TicketsLEXINGTON, Ky. - The first day of competition at the Kentucky Invitational came to a close Friday night inside Nutter Field House in Lexington, Ky., with University of Cincinnati freshman Sam Meece breaking the program's freshman record in the men's weight throw to lead the way for the Bearcats as they lifted the lid on 2018. The Bearcats had entrants in all four events on the day that featured the men's and women's weight throw and the men's and women's distance medley.
// MEECE MAKES HIS MARK
In his second collegiate competition, true freshman Meece recorded a toss of 18.08m (59-04.00) to place seventh overall in the weight throw. That mark not only gave him the program's freshman record, but also moved him up to #5 on the all-time Top 10 list in program history. With a heave over 18m, Meece is now just the fifth Bearcats man to surpass the distance and just the second in the past 10 years.
Two of his teammates also competed in the event, including Marcus Abraham and Aaron Deaton. Abraham, a junior transfer, recorded a personal-best mark of 16.54m (54-03.25) while Deaton had a best of 14.65m (48-00.75) to place 10th and 17th, respectively.
// WOMEN'S WEIGHT
Annette Echikunwoke continued to post victories in the weight throw as she won the meet with a best of 21.59m (70-10.00) despite throwing nearly five feet less that her collegiate-leading mark of 23.15m from December 8 at the Hoosier Open. Despite having just two of her attempts marked, Echikunwoke won the weight throw for the fourth meet in a row dating back to last year's AAC Championships while also finishing as the top collegiate entrant in the meet for the eighth meet in a row.
Three other women also competed in the event and all finished close to one another as Alexis Gray, Leah Heckaman and Ashley Williams placed 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. Gray hit a best of 16.11m (52-10.25) while Heckaman, in her first meet since the 2016 NCAA East Preliminary Round (outdoors) because of an injury, threw 16.07m (52-08.75). Williams recorded a personal-best mark of 15.74m (51-07.75) in her three throws.
// TAKING SOME LAPS
The distance medley relay also was contested Friday night with the men fielding one team and the women two in an event that sees the teams run 1,200m, 400m, 800m and the mile. The men were up first with the team of Michael Vitucci, Jimmy Brooks, Logan Baker and Matt Stump combining to run 10:15.79 to finish fifth overall.
The women closed out the night with two teams running. The 'A' team of Sam Mikula, Haisha Bisiolu, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide combined to run 12:01.60 and place fourth overall while the 'B' team of Lianne Masquelier, Sylvana Ross, Sammy Hentz and Hannah Markel posted a time of 12:22.58 to place fifth. The 'A' team's time was 0.57 seconds off the program's #10 time of 12:01.03.
// ON DECK
The second and final day of competition at the Kentucky Invitational will take place Saturday with running events starting at noon and several field events at 9 a.m., including both high jump competitions.
2018 Kentucky Invitational
January 12 (Day One) • Nutter Field House • Lexington, Ky.
Women's Results
Distance Medley Relay
4. Cincinnati 'A' - 12:01.60
Sam Mikula (3:41), Haisha Bisiolu (54.6), Alexis Anton (2:20), Meg Westerheide (5:04.7)
5. Cincinnati 'B' - 12:22.58
Lianne Masquelier (3:45), Sylvana Ross (60.7), Sammy Hentz (2:27), Hannah Markel (5:09.6)
Weight Throw
1. Annette Echikunwoke - 21.59m (70-10.00)
13. Alexis Gray - 16.11m (52-10.25)
14. Leah Heckaman - 16.07m (52-08.75)
15. Ashley Williams - 15.74m (51-07.75) - PR
Men's Results
Distance Medley Relay
5. Cincinnati 'A' - 10:15.79
Michael Vitucci (3:06.78), Jimmy Brooks (49.0), Logan Baker (1:58), Matt Stump (4:21.58)
Weight Throw
7. Sam Meece - 18.08m (59-04.00) - PR, UC #5 & UC Freshman Record
10. Marcus Abraham - 16.54m (54-03.25) - PR
17. Aaron Deaton - 14.65m (48-00.75)
// MEECE MAKES HIS MARK
In his second collegiate competition, true freshman Meece recorded a toss of 18.08m (59-04.00) to place seventh overall in the weight throw. That mark not only gave him the program's freshman record, but also moved him up to #5 on the all-time Top 10 list in program history. With a heave over 18m, Meece is now just the fifth Bearcats man to surpass the distance and just the second in the past 10 years.
Two of his teammates also competed in the event, including Marcus Abraham and Aaron Deaton. Abraham, a junior transfer, recorded a personal-best mark of 16.54m (54-03.25) while Deaton had a best of 14.65m (48-00.75) to place 10th and 17th, respectively.
// WOMEN'S WEIGHT
Annette Echikunwoke continued to post victories in the weight throw as she won the meet with a best of 21.59m (70-10.00) despite throwing nearly five feet less that her collegiate-leading mark of 23.15m from December 8 at the Hoosier Open. Despite having just two of her attempts marked, Echikunwoke won the weight throw for the fourth meet in a row dating back to last year's AAC Championships while also finishing as the top collegiate entrant in the meet for the eighth meet in a row.
Three other women also competed in the event and all finished close to one another as Alexis Gray, Leah Heckaman and Ashley Williams placed 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. Gray hit a best of 16.11m (52-10.25) while Heckaman, in her first meet since the 2016 NCAA East Preliminary Round (outdoors) because of an injury, threw 16.07m (52-08.75). Williams recorded a personal-best mark of 15.74m (51-07.75) in her three throws.
// TAKING SOME LAPS
The distance medley relay also was contested Friday night with the men fielding one team and the women two in an event that sees the teams run 1,200m, 400m, 800m and the mile. The men were up first with the team of Michael Vitucci, Jimmy Brooks, Logan Baker and Matt Stump combining to run 10:15.79 to finish fifth overall.
The women closed out the night with two teams running. The 'A' team of Sam Mikula, Haisha Bisiolu, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide combined to run 12:01.60 and place fourth overall while the 'B' team of Lianne Masquelier, Sylvana Ross, Sammy Hentz and Hannah Markel posted a time of 12:22.58 to place fifth. The 'A' team's time was 0.57 seconds off the program's #10 time of 12:01.03.
// ON DECK
The second and final day of competition at the Kentucky Invitational will take place Saturday with running events starting at noon and several field events at 9 a.m., including both high jump competitions.
2018 Kentucky Invitational
January 12 (Day One) • Nutter Field House • Lexington, Ky.
Women's Results
Distance Medley Relay
4. Cincinnati 'A' - 12:01.60
Sam Mikula (3:41), Haisha Bisiolu (54.6), Alexis Anton (2:20), Meg Westerheide (5:04.7)
5. Cincinnati 'B' - 12:22.58
Lianne Masquelier (3:45), Sylvana Ross (60.7), Sammy Hentz (2:27), Hannah Markel (5:09.6)
Weight Throw
1. Annette Echikunwoke - 21.59m (70-10.00)
13. Alexis Gray - 16.11m (52-10.25)
14. Leah Heckaman - 16.07m (52-08.75)
15. Ashley Williams - 15.74m (51-07.75) - PR
Men's Results
Distance Medley Relay
5. Cincinnati 'A' - 10:15.79
Michael Vitucci (3:06.78), Jimmy Brooks (49.0), Logan Baker (1:58), Matt Stump (4:21.58)
Weight Throw
7. Sam Meece - 18.08m (59-04.00) - PR, UC #5 & UC Freshman Record
10. Marcus Abraham - 16.54m (54-03.25) - PR
17. Aaron Deaton - 14.65m (48-00.75)