Bearcats Capture Five Titles on Day One of AAC Championships

The first day of action at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championships came to a close Friday night inside the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., with five members of the University of Cincinnati track and field team capturing individual titles to lead an all-around impressive day that has both team positioned well to challenge for the overall team titles.

Opens in a new window Live Results Opens in a new window Day One Results - MEN Opens in a new window Day One Results - WOMEN
Bearcats Capture Five Titles on Day One of AAC ChampionshipsBearcats Capture Five Titles on Day One of AAC Championships
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The first day of action at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championships came to a close Friday night inside the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., with five members of the University of Cincinnati track and field team capturing individual titles to lead an all-around impressive day that has both team positioned well to challenge for the overall team titles. The Bearcats swept the tiles in both pole vault competitions while also adding wins in the women's pentathlon, men's high jump and women's weight throw to score big points for both teams in the overall race.

// IN THE TEAM RACES
The women accumulated 54 points through the first day of competition to open a large lead with ECU sitting second at 24.5 points. The Top 5 is rounded out by SMU (24.0), UConn (23.0) and USF (22.5). On the men's side, newcomer Wichita State holds the early lead with 52 points while the Bearcats sit second at 43 points. The remainder of the Top 5 included UConn (35.5), Tulsa (34.0) and Memphis (19.0).

// CROWN THEM
Five Bearcats ended their respective days on top of the medal stand as each won a conference crown. The women were victorious in three events, including Annette Echikunwoke in the weight throw, Brooke Catherine in the pole vault and Naomi Urbano in the pentathlon while the men saw Adrian Valles capture the pole vault and Alex Bloom securing the title in the high jump.

// VALLES SWEEPS
Valles did what he has always done in AAC meets as he won his fourth-consecutive indoor conference title, this time clearing 5.50m (18-00.50) to win once again. The first athlete in the five-year history of the conference to win four titles in the same event, Valles has now won every AAC meet he has entered as he also is a three-time outdoor champion in his UC career.

// ECHIKUNWOKE WITH THE TRIFECTA
Echikunwoke was another UC athlete that repeated as champion as she captured her third weight throw crown in as many years, this time winning with a best of 22.15m (72-08.00). The top-ranked thrower in the nation, Echikunwoke may not have thrown as far as she has this season, but she did accumulate 10 team points as the Bearcats seek their first team indoor title in program history.

// URBANO REPEATS
The third Bearcat to end the day as a repeat champion was Urbano, who scored 3,805 points to successfully defend her crown that she first won last year. Urbano opened the day running 9.23 in the 60m hurdles for the #10 time in UC pentathlon history before clearing 1.68m (5-06.00) in the high jump. Her toss of 11.57m (37-11.50) in the shot put ranks as the #7 mark in the program's pentathlon history to push her toward the top of the standings before her leap of 5.46m (17-11.00) in the long jump placed her third overall through four events. In the 800m run, she dropped a PR time of 2:22.34 to not only post the #2 time in UC pentathlon history, but also collect enough points to overtake the lead and win the title in the final event.

// CATHERINE CLIMBS TO THE TOP
After Valles won his fourth title, the women took to the runway with Catherine capturing her first conference crown as she cleared 4.09m (13-05.00) to defeat the field. Catherine, who has now cleared 13' in each of the last five meets, is the second UC woman to win the AAC title in the event and just the fifth champion in the event in program history. The last time UC won the women's event came in 2014 - the first year of the AAC - when Alyssa McBride took home gold.

// BUSY BLOOM
Bloom was quite busy on Day One not only posting the top point total through the first four events of the heptathlon, but followed that up with the title in the high jump as he cleared 2.11m (6-11.00) to grab his first conference title in an individual, single event. Bloom, who cleared 2.10m in the heptathlon portion of the high jump just 20 minutes earlier, came back and battled through to capture the event title, which is the first for the men's program since Ron Quercioli won back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994.

