Tickets// ON THE STARTING LINE
The University of Cincinnati track and field program will close out its January slate on the road this week as the Bearcats will make their second-consecutive trip to the Hoosier State, this time venturing to Bloomington, Ind., for the 2018 Indiana Relays that will take place Friday-Saturday (January 26-27) inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse on the IU campus. The meet, which will feature a women's pentathlon and men's heptathlon among the standard events, will mark the second time UC has visited IU this season after competing in the Hoosier Open (December 8) to open the season and the second week in a row in Indiana after competing in the Notre Dame Invitational Saturday in South Bend.
// MEET INFORMATION
The 2018 Indiana Relays will be a two-day competition inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse with representatives from at least 11 collegiate teams in the field. The multi-events will lead off all areas of competition each day with the men's heptathlon 60m hurdles set to start at 5 p.m. Friday. The first field event will be the men's heptathlon long jump at 5:35 p.m. (approximately). On Saturday, the women's pentathlon 60m hurdles will be the first event on the track at 9 a.m. before the women's pentathlon high jump opens the field event slate at 9:35 a.m. (approximately). Results for the meet will be updated throughout the competition on Indiana's web site, IUHoosiers.com.
// IN THE MEET
The teams that have at least one representative in the meet include Cincinnati, Florida International, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Notre Dame, Ohio Northern, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, USF and Western Kentucky.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsTFXC. As always, fans are encouraged to join in the conversation using the hashtag #Bearcats.
// QUICK STARTS
• In the latest USTFCCCA national rankings update (Jan. 23), the women slipped seven spots to #28 this week while the men moved up one spot to #47
• The USTFCCCA released its first regional ranking with the UC women at #5 and the men #8 in the Great Lakes Region listing
• According to the Jan. 23 TFRRS lists, the UC women hold 16 marks and the men 11 marks that currently rank in the Top 150 of the NCAA so far this season, including five marks by the women and one by the men in the national Top 16 (the cutoff for NCAA qualification)
• Of those listed, Annette Echikunwoke is the national leader in the women's weight throw again this week while Adrian Valles is #2 in the men's pole vault
• On the AAC lists, the Bearcats have 20 women's marks and 14 men's that rank in the Top 8
• Staying in the AAC, the conference named Valles (men's field) and Loretta Blaut (women's field) as two of its athletes of the week (Jan. 22) following wins by each last week at Notre Dame
• Eight newcomers have combined to record 15 marks on the program's all-time Top 10 lists, including Sam Meece, who broke the freshman men's weight throw record again last week
• UC recorded three women's and five men's marks that rank in the all-time Top 10 in program last week at Notre Dame, including a school record from Valles in the pole vault (5.61m)
• The women's mile produced two Top 10 times in UC history, led by Hannah Markel, who lowered her PR by 10.25 seconds to run the #5 time in Bearcats history (5:03.34)
// IN THE USTFCCCA RANKINGS - TEAM NATIONAL
The second release of the USTFCCCA computer rankings were released this week with the women slipping seven spots to #28 in the nation and the men rising one position to #47. Here is some more information on the national rankings:
• The ranking is the second week in a row the women have been ranked in the Top 30 and the first time since last year when UC was #29, #25, #26 and #26 in the first four releases
• The ranking is the eighth regular season Top 30 for the women and also marks the 18th week in a row UC has been in the national Top 50 during the regular season after having only been in the Top 50 six total times from 2008-15
• The men are in the Top 50 for the second week in a row for the first time since rankings were released in 2008; previously, the closest the men came was being ranked #53 and #50 in the first two rankings of the 2017 season
• The #47 ranking is the highest regular season ranking for the men since records began in 2008 and is just the third time UC has been in the Top 50 in the regular season
// IN THE USTFCCCA RANKINGS - TEAM REGIONAL
Another part of the rankings release included the first regional rankings with the Bearcats, who are assigned to the Great Lakes Region, both finding a home in the Top 8. The women are currently #5 in the region while the men are #8.
