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LEXINGTON, Ky. - The final tune-up meet for the University of Cincinnati track and field program came to a close Saturday afternoon as the Bearcats competed well in the Kentucky Relays at the UK Track and Field Complex in Lexington, Ky. The meet, which is the final action for UC before next week's conference competition, saw a smaller group of athletes compete in the Bluegrass State as they readied themselves for the final push of the 2016 campaign.
Overall, the Bearcats posted nine victories on the day with the women securing six and the men three. Both 4x100m relay teams won their respective races while UC also swept the pole vault competitions. UC student-athletes also recorded 18 personal-best marks on the day (nine each gender) with six all-time Top 10 marks and one freshman record, which was recorded by Vanessa Robinson in the 3,000m steeplechase.
// WOMEN'S RESULTS
- Robinson had a solid day on the track as she won the 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 11:09.88 in just her second time running the event. Her time bettered her previous best by nearly 16 seconds (11:25.02) while also smashing the previous UC freshman record by nearly 14 seconds (11:23.64). Overall, her time ranks as the sixth-fastest in school history and moves her up to No. 8 on the season list in the conference.
- In the 100m hurdles, the Bearcats went 1-2-4-5 with Javette Lee winning the race in 13.54 to record a PR and the fourth-fastest time in school history. Her improved time also pushed her up the standings as she is now third in the American, 36th in the NCAA East Region and 69th nationally. Also in the race for UC was Je'Rica Sanders (13.84), who was second, Aliya Barnes (14.12) was fourth and Juliana Puopolo (14.34) was fifth with a PR.
- Bryana Robinson clocked a time of 24.23 to place fifth in the 200m dash. Her time is a PR and now ranks as the sixth-best in UC history. Robinson was also a member of the victorious 4x100m relay that ran 45.29, which is the fifth-fastest in school history. The relay, which also included Lee, Haisha Bisiolu and Kenya Woodall, now holds a time that is third in the American, 21st in the NCAA East and 48th in the nation so far this year.
- The final all-time Top 10 mark recorded by the women came in the high jump where Loretta Blaut cleared a PR of 1.81m (5-11.25) to tie teammate Erika Hurd for the win (both had identical misses and clearances throughout the competition). Both women, who also improved the meet record, increased their lead in the conference and moved up to a tie for sixth in the NCAA East Region and 10th in the nation.
- Alyssa McBride nearly recorded a PR in the pole vault, coming up just short at her attempt to break into the 14-foot range, but settled for win as she cleared 4.05m (13-03.50). Brooke Catherine was second overall in 3.90m (12-09.50) while fellow freshman Sadie Brass tied her PR with a clearance of 3.60m (11-09.75).
- In the throws, Annette Echikunwoke won the hammer outright with a toss of 58.63m (192-04) while taking third in both the shot put (14.60m/47-11.00) and discus (43.95m/144-02). Her discus mark is a PR while her toss in the shot put was the top among collegiate competitors. Leah Heckaman joined Echikunwoke as an entrant into all three throws, placing fourth in the shot put (14.51m/47-07.25) and fifth in both the discus (43.69m/143-04) and hammer (50.82m/166-09).
- Back on the track, the final two PR's were recorded in the mile run with Alexis Anton finishing fifth overall in 5:04.90 while Samantha Simms was 14th in 5:25.23.
- A trio of Bearcats also posted Top 3 finishes on the track, including Bisiolu in the 100m dash (11.87), Jada Grant was second in the 400m dash (57.20) and Meg Westerheide took third in the 800m run (2:13.06). Bisiolu was the top collegiate finisher in the 100m dash.
// MEN'S RESULTS
- Jimmy Brooks led the charge for the men as he had a hand in a pair of wins, including the title in the 400m dash and as the second leg of the 4x100m relay. In the open quarter, Brooks blazed the blue track to a time of 47.01, which ranks seventh all-time in UC history. That time also moves him into the top position in the conference while taking him to 37th in the region and 83rd nationally. The same race saw Halen Witcher take second overall in a personal-best time of 48.24 (No. 10 in the conference currently) and Ryan Greene finish fifth in 50.05, also a PR.
- Along with Khalid Fuller, Tevin-Lloyd Thompson and Jeyson Jones, Brooks and the team won the short relay in 41.32, the fifth-best in the American this year. All three of his teammates competed in the 100m dash with Thompson leading the way in sixth place at 10.73 before Fuller took 10th in a PR 10.98 and Jones 11th in a PR 11.00. Thompson turned in a PR of his own in the 200m dash, taking fourth in the race in 21.60.