// RECORD BREAKERS
Three athletes on the men's team posted record-breaking performances on the day. Bloom opened the day running 7.00 in the heptathlon 60m dash to not only break the UC heptathlon record, but also reset the conference meet record. Bloom also jumped 7.22m (23-08.25) in the heptathlon long jump to break the program record as well. Aaron Bienenfeld ran 14:13.82 in the 5,000m run final to not only finish second overall in the meet, but also break the school record that was set in 2011 when Eric Finan ran 14:17.07. Finally, Austin Edwards broke the tie for the school record in the 60m dash as he ran 6.73 in the prelims to lower the mark of 6.78 that he ran two weeks prior. 

// MORE SUPERLATIVES
The women posted nine other marks that rank among the Top 10 in program history. Alexis Anton and Sammy Hentz both qualified to the final of the 800m run by running the #4 (2:12.47) and #6 (2:13.07) times in program history, respectively. The rest of the marks came from the pentathlon with Angelica Lightfoot posting four and Urbano three. Lightfoot posted the #9 time in the 60m hurdles (8.60), the #5 score in the pentathlon (3,742 points), the #3 pentathlon hurdles time (8.77) and the #5 pentathlon high jump clearance (1.65m/5-05.00). In fact, her open 60m hurdles time of 8.60 qualified her to the final. Urbano posted three Top 10 marks as she recorded the #10 hurdles time (9.23), the #7 throw in the shot put (11.57m/37-11.50) and the #2 800m run time (2:22.34).

// SCORING POINTS - WOMEN
Several other women scored on the first day of the meet with most of the points coming from the field. On the track, the team of Sam Mikula, Deanna Gesicki, Anton and Meg Westerheide combined to finish fourth overall in the distance medley relay to score five points for the team. Their finish is the best in the event for the women's team since UC placed third in 2001.

In the field, Kellsa Mbah and Irati Mitxelena both scored in the long jump with Mbah leading the way as she took runner-up honors with a best of 5.95m (19-06.25) for eight points. Mitxelena was sixth overall as she jumped to 5.73m (18-09.75) to tally three points. Both Rachel Coghill and Allie Plybon tied for seventh place in the pole vault to each score one point as well. Lightfoot, who scored 3,742 points (UC #5), added six points to the team total.

// SCORING POINTS - MEN
Similar to the women, the men scored points on the track in the DMR as well as they placed sixth overall to grab three points. The team was comprised of Michael Vitucci, Halen Witcher, Jake Barnes and Matt Stump. Edwards scored three points as he placed sixth in the long jump with a best of 7.34m (24-01.00). In the high jump, Albert Kalala placed fourth overall with a PR of 2.06m (6-09.00) to score five points while Sam Meece threw the weight out to 18.45m (60-06.50) to place fifth and add four points.

// LATTIMORE GOING OFF
Tiona Lattimore took part in the prelims of the 60m, 200m and 400m events today and advanced to the final in all three sprint events, setting herself up for a busy Saturday. She was fourth in the 60m at 7.49, fourth in 200m at 23.97 and second in the 400m at 55.49. Along with those three finals, she also is scheduled to run the 4x400m relay tomorrow as well.

// ALL ABOARD
Four women's events and three men's events saw every entrant into the prelims advance to the finals, including all four women in the 400m. On the women's side, Bryana Robinson, Lattimore, Bisiolu and Deanna Gesicki all made the 400m final, giving the Bearcats half of the field after they posted the #1, #2 #3 and #8 times in the prelims, respectively. The events that saw every Bearcat advance to the final included:
• Women's 200m: Lattimore (#4), Robinson (#6) and Bisiolu (#7)
• Women's 800m: Anton (#6) and Hentz (#7)
• Men's 60m Hurdles: Isaiah McCall (#5), Kelvin Williams (#6) and Connor Duricky (#8)
• Men's 200m: Jimmy Brooks (#7)
• Men's 800m: Michael Vitucci (#5) and Logan Baker (#8)

// ON DECK
Action concludes Saturday in Birmingham with the heptathlon leading off the action at 9 a.m.