// MORE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION
Along with the team rankings, the regional rankings for individual events also were ranked and, based upon marks attained this season, 16 total marks held by Bearcats rank in the Top 8 of their respective events, including 10 by the women. On the women's side, the Top 8 features Loretta Blaut (#1 in the high jump), Annette Echikunwoke (#1 in weight throw & #3 in shot put), Leah Heckaman (#8 in the shot put), Tiona Lattimore (#2 in 60m & #6 in 200m), Irati Mitxelena (#1 in triple jump), Bryana Robinson (#7 in 200m) and the distance medley relay team of Sam Mikula, Haisha Bisiolu, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide at #3. On the men's side, the list includes Alex Bloom (tied #8 in the high jump), Jimmy Brooks (#1 at 400m), Austin Edwards (#5 in the long jump), Adrian Valles (#1 in the pole vault), Michael Vitucci (#8 at 800m) and the #3 DMR of Vitucci, Brooks, Logan Baker and Matt Stump.
// FEELING HONORED
Following action at the Notre Dame Invitational, the Bearcats had a field day in the weekly AAC awards as Loretta Blaut (women's field) and Adrian Valles (men's field) swept the awards. Blaut, who won the high jump with a season-best 1.82m clearance, earned her first weekly award of the year while Valles, who broke his own UC record and briefly took over the national lead with his best of 5.61m in the pole vault, was honored for the second week in a row.
// ALL A-BLAUT CLEARANCES
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.
// VALLES VAULTING
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. 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.
// MEECE MAKING MARKS
Sam Meece also got into the record act Saturday as he posted another big series of throws in the men's weight throw to better the UC freshman record that he took down last week. After throwing 18.08m last week in Kentucky to smash the rookie mark and moved into the program's all-time Top 10, he bettered that mark Saturday with a best of 18.54m (60-10.00) to move up to #4 all-time in program history as only the fourth individual to record a toss of 60 meters or better. Meece, who placed second overall in the event, added a PR in the shot put as well as he hit a toss of 15.82m (5-11.00) to finish fourth in the competition.
// THROWING THEIR WEIGHTS AROUND
Meece was not the only thrower that had an outstanding day as several other men and women hit improved standards. In the men's weight throw, Meece was joined by two other Bearcats that recorded personal-best marks, including Chris Province, who was fifth overall in 16.26m (53-04.25), and Aaron Deaton, who placed 10th with a best of 15.03m (49-03.75). Deaton also had a PR in the PR as he finished seventh at 15.45m (58-05.25). Staying in the shot put, Marcus Abraham won the men's event as he sent the ball out to 16.78m (55-00.75) to not only improve upon his personal best, but also moved up from the #10 to #4 in the program's all-time Top 10 as he recorded a 2' 11" improvement. The women's event also produced a big toss as Leah Heckaman finished as the event runner-up with a heave of 15.69m (51-05.75) to post a PR and move up to #3 all-time.
// IN THE TOP 10
Four individuals turned in speedy results on the track as well to earn placement in the all-time Top 10 with teammates recording their marks in the same races as both women's marks came in the mile and both men's marks in the final of the 60m. For the women, Hannah Markel lowered her PR by nearly 10 seconds and Sam Mikula dropped hers nearly six seconds to post Top 10 marks. Markel won her heat and finished ninth overall as she raced to a time of 5:03.34 to move to #5 on the all-time ledger while Mikula, the heat runner-up to Markel and 10th overall, moved to #7 with her time of 5:05.17. With those times, half of the Top 10 is populated by current Bearcats that hold the #2, #3, #5, #7 and #8 marks in program history. On the men's side, both Austin Edwards and Isaiah McCall turned in Top 10 marks as the rookies not only made the final, but finished highly in the race. Edwards, a redshirt freshman, finished fourth overall in 6.88 to equal his personal best and his #7 time in program history while McCall, a true freshman that ran 8.08 in the 60m hurdles last week to rank #5 all-time, raced to a time of 6.89 to finish fifth and move up to #8.
// MILE MARKERS
The women's indoor mile has perhaps been the most rewritten Top 10 list in program history over the past two and one-half seasons. Following the 2015 season, the #10 time in UC history was 5:11.82. Following three new names added in 2016, one more in 2017 and now two more in 2018 thanks to Hannah Markel and Sam Mikula's runs at the Notre Dame Invitational, the list is nearly brand new as the current #10 time of 5:06.42 was the #4 time at the end of the 2015 season. With Markel running 5:03.34 and Mikula 5:05.17, the #5 and #7 times, respectively, coach Lara Crofford's current distance roster holds six of the program's Top 11 times ever run as the duo joins #2 Meg Westerheide, #3 Alexis Anton, #8 Tes Corea and #11 Madison Dunlap.
