethan Kossover ended day two with the first Wichita State win in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a sub-nine-minute time of 8:57.05. Cincinnati’s Toni Banos was second in 9:00.56 and Bearcat teammate Julius Hild crossed third in 9:00.83.
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