2018 American Athletic Conference Championships
February 23 (Day 1) • CrossPlex • Birmingham, Ala.
Women's Results
60m Dash - Prelims

4. Tiona Lattimore - 7.49 - advances to final
t13. Kellsa Mbah - 7.60

60m Hurdles - Prelims
7. Angelica Lightfoot - 8.60 - PR & UC #9 - advances to final
17. Juliana Puopolo - 9.01

200m Dash - Prelims
4. Tiona Lattimore - 23.97 - advances to final
6. Bryana Robinson - 24.10 - advances to final
7. Haisha Bisiolu - 24.12 - advances to final

400m Dash - Prelims
1. Bryana Robinson - 53.70 - advances to final
2. Tiona Lattimore - 55.49 - advances to final
3. Haisha Bisiolu - 55.54 - advances to final
8. Deanna Gesicki - 56.59 - advances to final

800m Dash - Prelims
6. Alexis Anton - 2:12.47 - PR & UC #4 - advances to final
7. Sammy Hentz - 2:13.07 - PR & UC #6 - advances to final

Mile Run - Prelims
6. Meg Westerheide - 5:02.90 - advances to final
15. Sam Mikula - 5:05.96

Distance Medley Run - FINAL
4. Cincinnati - 11:55.31 - 5 points
    Mikula (3:37.0), Gesicki (55.7), Anton (2:12.4), Westerheide (5:08.9)

Long Jump - FINAL
2. Kellsa Mbah - 5.95m (19-06.25) - 8 points
6. Irati Mitxelena - 5.73m (18-09.75) - 3 points
9. Kennedy Marable - 5.54m (18-02.25)

Pole Vault - FINAL
1. Brooke Catherine - 4.09m (13-05.00) - 10 points - CHAMPION
t7. Rachel Coghill - 3.54m (11-07.25) - 1 point
t7. Allie Plybon - 3.54m (11-07.25) - 1 point

Weight Throw - FINAL
1. Annette Echikunwoke - 22.15m (72-08.00) - 10 points - 3x CHAMPION
14. Alexis Gray - 16.25m (53-03.75)
15. Ashley Williams - 16.06m (52-08.25) - PR

Pentathlon - FINAL
1. Naomi Urbano - 3,805 points - 10 points - 2x CHAMPION
3. Angelica Lightfoot - 3,742 points - PR & UC #5 - 6 points
14. Maggie Loeffler - 3,236 points

PENT #1 - 60m Hurdles
3. Angelica Lightfoot - 8.77 [959p] - PENT PR & UC PENT #3
8. Naomi Urbano - 9.23 [862p] - PR & UC PENT #10
10. Maggie Loeffler - 9.24 [860p]

PENT #2 - High Jump
2. Naomi Urbano - 1.68m (5-06.00) [830p]
t4. Angelica Lightfoot - 1.65m (5-05.00) [795p] - PR & UC PENT #5
t7. Maggie Loeffler - 1.62m (5-03.75) [759p]

PENT #3 - Shot Put
1. Angelica Lightfoot - 13.05m (42-09.75) [731p]
3. Naomi Urbano - 11.57m (37-11.50) [633p] - PR & UC PENT #7
6. Maggie Loeffler - 9.92m (32-06.50) [524p]

PENT #4 - Long Jump
4. Naomi Urbano - 5.46m (17-11.00) [688p]
5. Angelica Lightfoot - 5.45m (17-10.75) [686p]
11. Maggie Loeffler - 5.05m (16-07.00) [573p]

PENT #5 - 800m Run
2. Naomi Urbano - 2:22.34 [959p] - PR & UC PENT #2
13. Angelica Lightfoot - 2:40.20 [571p] - PR
15. Maggie Loeffler - 2:44.68 [520p]

Men's Results
60m Dash - Prelims

5. Austin Edwards - 6.73 - PR & UC RECORD - advances to final
11. Mykel Chambers - 6.85
14. Isaiah McCall - 6.95
      Anthony Woods - did not finish

60m Hurdles - Prelims
5. Isaiah McCall - 8.26 - advances to final
6. Kelvin Williams - 8.31 - SB - advances to final
8. Connor Duricky - 8.35 - PR - advances to final