// SOLID BESTS
Several other Bearcats turned in impressive marks at Notre Dame as well. On the men's side, Aaron Bienenfeld, who ran the #7 time in the 3,000m run last week, took second in the mile run at 4:13.64, which has him just outside the all-time Top 10, while Matt Stump finished fifth in 4:16.27, a six-second improvement from last week. For the women, Kellsa Mbah made the final of the 60m and ran a pair season-best times, first running 7.60 in the prelims before finishing fourth overall in the final in 7.59. She also was third in the long jump with a season-best leap of 5.90m (19-04.25). In the same event, Naomi Urbano jumped 5.61m (18-05.00) to post a PR and move to within 8cm of the all-time Top 10. Staying in the field, Brooke Catherine had another outstanding effort in the pole vault as she cleared 3.97m (13-00.25) to finish second and clear 13' for the second week in a row. She nearly cleared a new PR at 4.07m, but missed on her three attempts. In the same event, Allie Plybon cleared 3.52m (11-06.50) to finish ninth and post a personal best.
// IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Through three weeks of competition, several newcomers have made impacts to the all-time Top 10 lists, including a trio of true freshman. So far, 31 marks in the Top 10 have been recorded with 15 of those coming from newcomers, including four by transfers, six by true freshmen and five by redshirt freshmen. Three women have posted marks, including newcomer Mary Purtsa (triple jump), redshirt freshman Hannah Markel (mile and 3,000m) and true freshman Sam Mikula (mile). On the men's side, the marks have come from true freshmen Sam Meece (weight throw) and Isaiah McCall (60m and 60mH), redshirt freshman Austin Edwards (long jump and 60m) and transfers Marcus Abraham (shot put) and Aaron Bienenfeld (3,000m). Meece not only made the Top 10, but has broken the school's freshman record in the weight throw two weeks in a row.
// ON THE NATIONAL LIST
In the latest NCAA descending order list (Jan. 23), a total of 27 marks held by Bearcats - including 16 by the women and 11 by the men - currently rank among the national Top 150. Of those marks, the women have five marks that rank in the Top 16 while the men have one. The Top 16 in each event will qualify to the NCAA Indoor Championships later this season. Currently, Annette Echikunwoke is still the national leader in the women's weight throw while Adrian Valles sits second in the men's pole vault.
// TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS
According to those same lists, 34 marks held by the Bearcats are currently ranked among the Top 8 in the American Athletic Conference with the women holding 20 marks and the men 14. The women hold three conference-leading marks, including the Echikunwoke in both the shot put and the weight throw and Blaut in the high jump. The men have two overall leaders in Valles in the pole vault and Alex Bloom in the high jump.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// ANNETTE OFF TO HOT START
To say Annette Echikunwoke got her season off to a hot start might be an understatement. The defending national champion in the weight throw picked up where she left off in the event, smashing her own school and conference record with a heave of 23.15m (75-11.50) to easily win the event at the Hoosier Open (Dec. 8). While she broke her previous record by 1' 6", she also strung together a huge series of throws as four of her six marks were over 22 meters, a feat she accomplished last year six times while the rest of the nation combined for six tosses of 22m. She was not done there, though, as she took second in the shot put with a school-record toss of 16.72m (54-10.50) as well to rank among the Top 5 in the nation for the year so far.
// HISTORICAL MARK
Not only did Echikunwoke reset her own school and conference records, but she also pushed her name higher up both the NCAA and World all-time rankings. On a collegiate level, her toss of 23.15m makes her just the seventh different individual to surpass the 23m mark as she ranks #7 all-time (single mark list) while ranking #15 all-time on the list (Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois holds the #1 through #9 all-time marks). According to the statistical compilation of marks on Tilastopaja.net, Echikunwoke's toss of 23.15m also ranks her #16 all-time in the world.
// ECHIKUNWOKE NAMED TRAILBLAZER
The University of Cincinnati African American Alumni Affiliate (4A) recently announced its 2018 Class of Onyx & Ruby Award honorees with Annette Echikunwoke being named the recipient of the Student Trailblazer Award and will be honored at the Onyx & Ruby Gala February 24 at the Sharonville Convention Center. The first national champion in program history after winning the 2017 NCAA weight throw title was selected for the award that is given annually to individuals who create university firsts or were at the forefront of movements and activities. For more information on the Gala and all award honorees, visit: Alumni.UC.edu/ORG18/Bios.
