WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State and Memphis remained ahead of their respective genders at the conclusion of day two at the 2022 American Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium. The Shockers combined for 89 points through two days to lead Cincinnati (51 points) and Memphis (43 points). The Tigers combined for 64 points in the women’s competition to lead East Carolina (47.50 points) and Tulsa (34 points) headed into Sunday’s final day of the meet.
UCF’s Brittany Floyd kicked off the day with a meet record in the women’s heptathlon long jump, throwing down a 5.95m (19-6.25) showing for first-place points. Floyd added a win in the javelin throw with a 43.36m (142-3.0) performance in the third round. Cincinnati’s Katie Strauss outran the field in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.78, but Floyd held on for the first UCF heptathlon championship in The American with 5,604 points. SMU’s Olivia Dobson placed second in the overall standings with 5,447 points and Tulane’s Margot Temines finished third with 5,413 points.
Adria Navajon opened Saturday with a win for Wichita State in the 110-meter hurdles of the men’s decathlon, narrowly missing a meet mark with a time of 14.41. Cincinnati’s Damien Berthenet captured the top discus finish by covering 37.10m (121-8.0) on his third and final throw. Navajon cleared 4.45m (14-7.25) in the pole vault to earn another individual win, while Berthenet inched back in front in the javelin with a 51.74m (169-9.0) attempt in the second round. Navajon outpaced the field in the 1500-meter run with a 4:35.97 performance to earn the gold medal in the men’s decathlon with 7.071 points. Berthenet was the event runner-up with 6,993 points and Cincinnati’s Cannon Riddle finished third with 6,944 points.
DeeNia McMiller from Memphis established her second conference record in as many days, unloading a 17.85m (58-6.75) in the final round of the women’s shot put to wrestle the gold medal from Houston’s Nu'uausala Tuilefano. Tuilefano finished second with a 16.81m (55-2.0) effort and East Carolina’s Destiny Griffin placed third with a top attempt of 15.41m (50-6.75).
SMU’s Funminiyi Olajide earned the first win for the Mustangs in the women’s long jump in meet history, clearing 6.48m (21-3.25) in the final round of the championship flight. Defending champion Shaniya Benjamin from South Florida registered a silver medal with a 6.06m (19-10.75) distance. UCF’s Jasmine Scott-Kilgo was third with a second-round jump of 6.05m (19-10.25).
UCF’s Rayniah Jones finished at the head of prelims of the women’s 100-meter hurdles, clocking a 13.11 with the wind to earn an automatic spot out of heat one. South Florida’s Shaneylix Davila was the winner from heat three with a time of 13.20, with fellow Bull Hannah Connell the auto qualifier from heat two with a time of 13.34. Other qualifiers for the event final were UCF’s Selena Wright (13.15), Alicia Coleman (13.76) and Tamia Badal (13.79) and Houston’s Destiny Smith (13.26) and Naomi Taylor (13.43).
DJ Akindele from Houston was the fastest to the line in the second heat of the men’s 100-meter hurdles prelims, crossing in 13.65 in the wind to claim the top qualification spot. Reigning indoor champion De’Vion Wilson from the Cougars won the opening heat with a time of 13.72 to snag the other automatic qualifying spot. Advancing on time was conference leader Quivell Jordan-Bacot (13.87) from Houston, South Florida’s Michael Bourne III (13.98), East Carolina’s Terence Booth (14.38) and Asa Simmons (14.67), Cincinnati’s Brandon Johnson (14.66) and Navajon from Wichita State (14.78).
Cincinnati’s Ellie Leather led the field in the women’s 800-meter run, winning the opening heat with a time of 2:09.27. Laura Nicholson claimed the third heat with a time of 2:09.64 for Temple, and Tulane’s Victoria Robinson won heat two in 2:12.75. Other auto qualifiers were Temple’s Helene Holm Gottlieb (2:10.04), UCF’s Caitlin Pinnell (2:10.08) and Tulsa’s Jaidah McCallon (2:13.21). Joining the final heat were SMU’s Steffi Jones (2:11.00) and Tulane’s Janae Dean (2:11.47).