200m Dash - Prelims
7. Jimmy Brooks - 21.52 - PR & UC #3 - advances to final

400m Dash - Prelims
6. Jimmy Brooks - 48.06 - advances to final
11. Halen Witcher - 49.08
16. Jaashir Morris - 49.74
21. Ryan Greene - 50.48

800m Dash - Prelims
5. Michael Vitucci - 1:52.42 - advances to final
8. Logan Baker - 1:53.79 - PR - advances to final

Mile Run - Prelims
16. Matt Stump - 4:23.90

5,000m Run - FINAL
2. Aaron Bienenfeld - 14:13.82 - 8 points - PR & UC RECORD
14. Dan Huben - 15:01.92

Distance Medley Run - FINAL
6. Cincinnati - 10:15.07 - 3 points
    Vitucci (3:08.2), Witcher (48.4), Barnes (1:58.6), Stump (4:19.6)

Long Jump - FINAL
6. Austin Edwards - 7.34m (24-01.00) - 3 points
10. Brandon White - 6.96m (22-10.00)

High Jump - FINAL
1. Alex Bloom - 2.11m (6-11.00) - 10 points - CHAMPION
4. Albert Kalala - 2.06m (6-09.00) - PR - 5 points

Pole Vault - FINAL
1. Adrian Valles - 5.50m (18-00.50) - 10 points - 4x CHAMPION

Weight Throw - FINAL
5. Sam Meece - 18.45m (60-06.50) - 4 points
11. Chris Province - 16.42m (53-10.50)
13. Marcus Abraham - 16.33m (53-07.00)

Heptathlon - DAY ONE
1. Alex Bloom - 3,297 points
13. Nicholas Lauria - 2,425 points

HEP #1 - 60m Dash
1. Alex Bloom - 7.00 [882p] - PR, Meet Record & UC HEP RECORD
15. Nicholas Lauria - 7.62 [675p] - PR

HEP #2 - Long Jump

2. Alex Bloom - 7.22m (23-08.25) [866p] - PR & UC HEP RECORD
13. Nicholas Lauria - 5.89m (19-04.00) [563p]

HEP #3 - Shot Put
2. Alex Bloom - 12.76m (41-10.50) [653p]
12. Nicholas Lauria - 10.81m (35-05.75) [534p]

HEP #4 - High Jump
1. Alex Bloom - 2.10m (6-10.75) [896p]
t7. Nicholas Lauria - 1.83m (6-00.00) [653p] - PR

TEAM SCORES
WOMEN - Top 5
1. CINCINNATI - 54.0

2. ECU - 24.5
3. SMU - 24.0
4. UConn - 23.0
5. USF - 22.5

MEN - Top 5
1. Wichita State - 52.0
2. CINCINNATI - 43.0
3. UConn - 35.5
4. Tulsa - 34.0
5. Memphis - 19.0

SUPERLATIVES
WOMEN

Alexis Anton - 800m - 2:12.47 - UC #4
Sammy Hentz - 800m - 2:13.07 - UC #6
Angelica Lightfoot - 60mH - 8.60 - UC #9
Angelica Lightfoot - Pentathlon - 3,742 points - UC #5
Angelica Lightfoot - Pent 60mH - 8.77 - UC PENT #3
Angelica Lightfoot - Pent HJ - 1.65m (5-05.00) - UC PENT #5
Naomi Urbano - Pent 60mH - 9.23 - UC PENT #10
Naomi Urbano - Pent SP - 11.57m (37-11.50) - UC PENT #7
Naomi Urbano - Pent 800m - 2:22.34 - UC PENT #2

MEN
Aaron Bienenfeld - 5,000m - 14:13.82 - UC RECORD
Alex Bloom - Hep 60m - 7.00 - UC HEP RECORD
Alex Bloom - Hep LJ - 7.22m (23-08.25) - UC HEP RECORD
Jimmy Brooks - 200m - 21.52 - UC #3
Austin Edwards - 60m - 6.73 - UC RECORD