// GRADE CHECK
On January 10, Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) released academic data for the 2017 Fall semester, including those athletes that finished the semester with a 3.0 or better grade-point average. Overall, 62 track & field/cross country student-athletes recorded better than a 3.0 GPA, including 34 women and 28 men, to earn a place on the Bearcats Honor Roll. Of those student-athletes, 25 women and 19 men maintained a 3.4 GPA or better to garner Dean's List accolades. Also, four men and three women recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs to be named TopCats. That list included Spencer Clark, Dan Huben, Jacob Rieman and Adrian Valles for the men and Alexis Gray, Grace O'Donnell and Tessa Ward for the women.
// RETURNING CHAMPION
On March 11, 2017, Annette Echikunwoke capture the national title in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships, collecting the first crown in program history as she won with a heave of 22.42m (73-06.75). With her win, Echikunwoke became just the fifth UC student-athlete to win an individual national title in the history of UC Athletics. Prior to her victory, two diving and two swimming titles had been captured by Bearcats with the last coming in 2010 when Josh Schneider won the men's 50 freestyle. Echikunwoke also is now just the second UC woman to win an individual national crown, joining diver Becky Ruehl, who won the 1996 platform event at the NCAA meet. Prior to that trio, Pat Evans won the 3m diving event in 1989 and Charles Keating brought home the first gold with the title in 200 butterfly in 1946.
// RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Along with Echikunwoke, the Bearcats have one other returning indoor All-American and five more that earned the national accolade during the outdoor season last year. Adrian Valles finished fifth in the men's pole vault indoors last year before taking national runner-up honors outdoor to collect a pair of USTFCCCA All-America First Team honors, bringing his career total to five. Loretta Blaut placed in a tie for sixth in the high jump outdoors to earn first team honors while the team of Haisha Bisiolu, Deanna Gesicki, Tiona Lattimore and Bryana Robinson combined to earn USTFCCCA All-America Second Team honors in the 4x400m relay outdoors, the first for a relay in program history.
// THAT'S A FIRST
The women's 4x400m relay team was full of firsts in 2017. The quartet swept the 4x400m relay events at the AAC Indoor and AAC Outdoor Championships for the first crowns in program history. Then, the ladies broke the school record several times, including in their win at the conference outdoor meet before breaking it once again, running 3:36.59 at the regional meet to qualify for the national finals, marking the first UC relay to reach the NCAA outdoor meet. They weren't done there, however, as they broke the record once again in Eugene, running 3:35.96 in the semifinals to finish 15th overall. Despite not reaching the final, the team did earn USTFCCCA All-America Second Team accolades, marking the first time in program history a relay team earned All-America status.
// INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN
For the second time in his career, Adrian Valles took part in one of the largest meets in the world as he represented his native Spain in the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in London this past summer. Valles, who competed at the world meet in Beijing, China, in 2015, placed 16th overall in the qualification round this year. To get to London, Valles continued to chase a clearance of 5.70m throughout much of the collegiate season before he was added to the field in a pole vault competition in Landau, Germany. In the street event (raised runway on a city street), Valles climbed over the qualifying standard and punched his ticket to London.
// XC: DUNLAP EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE
Heading into the 2016 cross country season, the Bearcats women had not had an all-conference (Top 15) finisher in the AAC Championships. Then, Juliana Madzia, who was honored as a Top 30 selection for the 2016-17 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, finished 13th at the meet UC hosted to earn the program's first all-conference accolade since Ruth Limo at the 2004 Conference USA meet. This year, Madison Dunlap ran a personal-best time on a hilly course in Philadelphia to place 15th overall and earn her first all-conference selection and the program's second in as many years. The 15th woman in program history to earn cross country all-conference honors (25th total honor), Dunlap combines with Madzia to earn back-to-back conference honors for the first time since 2001 and 2002 when Angie Kist and Limo finished 12th and 10th, respectively, at the CUSA meet.
// UC HOSTING AAC OUTDOORS IN 2018
This season, the 2018 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by the Bearcats at Gettler Stadium and Coy Field. The three-day meet will take place May 11-13 on the UC campus and will mark the first AAC track & field meet the Bearcats have played host and the second AAC meet UC has hosted after holding the 2016 AAC Cross Country Championships at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester. The last time the Bearcats played host to a conference meet came in 2010 when the BIG EAST meet was held at Gettler Stadium.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will travel to the Lone Star State next week and take part in the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas, February 3-4. Cincinnati, returning to the meet after making its first appearance last year, will be competing in the same venue that will once again host the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 9-10). It also will mark the first time Annette Echikunwoke will return to the same ring in which she captured the program's first national title.
