TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference announced its weekly award winners Tuesday with two members of the University of Cincinnati track and field teams being recognized following their performances at the Kentucky Invitational over the weekend.
Sophomore Tiona Lattimore has been selected as the Women's Track Athlete of the Week while senior Adrian Valles was named the Men's Field Athlete of the Week as both individuals have earned their first accolades of the 2018 indoor season. They also have secured the second and third honors, respectively, of 2018 after Annette Echikunwoke earned the women's field honor December 12.
// LATTIMORE LETS LOOSE
Coming off an impressive rookie season, Lattimore picked up where she left off by not only running personal-best times in all three races she entered, but also moving up higher on the program's all-time Top 10 lists. First, she ran in the preliminary rounds of the 60m dash and raced to a time of 7.52, which improved her previous best of 7.71 by 0.21 seconds. Not only did that time qualify her to the final, it also shot her from tied for ninth to tied for second on the UC Top 10 list. Then, in the final, she lowered her time once again, this time running 7.48 to take sole possession of the #2 position and move closer to Natasha Burse's record of 7.40 (2011).
Lattimore wasn't done there, however, as she next raced in the final of 200m dash. In the event, she once again lowered her personal-best time, taking her previous best of 24.28 down to 24.03 (-0.25) to move up to #3 all-time in program history. With both of her Top 10 marks on the weekend, Lattimore has now moved into the Top 3 in three indoor sprints, including #1 at 300m, #2 at 60m and #3 at 200m. She also is currently #7 in the 400m after running 55.77 last year at the AAC Championships.
All told, Lattimore heads into this week's competition ranked #6 in the 60m and #1 in the 200m among athletes in the AAC while also ranking #51 and #23, respectively, on the national lists.
// VAULTING VALLES
In the men's pole vault in Lexington, it came down to a rematch of the NCAA Outdoor Championships as Valles dueled with Akron's Matthew Ludwig as the lone two vaulters remaining. Although Valles finished second to the Zips' vaulter, he did manage to clear 5.47m (17-11.25) to up his season-best clearance and move into fourth on the latest NCAA descending order lists. Valles' clearance, which was the fifth-best of the weekend across the all NCAA divisions, continues to keep the Bearcats senior in the overall lead in the AAC as he increased his advantage by nine inches. Valles will be looking to capture his fourth AAC title at the end of February.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats return to the road this weekend as they travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational. The meet will take place all day Saturday inside the Loftus Sports Center.
2018 American Athletic Conference Awards - Indoor
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Tiona Lattimore - Jan. 16
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Annette Echikunwoke - Dec. 12
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Adrian Valles - Jan. 16
Sophomore Tiona Lattimore has been selected as the Women's Track Athlete of the Week while senior Adrian Valles was named the Men's Field Athlete of the Week as both individuals have earned their first accolades of the 2018 indoor season. They also have secured the second and third honors, respectively, of 2018 after Annette Echikunwoke earned the women's field honor December 12.
// LATTIMORE LETS LOOSE
Coming off an impressive rookie season, Lattimore picked up where she left off by not only running personal-best times in all three races she entered, but also moving up higher on the program's all-time Top 10 lists. First, she ran in the preliminary rounds of the 60m dash and raced to a time of 7.52, which improved her previous best of 7.71 by 0.21 seconds. Not only did that time qualify her to the final, it also shot her from tied for ninth to tied for second on the UC Top 10 list. Then, in the final, she lowered her time once again, this time running 7.48 to take sole possession of the #2 position and move closer to Natasha Burse's record of 7.40 (2011).
Lattimore wasn't done there, however, as she next raced in the final of 200m dash. In the event, she once again lowered her personal-best time, taking her previous best of 24.28 down to 24.03 (-0.25) to move up to #3 all-time in program history. With both of her Top 10 marks on the weekend, Lattimore has now moved into the Top 3 in three indoor sprints, including #1 at 300m, #2 at 60m and #3 at 200m. She also is currently #7 in the 400m after running 55.77 last year at the AAC Championships.
All told, Lattimore heads into this week's competition ranked #6 in the 60m and #1 in the 200m among athletes in the AAC while also ranking #51 and #23, respectively, on the national lists.
// VAULTING VALLES
In the men's pole vault in Lexington, it came down to a rematch of the NCAA Outdoor Championships as Valles dueled with Akron's Matthew Ludwig as the lone two vaulters remaining. Although Valles finished second to the Zips' vaulter, he did manage to clear 5.47m (17-11.25) to up his season-best clearance and move into fourth on the latest NCAA descending order lists. Valles' clearance, which was the fifth-best of the weekend across the all NCAA divisions, continues to keep the Bearcats senior in the overall lead in the AAC as he increased his advantage by nine inches. Valles will be looking to capture his fourth AAC title at the end of February.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats return to the road this weekend as they travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational. The meet will take place all day Saturday inside the Loftus Sports Center.
2018 American Athletic Conference Awards - Indoor
Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Tiona Lattimore - Jan. 16
Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Annette Echikunwoke - Dec. 12
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Adrian Valles - Jan. 16