Wichita State’s Adam Moore paced the field in the men’s 800-meter run preliminary heats, running a 1:51.91 in heat one. Teammates Josh Cable (1:52.49) and Riley Vandaveer (1:52.72) added auto qualifying times, along with Houston’s Christian Gilmore (1:52.07) and Jeremiah Wilson (1:52.29) and Cincinnati’s Siro Pina Cardona (1:52.33). Houston’s Adam Mason (1:52.68) and East Carolina’s Jack Dingman (1:52.78) contributed additional qualifying performances.
Memphis’ Iason Machairas took home the gold medal for the Tigers in the men’s shot put, covering 17.48m (57-4.25) in the final round to take the win. Cincinnati’s Sam Meece snagged a silver medal with a 16.93m (55-6.5) in round two, and South Florida’s Johann Jeremiah placed third with a fifth attempt that traveled 16.90m (55-5.5).
East Carolina’s Sommer Knight defended her championship in the women’s pole vault by clearing 4.27m (14-0) to outpoint the field. Memphis’ Alyssa Morello joined Knight over 4.00m with a silver medal clearance of 4.07m (13-4.25) and Tulane’s Megan Fitzgerald checked in third with a top mark of 3.97m (13-0.25).
Austin Edwards defended his men’s long jump title for Cincinnati with a final round 7.66m (25-1.75) for the gold. South Florida’s David Ajama was the event runner-up with a 7.58m (24-10.5) and Niejel Wilkins from East Carolina secured the bronze medal with an opening round 7.52m (24-8.25).
Cincinnati’s Faith Banks paced the field in women’s 400-meter dash prelims, crossing in 52.99 in heat two as an automatic qualifier. UCF’s Latasha Smith won heat one with a time of 53.21, teammate Danielle Bess took heat three in 53.70 and Kiah Williams topped heat four for the Knights with a 53.57 automatic qualifier showing, Houston’s Iman Babineaux (54.25) and Zarie Dumas (54.27), Temple’s Marissa White (54.35) and UCF’s Samieryah Bradwell (54.36) also punched tickets to the final heat.
Trey Johnson from Houston led the way in the prelims of the men’s 400-meter dash prelims, crossing the line in 46.42 in heat one. Cincinnati’s Steven McElroy was atop the second section with a time of 46.78 and South Florida’s Elijah Wright won the third heat with a time of 46.54. Moving on with qualifying times were Houston’s Tyrell Valentine (47.01) and Joshua White (47.86), East Carolina’s RJ Russell (46.85), South Florida’s Monte Parker (48.33) and Wichita State’s JD Prinsloo (48.03).
UCF’s Jones won the second section of the women’s 100-meter prelims to place first overall in the qualifying heats with a time of 11.36. Cincinnati’s Caisja Chandler captured heat three with a time of 11.38 and Houston’s Cecilia Tamayo-Garza outraced the opening section with an auto time of 11.44. Beyonce Defreitas from UCF (11.41), Melicia Mouzzon of East Carolina (11.47), Houston’s Camille Rutherford (11.52) and South Florida’s Connell (11.56) joined the other event finalists.
Houston’s Edward Sumler IV ran a blazing PR time of 10.15 in the men’s 100-meter dash to pace the prelim field. Defending champion and teammate Shaun Maswanganyi threw down a 10.30 for an auto spot, alongside Chris Borzor from Cincinnati in 10.36. Also moving on were Houston’s Dylan Brown (10.46) and Jordan Booker (10.47), East Carolina’s Royal Burris (10.44), Tulsa’s Joshua Sutton (10.48) and Wichita State’s Jaleel Montgomery (10.57).
Tulsa went 1-2 in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase final, with Layla Roebke claiming the gold medal with a time of 10:31.43. Katharina Pesendorfer snagged the silver medal in 10:33.52. UCF’s Brenna Mullaney placed third with an 11:05.78.
Clayton Duchatschek kept Wichita State rolling in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a top time of 9:03.52. Tulsa’s Christian Baker was the next across in second with a time of 9:08.75, followed closely by Wichita State’s Britte Magnuson in third with a time of 9:09.76.
2022 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE (All times are Central)
Sunday, May 15 (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
6:45 p.m. 5000-Meter Run - Women's Final
7:10 p.m. 5000-Meter Run - Men's Final
7:35 p.m. 1600-Meter Relay - Women's Final
7:45 p.m. 1600-Meter Relay - Men's Final
8:05 p.m. Awards Ceremony