The University of Cincinnati track and field program will close out its January slate on the road this week as the Bearcats will make their second-consecutive trip to the Hoosier State, this time venturing to Bloomington, Ind., for the 2018 Indiana Relays that will take place Friday-Saturday (January 26-27) inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse on the IU campus. The meet, which will feature a women's pentathlon and men's heptathlon among the standard events, will mark the second time UC has visited IU this season after competing in the Hoosier Open (December 8) to open the season and the second week in a row in Indiana after competing in the Notre Dame Invitational Saturday in South Bend.
// MEET INFORMATION
The 2018 Indiana Relays will be a two-day competition inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse with representatives from at least 11 collegiate teams in the field. The multi-events will lead off all areas of competition each day with the men's heptathlon 60m hurdles set to start at 5 p.m. Friday. The first field event will be the men's heptathlon long jump at 5:35 p.m. (approximately). On Saturday, the women's pentathlon 60m hurdles will be the first event on the track at 9 a.m. before the women's pentathlon high jump opens the field event slate at 9:35 a.m. (approximately). Results for the meet will be updated throughout the competition on Indiana's web site, IUHoosiers.com.
// IN THE MEET
The teams that have at least one representative in the meet include Cincinnati, Florida International, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Notre Dame, Ohio Northern, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, USF and Western Kentucky.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsTFXC. As always, fans are encouraged to join in the conversation using the hashtag #Bearcats.
// QUICK STARTS
• In the latest USTFCCCA national rankings update (Jan. 23), the women slipped seven spots to #28 this week while the men moved up one spot to #47
• The USTFCCCA released its first regional ranking with the UC women at #5 and the men #8 in the Great Lakes Region listing
• According to the Jan. 23 TFRRS lists, the UC women hold 16 marks and the men 11 marks that currently rank in the Top 150 of the NCAA so far this season, including five marks by the women and one by the men in the national Top 16 (the cutoff for NCAA qualification)
• Of those listed, Annette Echikunwoke is the national leader in the women's weight throw again this week while Adrian Valles is #2 in the men's pole vault
• On the AAC lists, the Bearcats have 20 women's marks and 14 men's that rank in the Top 8
• Staying in the AAC, the conference named Valles (men's field) and Loretta Blaut (women's field) as two of its athletes of the week (Jan. 22) following wins by each last week at Notre Dame
• Eight newcomers have combined to record 15 marks on the program's all-time Top 10 lists, including Sam Meece, who broke the freshman men's weight throw record again last week
• UC recorded three women's and five men's marks that rank in the all-time Top 10 in program last week at Notre Dame, including a school record from Valles in the pole vault (5.61m)
• The women's mile produced two Top 10 times in UC history, led by Hannah Markel, who lowered her PR by 10.25 seconds to run the #5 time in Bearcats history (5:03.34)
// IN THE USTFCCCA RANKINGS - TEAM NATIONAL
The second release of the USTFCCCA computer rankings were released this week with the women slipping seven spots to #28 in the nation and the men rising one position to #47. Here is some more information on the national rankings:
• The ranking is the second week in a row the women have been ranked in the Top 30 and the first time since last year when UC was #29, #25, #26 and #26 in the first four releases
• The ranking is the eighth regular season Top 30 for the women and also marks the 18th week in a row UC has been in the national Top 50 during the regular season after having only been in the Top 50 six total times from 2008-15
• The men are in the Top 50 for the second week in a row for the first time since rankings were released in 2008; previously, the closest the men came was being ranked #53 and #50 in the first two rankings of the 2017 season
• The #47 ranking is the highest regular season ranking for the men since records began in 2008 and is just the third time UC has been in the Top 50 in the regular season
// IN THE USTFCCCA RANKINGS - TEAM REGIONAL
Another part of the rankings release included the first regional rankings with the Bearcats, who are assigned to the Great Lakes Region, both finding a home in the Top 8. The women are currently #5 in the region while the men are #8.
