TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference has announced its Indoor Track & Field Most Outstanding Performance Awards with University of Cincinnati student-athletes Loretta Blaut and Adrian Valles earning top honors for the Bearcats. The awards are presented to student-athletes who recorded the highest-ranking marks on the NCAA descending order list at The American Indoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend.
// WOMEN'S FIELD
Blaut earned the Women's Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performance award after capturing her second high jump crown in a row as she cleared 1.87m (6-01.50) to not only win, but also tie the school record with Renee Hein. Blaut's mark ranked fifth in the nation last weekend and has her ranked fifth overall nationally as well ahead of next week's NCAA Indoor Championships. Entering the meet with a best of 1.84m on the year, Blaut won the event by clearing 1.76m before going over 1.85m on her first attempt to break the meet record. She then cleared 1.87m on her first attempt before bowing out after attempting to clear 1.92m.
// MEN'S FIELD
Valles collected the Men's Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performance award following his fourth-consecutive AAC indoor title in the pole vault, this time clearing with a best of 5.50m (18-00.50) for the gold medal. The only student-athlete (men and women) in the history of the AAC to win the same event all four years, Valles is currently ranked fourth nationally and will head to Texas A&M next week to compete in the NCAA Championships and vie for his fourth indoor USTFCCCA All-America honor.
// NEXT UP
Blaut and Valles will join Annette Echikunwoke (women's weight throw) and Alex Bloom (men's heptathlon) at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships next week in College Station, Texas, as each will compete for a national title and USTFCCCA All-America honors. While Bloom will compete both Friday and Saturday (March 9-10), Blaut and Valles will take the stage Friday and Echikunwoke will look to defend her title Saturday.
2018 AAC Most Outstanding Award Winners
Women
Track - Latessa Johnson (SMU)
Field - Loretta Blaut (Cincinnati)
Men
Track - Kahmari Montgomery (Houston)
Field - Adrian Valles (Cincinnati) & Nathaniel Mechler (Houston)
// WOMEN'S FIELD
Blaut earned the Women's Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performance award after capturing her second high jump crown in a row as she cleared 1.87m (6-01.50) to not only win, but also tie the school record with Renee Hein. Blaut's mark ranked fifth in the nation last weekend and has her ranked fifth overall nationally as well ahead of next week's NCAA Indoor Championships. Entering the meet with a best of 1.84m on the year, Blaut won the event by clearing 1.76m before going over 1.85m on her first attempt to break the meet record. She then cleared 1.87m on her first attempt before bowing out after attempting to clear 1.92m.
// MEN'S FIELD
Valles collected the Men's Indoor Field Most Outstanding Performance award following his fourth-consecutive AAC indoor title in the pole vault, this time clearing with a best of 5.50m (18-00.50) for the gold medal. The only student-athlete (men and women) in the history of the AAC to win the same event all four years, Valles is currently ranked fourth nationally and will head to Texas A&M next week to compete in the NCAA Championships and vie for his fourth indoor USTFCCCA All-America honor.
// NEXT UP
Blaut and Valles will join Annette Echikunwoke (women's weight throw) and Alex Bloom (men's heptathlon) at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships next week in College Station, Texas, as each will compete for a national title and USTFCCCA All-America honors. While Bloom will compete both Friday and Saturday (March 9-10), Blaut and Valles will take the stage Friday and Echikunwoke will look to defend her title Saturday.
2018 AAC Most Outstanding Award Winners
Women
Track - Latessa Johnson (SMU)
Field - Loretta Blaut (Cincinnati)
Men
Track - Kahmari Montgomery (Houston)
Field - Adrian Valles (Cincinnati) & Nathaniel Mechler (Houston)