- The final victory of the day for men came in the pole vault where Adrian Valles won the event with a season-best clearance of 5.45m (17-10.50), which also stands as a meet record. With his clearance, Valles improved upon his conference-leading standard while moving up to sixth in the NCAA East Region and 10th nationally.
- Back on the track, a trio of men posted PR's in their respective events, including Nick Grismer, who ran a 17-second PR in the 3,000m steeplechase to take third place in 9:41.66. Also recording a PR was Jarrod Hart in the 800m run (1:53.05) and Nathan Smith (55.08) took sixth in the 400m hurdles.
Championship season is upon the Bearcats as the 2016 American Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be the next meet on the schedule. The annual conference meet takes place at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, May 12, through Sunday, May 15. The meet will be the final chance for the Bearcats to also post marks considered for qualification into the NCAA East Region meet later in May.
Women's Results
Kentucky Relays (5/7/16)
100m Dash
2. Haisha Bisiolu - 11.87 - 1st among collegiate entries
8. Alanna Hendricks - 12.37
12. Juliana Puopolo - 12.45
100m Hurdles
1. Javette Lee - 13.54 - PR & UC #4
2. Je'Rica Sanders - 13.84
4. Aliya Barnes - 14.12
5. Juliana Puopolo - 14.34 - PR
200m Dash
5. Bryana Robinson - 24.23 - PR & UC #6
400m Dash
2. Jada Grant - 57.20
800m Run
3. Meg Westerheide - 2:13.06
16. Denna Gesicki - 2:22.67 - PR
Mile Run
5. Alexis Anton - 5:04.90 - PR
14. Samantha Simms - 5:25.23 - PR
3,000m Steeplechase
1. Vanessa Robinson - 11:09.88 - PR, UC #6 & UC Freshman Record
4x100m Relay
1. Cincinnati - 45.29 - UC #5
Lee, Bisiolu, B. Robinson, Woodall
High Jump
1. Erika Hurd - 1.81m (5-11.25) - Meet Record
1. Loretta Blaut - 1.81m (5-11.25) - Meet Record - PR & UC #4
4. Ashleigh Pickens - 1.65m (5-05.00)
Pole Vault
1. Alyssa McBride - 4.05m (13-03.50)
2. Brooke Catherine - 3.90m (12-09.50)
6. Sadie Brass - 3.60 (11-09.75) - =PR
Shot Put
3. Annette Echikunwoke - 14.60m (47-11.00) - 1st among collegiate entries
4. Leah Heckaman - 14.51m (47-07.25)
Discus
3. Annette Echikunwoke - 43.95m (144-02) - PR
4. Alexis Gray - 43.83m (143-09)
5. Leah Heckaman - 43.69m (143-04)
6. Nicole Breeden - 41.71m (136-10)
Hammer
1. Annette Echikunwoke - 58.63m (192-04)
3. Monica Phillips - 54.70m (1179-05)
5. Leah Heckaman - 50.82m (166-09)
6. Nicole Breeden - 50.08m (164-04)
Men's Results
Kentucky Relays (5/7/16)
100m Dash
6. Tevin-Lloyd Thompson - 10.73
10. Khalid Fuller - 10.98 - PR
11. Jeyson Jones - 11.00 - PR
110m Hurdles
5. Kelvin Williams - 14.61
200m Dash
4. Tevin-Lloyd Thompson - 21.60 - PR
400m Dash
1. Jimmy Brooks - 47.01 - PR & UC #7
2. Halen Witcher - 48.24 - PR
5. Ryan Greene - 50.05 - PR
400m Hurdles
6. Nathan Smith - 55.08 - PR
800m Run
5. Jarrod Hart - 1:53.05 - PR
3,000m Steeplechase
3. Nick Grismer - 9:41.66 - PR
4x100m Relay
1. Cincinnati - 41.32
Fuller, Brooks, Thompson, Jones
High Jump
6. Alex Bloom - 2.00m (6-06.75)
- Mike Wood - no height
Pole Vault
1. Adrian Valles - 5.45m (17-10.50) - Meet Record
5. Colt Robinson - 4.80m (15-09.00)
- Joe Ratterman - no height
Discus
8. Josh Province - 44.97m (147-06)
10. John Zedella - 43.56m (142-11)
Hammer
4. Josh Province - 54.81m (179-10)
6. John Zedella - 50.97m (167-03)