// MORE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION
Along with the team rankings, the regional rankings for individual events also were ranked and, based upon marks attained this season, 16 total marks held by Bearcats rank in the Top 8 of their respective events, including 10 by the women. On the women's side, the Top 8 features Loretta Blaut (#1 in the high jump), Annette Echikunwoke (#1 in weight throw & #3 in shot put), Leah Heckaman (#8 in the shot put), Tiona Lattimore (#2 in 60m & #6 in 200m), Irati Mitxelena (#1 in triple jump), Bryana Robinson (#7 in 200m) and the distance medley relay team of Sam Mikula, Haisha Bisiolu, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide at #3. On the men's side, the list includes Alex Bloom (tied #8 in the high jump), Jimmy Brooks (#1 at 400m), Austin Edwards (#5 in the long jump), Adrian Valles (#1 in the pole vault), Michael Vitucci (#8 at 800m) and the #3 DMR of Vitucci, Brooks, Logan Baker and Matt Stump.
// FEELING HONORED
Following action at the Notre Dame Invitational, the Bearcats had a field day in the weekly AAC awards as Loretta Blaut (women's field) and Adrian Valles (men's field) swept the awards. Blaut, who won the high jump with a season-best 1.82m clearance, earned her first weekly award of the year while Valles, who broke his own UC record and briefly took over the national lead with his best of 5.61m in the pole vault, was honored for the second week in a row.
// ALL A-BLAUT CLEARANCES
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.
// VALLES VAULTING
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. 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.
// MEECE MAKING MARKS
Sam Meece also got into the record act Saturday as he posted another big series of throws in the men's weight throw to better the UC freshman record that he took down last week. After throwing 18.08m last week in Kentucky to smash the rookie mark and moved into the program's all-time Top 10, he bettered that mark Saturday with a best of 18.54m (60-10.00) to move up to #4 all-time in program history as only the fourth individual to record a toss of 60 meters or better. Meece, who placed second overall in the event, added a PR in the shot put as well as he hit a toss of 15.82m (5-11.00) to finish fourth in the competition.
// THROWING THEIR WEIGHTS AROUND
Meece was not the only thrower that had an outstanding day as several other men and women hit improved standards. In the men's weight throw, Meece was joined by two other Bearcats that recorded personal-best marks, including Chris Province, who was fifth overall in 16.26m (53-04.25), and Aaron Deaton, who placed 10th with a best of 15.03m (49-03.75). Deaton also had a PR in the PR as he finished seventh at 15.45m (58-05.25). Staying in the shot put, Marcus Abraham won the men's event as he sent the ball out to 16.78m (55-00.75) to not only improve upon his personal best, but also moved up from the #10 to #4 in the program's all-time Top 10 as he recorded a 2' 11" improvement. The women's event also produced a big toss as Leah Heckaman finished as the event runner-up with a heave of 15.69m (51-05.75) to post a PR and move up to #3 all-time.
// IN THE TOP 10
Four individuals turned in speedy results on the track as well to earn placement in the all-time Top 10 with teammates recording their marks in the same races as both women's marks came in the mile and both men's marks in the final of the 60m. For the women, Hannah Markel lowered her PR by nearly 10 seconds and Sam Mikula dropped hers nearly six seconds to post Top 10 marks. Markel won her heat and finished ninth overall as she raced to a time of 5:03.34 to move to #5 on the all-time ledger while Mikula, the heat runner-up to Markel and 10th overall, moved to #7 with her time of 5:05.17. With those times, half of the Top 10 is populated by current Bearcats that hold the #2, #3, #5, #7 and #8 marks in program history. On the men's side, both Austin Edwards and Isaiah McCall turned in Top 10 marks as the rookies not only made the final, but finished highly in the race. Edwards, a redshirt freshman, finished fourth overall in 6.88 to equal his personal best and his #7 time in program history while McCall, a true freshman that ran 8.08 in the 60m hurdles last week to rank #5 all-time, raced to a time of 6.89 to finish fifth and move up to #8.
// MILE MARKERS
The women's indoor mile has perhaps been the most rewritten Top 10 list in program history over the past two and one-half seasons. Following the 2015 season, the #10 time in UC history was 5:11.82. Following three new names added in 2016, one more in 2017 and now two more in 2018 thanks to Hannah Markel and Sam Mikula's runs at the Notre Dame Invitational, the list is nearly brand new as the current #10 time of 5:06.42 was the #4 time at the end of the 2015 season. With Markel running 5:03.34 and Mikula 5:05.17, the #5 and #7 times, respectively, coach Lara Crofford's current distance roster holds six of the program's Top 11 times ever run as the duo joins #2 Meg Westerheide, #3 Alexis Anton, #8 Tes Corea and #11 Madison Dunlap.
