TicketsCINCINNATI - Two members of the University of Cincinnati track and field program have been selected for weekly honors as Loretta Blaut and Adrian Valles were named the American Athletic Conference Women's Field and Men's Field Athlete of the Week, respectively, the conference announced today. Both Bearcats posted marks that were among the Top 10 in the nation over the weekend as they won their respective events at the Notre Dame Invitational (January 20).
// VAULTING VALLES
For the second week in a row, Valles cleared a season-best mark and, this time, he added much more to it as his winning clearance of 5.61m (18-04.75) broke his own school record by 1cm. The mark also placed him in the national lead on the NCAA lists at the time of the meet before he was bumped to #2 nationally following the full results of the weekend. Valles entered the competition with the bar at 5.18m with only one competitor remaining and cleared on his first attempt. He then needed two attempts to climb over 5.38m before clearing 5.52m on his first attempt. After bettering his season best (previously was 5.47m last week), Valles then cleared 5.61m on his third and final attempt. He took a crack at 5.72m, but was unable to clear on his three attempts.
// BLAUT CONTINUES TO CLIMB
Similar to Valles, Blaut raised her season-best mark in the high jump for the second week in a row as she won the event with a clearance of 1.82m (5-11.50). Blaut, who entered the meet with a best of 1.76m that she cleared one week prior at the Kentucky Invitational, entered the competition at 1.66m and cleared that height on her first attempt. She added a first attempt clearance at 1.71m before duplicating that effort to tie her season-best at 1.76m. From there, she added two more season-best marks as she cleared both 1.79m and 1.82m on her first attempt as well before missing three times at 1.85m. Not only was her winning mark tied for the sixth-best clearance nationally over the weekend, it also added her name to the program's all-time Top 10 for the second time as she now is tied for the #2 (1.86m) and #9 (1.82m). Added to that, she currently ranks tied for ninth in the NCAA this season and leads all jumpers in the AAC.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats are set to hit the road this week as they will compete in the Indiana Relays this Friday and Saturday (January 26-27) in Bloomington, Ind.
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
Loretta Blaut - Jan. 23
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Adrian Valles - Jan. 16 & Jan. 23
// VAULTING VALLES
For the second week in a row, Valles cleared a season-best mark and, this time, he added much more to it as his winning clearance of 5.61m (18-04.75) broke his own school record by 1cm. The mark also placed him in the national lead on the NCAA lists at the time of the meet before he was bumped to #2 nationally following the full results of the weekend. Valles entered the competition with the bar at 5.18m with only one competitor remaining and cleared on his first attempt. He then needed two attempts to climb over 5.38m before clearing 5.52m on his first attempt. After bettering his season best (previously was 5.47m last week), Valles then cleared 5.61m on his third and final attempt. He took a crack at 5.72m, but was unable to clear on his three attempts.
// BLAUT CONTINUES TO CLIMB
Similar to Valles, Blaut raised her season-best mark in the high jump for the second week in a row as she won the event with a clearance of 1.82m (5-11.50). Blaut, who entered the meet with a best of 1.76m that she cleared one week prior at the Kentucky Invitational, entered the competition at 1.66m and cleared that height on her first attempt. She added a first attempt clearance at 1.71m before duplicating that effort to tie her season-best at 1.76m. From there, she added two more season-best marks as she cleared both 1.79m and 1.82m on her first attempt as well before missing three times at 1.85m. Not only was her winning mark tied for the sixth-best clearance nationally over the weekend, it also added her name to the program's all-time Top 10 for the second time as she now is tied for the #2 (1.86m) and #9 (1.82m). Added to that, she currently ranks tied for ninth in the NCAA this season and leads all jumpers in the AAC.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats are set to hit the road this week as they will compete in the Indiana Relays this Friday and Saturday (January 26-27) in Bloomington, Ind.
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
Loretta Blaut - Jan. 23
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Adrian Valles - Jan. 16 & Jan. 23