IRVING, Texas – Cincinnati’s Ellie Leather and UCF’s Rayniah Jones turned signature performances on Saturday night to lead American Athletic Conference student-athletes on day two of the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Leather established a career best finish at the indoor national meet in the women’s mile final, clocking a 4:35.62 to place third in the championship heat to earn All-American first-team accolades. Leather is the first distance runner from The American to make the podium at the NCAA Indoor Championships in conference history,
 
Jones finished third nationally in one of the fastest women’s 60-meter hurdles heat in collegiate indoor history, clocking in at 7.947 for first-team All-America plaudits. Jones established a new conference record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.90 at the American Indoor Championships in February.
 
Houston’s Nu'uausala Tuilefano placed 15th in the women’s shot put, earning All-America second team with a throw of 15.65m (51-4.25). In the men’s high jump, South Florida’s Romaine Beckford was 15th in the nation and on the All-America second team with a clearance of 2.10m (6-10.75).
 
American Athletes At The 2022 NCAA ITF Championships – Friday, March 11-Saturday, March 12
 
UCF
Rayniah Jones, Women’s 60-Meter Dash Prelims (7.21, 11th place, All-America Second Team)/
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Final (7.95, third place, All-America First Team)
Latasha Smith, Women’s 400-Meter Dash Prelims (53.92, 14th place, All-America Second Team)
 
Cincinnati
Ellie Leather, Women’s Mile Run Final (4:35.62, third place, All-America First Team)
 
Houston
Priscilla Adejokun, Women’s Weight Throw Final (21.65m/71-0.5, 12th place, All-America Second Team
Christyan Sampy, Men’s Pole Vault Final (5.35m/17-6.5, 13th place, All-America Second Team)
Nu'uausala Tuilefano, Women’s Shot Put Final (15.65m/51-4.25, 15th place, All-America Second Team)
 
Memphis
DeeNia McMiller, Women’s Weight Throw Final (23.03m/75-6.75, fifth place, All-America First Team)
 
South Florida
Romaine Beckford, Men’s High Jump Final (2.10m/6-10.75, 15th place, All-America Second Team)
 
Wichita State
Michael Bryan, Men’s Weight Throw Final (20.94m/68-8.5, 14th place, All-America Second Team)