// SOLID BESTS
Several other Bearcats turned in impressive marks at Notre Dame as well. On the men's side, Aaron Bienenfeld, who ran the #7 time in the 3,000m run last week, took second in the mile run at 4:13.64, which has him just outside the all-time Top 10, while Matt Stump finished fifth in 4:16.27, a six-second improvement from last week. For the women, Kellsa Mbah made the final of the 60m and ran a pair season-best times, first running 7.60 in the prelims before finishing fourth overall in the final in 7.59. She also was third in the long jump with a season-best leap of 5.90m (19-04.25). In the same event, Naomi Urbano jumped 5.61m (18-05.00) to post a PR and move to within 8cm of the all-time Top 10. Staying in the field, Brooke Catherine had another outstanding effort in the pole vault as she cleared 3.97m (13-00.25) to finish second and clear 13' for the second week in a row. She nearly cleared a new PR at 4.07m, but missed on her three attempts. In the same event, Allie Plybon cleared 3.52m (11-06.50) to finish ninth and post a personal best.
// IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Through three weeks of competition, several newcomers have made impacts to the all-time Top 10 lists, including a trio of true freshman. So far, 31 marks in the Top 10 have been recorded with 15 of those coming from newcomers, including four by transfers, six by true freshmen and five by redshirt freshmen. Three women have posted marks, including newcomer Mary Purtsa (triple jump), redshirt freshman Hannah Markel (mile and 3,000m) and true freshman Sam Mikula (mile). On the men's side, the marks have come from true freshmen Sam Meece (weight throw) and Isaiah McCall (60m and 60mH), redshirt freshman Austin Edwards (long jump and 60m) and transfers Marcus Abraham (shot put) and Aaron Bienenfeld (3,000m). Meece not only made the Top 10, but has broken the school's freshman record in the weight throw two weeks in a row.
// ON THE NATIONAL LIST
In the latest NCAA descending order list (Jan. 23), a total of 27 marks held by Bearcats - including 16 by the women and 11 by the men - currently rank among the national Top 150. Of those marks, the women have five marks that rank in the Top 16 while the men have one. The Top 16 in each event will qualify to the NCAA Indoor Championships later this season. Currently, Annette Echikunwoke is still the national leader in the women's weight throw while Adrian Valles sits second in the men's pole vault.
// TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS
According to those same lists, 34 marks held by the Bearcats are currently ranked among the Top 8 in the American Athletic Conference with the women holding 20 marks and the men 14. The women hold three conference-leading marks, including the Echikunwoke in both the shot put and the weight throw and Blaut in the high jump. The men have two overall leaders in Valles in the pole vault and Alex Bloom in the high jump.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// ANNETTE OFF TO HOT START
To say Annette Echikunwoke got her season off to a hot start might be an understatement. The defending national champion in the weight throw picked up where she left off in the event, smashing her own school and conference record with a heave of 23.15m (75-11.50) to easily win the event at the Hoosier Open (Dec. 8). While she broke her previous record by 1' 6", she also strung together a huge series of throws as four of her six marks were over 22 meters, a feat she accomplished last year six times while the rest of the nation combined for six tosses of 22m. She was not done there, though, as she took second in the shot put with a school-record toss of 16.72m (54-10.50) as well to rank among the Top 5 in the nation for the year so far.
// HISTORICAL MARK
Not only did Echikunwoke reset her own school and conference records, but she also pushed her name higher up both the NCAA and World all-time rankings. On a collegiate level, her toss of 23.15m makes her just the seventh different individual to surpass the 23m mark as she ranks #7 all-time (single mark list) while ranking #15 all-time on the list (Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois holds the #1 through #9 all-time marks). According to the statistical compilation of marks on Tilastopaja.net, Echikunwoke's toss of 23.15m also ranks her #16 all-time in the world.
// ECHIKUNWOKE NAMED TRAILBLAZER
The University of Cincinnati African American Alumni Affiliate (4A) recently announced its 2018 Class of Onyx & Ruby Award honorees with Annette Echikunwoke being named the recipient of the Student Trailblazer Award and will be honored at the Onyx & Ruby Gala February 24 at the Sharonville Convention Center. The first national champion in program history after winning the 2017 NCAA weight throw title was selected for the award that is given annually to individuals who create university firsts or were at the forefront of movements and activities. For more information on the Gala and all award honorees, visit: Alumni.UC.edu/ORG18/Bios.
