TicketsCINCINNATI - Adrian Valles, a six-time conference champion and five-time USTFCCCA All-American for the University of Cincinnati track and field program, competed in the pole vault at the 2017 IAAF World Championships for his native Spain earlier this week, placing 16th overall in the qualification round of the event, his best finish in three global events. A rising senior for the Bearcats, Valles nearly qualified to the final, but missed out of the Top 10 based upon misses at the final bar, 5.70m.
Valles, who cleared 5.70m at a meet in Landau, Germany, on June 28 to qualify for the world meet, took the global stage and competed well. The competition, which took place Sunday, August 6, opened at 5.30m with Valles needing a third-attempt clearance to remain in the meet. From there, he was able to clear 5.45m and 5.60m on his second attempt at each height before missing on all three of his attempts at 5.70m. The final, which took place Tuesday, August 8, saw Sam Kendricks (USA) take gold while Piotr Lisek (Poland) and Renaud Lavillenie (France) finish in the silver and bronze positions, respectively.
The 2017 event in London marked the second time Valles has represented Spain in a global competition at the senior level and his third overall when including junior events. He first competed in the 2014 World Junior Championships that were held in Eugene, Ore., as he cleared 5.10m in the qualification round to place 17th overall and miss the final on misses. One year later, in Beijing, China, he made his senior debut at the world level and cleared 5.40m to place 31st overall.
The IAAF meet closes out the 2016-17 competition year for the Bearcats, which comes less than one month before the cross country team opens its 2017 season. Valles had quite a year individually as he remained undefeated in American Athletic Conference competition by winning the indoor and outdoor titles; captured two All-America honors by finishing fifth indoors and second outdoors at the NCAA Championships, and broke the school record both indoor and out. He also was highly successful academically, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors, the NCAA Elite 90 Award (highest GPA of all male competitors at the NCAA Indoor Championships) and was named the 2016-17 AAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Valles, who cleared 5.70m at a meet in Landau, Germany, on June 28 to qualify for the world meet, took the global stage and competed well. The competition, which took place Sunday, August 6, opened at 5.30m with Valles needing a third-attempt clearance to remain in the meet. From there, he was able to clear 5.45m and 5.60m on his second attempt at each height before missing on all three of his attempts at 5.70m. The final, which took place Tuesday, August 8, saw Sam Kendricks (USA) take gold while Piotr Lisek (Poland) and Renaud Lavillenie (France) finish in the silver and bronze positions, respectively.
The 2017 event in London marked the second time Valles has represented Spain in a global competition at the senior level and his third overall when including junior events. He first competed in the 2014 World Junior Championships that were held in Eugene, Ore., as he cleared 5.10m in the qualification round to place 17th overall and miss the final on misses. One year later, in Beijing, China, he made his senior debut at the world level and cleared 5.40m to place 31st overall.
The IAAF meet closes out the 2016-17 competition year for the Bearcats, which comes less than one month before the cross country team opens its 2017 season. Valles had quite a year individually as he remained undefeated in American Athletic Conference competition by winning the indoor and outdoor titles; captured two All-America honors by finishing fifth indoors and second outdoors at the NCAA Championships, and broke the school record both indoor and out. He also was highly successful academically, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors, the NCAA Elite 90 Award (highest GPA of all male competitors at the NCAA Indoor Championships) and was named the 2016-17 AAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.