// GRADE CHECK
On January 10, Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) released academic data for the 2017 Fall semester, including those athletes that finished the semester with a 3.0 or better grade-point average. Overall, 62 track & field/cross country student-athletes recorded better than a 3.0 GPA, including 34 women and 28 men, to earn a place on the Bearcats Honor Roll. Of those student-athletes, 25 women and 19 men maintained a 3.4 GPA or better to garner Dean's List accolades. Also, four men and three women recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs to be named TopCats. That list included Spencer Clark, Dan Huben, Jacob Rieman and Adrian Valles for the men and Alexis Gray, Grace O'Donnell and Tessa Ward for the women.
// RETURNING CHAMPION
On March 11, 2017, Annette Echikunwoke capture the national title in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships, collecting the first crown in program history as she won with a heave of 22.42m (73-06.75). With her win, Echikunwoke became just the fifth UC student-athlete to win an individual national title in the history of UC Athletics. Prior to her victory, two diving and two swimming titles had been captured by Bearcats with the last coming in 2010 when Josh Schneider won the men's 50 freestyle. Echikunwoke also is now just the second UC woman to win an individual national crown, joining diver Becky Ruehl, who won the 1996 platform event at the NCAA meet. Prior to that trio, Pat Evans won the 3m diving event in 1989 and Charles Keating brought home the first gold with the title in 200 butterfly in 1946.
// RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Along with Echikunwoke, the Bearcats have one other returning indoor All-American and five more that earned the national accolade during the outdoor season last year. Adrian Valles finished fifth in the men's pole vault indoors last year before taking national runner-up honors outdoor to collect a pair of USTFCCCA All-America First Team honors, bringing his career total to five. Loretta Blaut placed in a tie for sixth in the high jump outdoors to earn first team honors while the team of Haisha Bisiolu, Deanna Gesicki, Tiona Lattimore and Bryana Robinson combined to earn USTFCCCA All-America Second Team honors in the 4x400m relay outdoors, the first for a relay in program history.
// THAT'S A FIRST
The women's 4x400m relay team was full of firsts in 2017. The quartet swept the 4x400m relay events at the AAC Indoor and AAC Outdoor Championships for the first crowns in program history. Then, the ladies broke the school record several times, including in their win at the conference outdoor meet before breaking it once again, running 3:36.59 at the regional meet to qualify for the national finals, marking the first UC relay to reach the NCAA outdoor meet. They weren't done there, however, as they broke the record once again in Eugene, running 3:35.96 in the semifinals to finish 15th overall. Despite not reaching the final, the team did earn USTFCCCA All-America Second Team accolades, marking the first time in program history a relay team earned All-America status.
// INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN
For the second time in his career, Adrian Valles took part in one of the largest meets in the world as he represented his native Spain in the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in London this past summer. Valles, who competed at the world meet in Beijing, China, in 2015, placed 16th overall in the qualification round this year. To get to London, Valles continued to chase a clearance of 5.70m throughout much of the collegiate season before he was added to the field in a pole vault competition in Landau, Germany. In the street event (raised runway on a city street), Valles climbed over the qualifying standard and punched his ticket to London.
// XC: DUNLAP EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE
Heading into the 2016 cross country season, the Bearcats women had not had an all-conference (Top 15) finisher in the AAC Championships. Then, Juliana Madzia, who was honored as a Top 30 selection for the 2016-17 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, finished 13th at the meet UC hosted to earn the program's first all-conference accolade since Ruth Limo at the 2004 Conference USA meet. This year, Madison Dunlap ran a personal-best time on a hilly course in Philadelphia to place 15th overall and earn her first all-conference selection and the program's second in as many years. The 15th woman in program history to earn cross country all-conference honors (25th total honor), Dunlap combines with Madzia to earn back-to-back conference honors for the first time since 2001 and 2002 when Angie Kist and Limo finished 12th and 10th, respectively, at the CUSA meet.
// UC HOSTING AAC OUTDOORS IN 2018
This season, the 2018 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by the Bearcats at Gettler Stadium and Coy Field. The three-day meet will take place May 11-13 on the UC campus and will mark the first AAC track & field meet the Bearcats have played host and the second AAC meet UC has hosted after holding the 2016 AAC Cross Country Championships at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester. The last time the Bearcats played host to a conference meet came in 2010 when the BIG EAST meet was held at Gettler Stadium.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will travel to the Lone Star State next week and take part in the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas, February 3-4. Cincinnati, returning to the meet after making its first appearance last year, will be competing in the same venue that will once again host the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 9-10). It also will mark the first time Annette Echikunwoke will return to the same ring in which she captured the program's first national title.