TicketsCINCINNATI - The first day of competition at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships came to a close Friday night with a triumphant finish as University of Cincinnati junior Aaron Bienenfeld captured the title in the 10,000m run in the final event of the night, giving the Bearcats its first champion of the weekend. The meet is taking place at Gettler Stadium and Coy Field on the UC campus and runs through Sunday.
// CHAMPION
Bienenfeld was crowned the 10,000m champion as he battled the heat and a strong field before pulling away from his competitors with just over 1,000m remaining in the race, covering the distance in 30:50.31 to claim the gold medal and 10 points for the team. Bienenfeld, who entered the race ranked fourth in the conference, stayed at the front of the pack before making his move to win the first 10,000m crown in men's program history. In fact, his victory is just the third 10,000m title a Bearcats runner has claimed in program history after Ruth Limo was the women's champion in both 2003 and 2004. Bienenfeld will now turn his attention to the 5,000m run Sunday were he will look to add to the team's point total.
// SCORING POINTS
Two other men scored points for the team Friday with both being true freshmen. In the 10,000m run, Ryan Guenthner battled his way through the race and finished in 32:06.62 to place sixth overall. His fellow classmate, Sam Meece, took part in the first event of the day and placed seventh overall with a best of 55.48m (182-00) to score two teams points (more on his mark below). Through the first day of action, the Bearcats men have scored 15 points and sit third in the early standings with UConn leading with 20 and Tulsa second with 16.
// HERE COMES THE BLOOM
As the program has become accustomed, Alex Bloom went off in the decathlon. The senior All-American scored 4,119 points to lead the way after Day One with his point total breaking his own UC decathlon record. To get to that point total, Bloom ran 10.99 in the 100m dash, threw the shot put 12.80m (42-00.00) and raced to a time of 51.19 in the 400m dash, the first, third and fifth events of the day, respectively. While solid, those marks paled in comparison to what he did in the long jump and high jump. First, the long jump, his first attempt saw him fly to 7.42m (24-04.25) to break his own UC decathlon, AAC decathlon and AAC decathlon meet record of 7.33m set last year in Houston. To top that, his mark also ranks as the #10 mark in program history (all competitors) and broke the Gettler Stadium decathlon record. But, not to be outdone, he took aim at the high jump and came away with another huge performance, this time with a best of 2.13m (6-11.75). That mark, which just 1cm under his PR, broke the conference meet and stadium decathlon record. It also sent him higher up the NCAA East order lists and should be good enough to earn his place at the regional meet in two weeks.
Bloom was joined in the decathlon by fellow senior Ben Wollenslegel, who currently sits seventh overall with a PR score of 3,606 points, the #8 total in program history. Wollenslegel recorded PRs in the 100m dash (11.35), 400m dash (50.55) and high jump (1.95m/6-04.75) on his way to his PR score with two of those marks earning Top 10 rankings. His high jump clearance ranks him #7 in UC decathlon history while his quarter mile time places him at #10.
// FOUR TO SCORE
In the women's heptathlon, the first four events of the two-day competition were completed with all four women in the Top 8 through Day One with Angelica Lightfoot leading the way in third place with 3,075 points. Katie Straus (2,927 points), Naomi Urbano (2,904) and Maggie Loeffler (2,839) sit fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively, with Straus and Loeffler each posting PRs for their first-day scoring. After a solid start in the 100m hurdles, the ladies combined to record four PRs in the high jump, led by Urbano, who cleared 1.73m (5-08.00) to not only record the second-best heptathlon clearance in school history, but also the #7 mark at UC ever. Lifghtfoot and Loeffler both cleared 1.67m (5-05.75) to tie their PRs and the #8 mark in UC heptathlon history while Straus tied her PR of 1.64m (5-04.50) to post the #10 mark. The quartet all posted strong marks in the shot put and the 200m dash to finish out the day and set themselves up for a big finish Saturday.
// MOVING ON
Several preliminary rounds were contested on the track today with a trio of Bearcats women advancing to their respective finals on Sunday. In the 800m run, Alexis Anton ran 2:10.36 to finish sixth overall while posting the #3 time in UC history to earn a qualifying spot in the final while Sammy Hentz ran 2:11.35 and finished ninth, missing the final by one place. In the 200m dash, both Tiona Lattimore and Haisha Bisiolu did what they needed to do to advance to the final as the pair finished sixth (23.08) and seventh (23.91), respectively.
// HAMMER BESTS
Five individuals competed in the hammer Friday, including three men and two women, with all five Bearcats posting personal-best marks. The men were up first and saw Meece throw 55.48m (182-00) and improve his best by 2'1". That mark improved his #7 standing in the program's all-time Top 10 ledger while also increasing his UC freshman record. In the same event, Chris Province threw 52.06m (170-09) and Danny Jones, another freshman, threw 51.76m (169-09) as both recorded personal bests. Jones' mark would have gone down as a freshman record had Meece not thrown further this year. On the women's side, both Leah Heckaman and Alexis Gray recorded PRs with Heckaman moving up to #9 on the program's Top 10 list with her throw of 52.51m (172-03). Gray finished with a best of 51.46m (168-10).
// MORE PRS
Three Bearcats raced in the 400m hurdles with two recording PRs. For the women, Grace Winckowski ran 1:03.44 to improve her career best and post the #10 in UC history. For the men, freshman Connor Duricky ran 53.91 to place 10th overall with his PR. Senior Jaashir Morris was 13th overall in 55.94.
// SO CLOSE
In the women's 10,000m run, Tessa Ward was the lone entrant for the Bearcats and nearly scored for the team as she finished ninth, missing the points by one place. Ward, who recently graduate from UC for the second time in two years, ran a time of 37:37.30 on the day.
// ON DECK
Day Two of competition at the AAC Championships will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with decathlon 110m hurdles. After a change in times by the Competition Committee, the men's discus has been moved up two hours to 12:30 p.m. and will be the first open field event of the day while the track events get underway at 5 p.m. with the preliminary rounds of the women's 100m hurdles.
2018 AAC Outdoor Championships
May 10 • Day 1 • Gettler Stadium/Coy Field • Cincinnati
Women's Results
200m Dash - Prelims
6. Tiona Lattimore • 23.80 (+0.3) • advances to final
7. Haisha Bisiolu • 23.91 (-0.6) • advances to final
400m Hurdles - Prelims
14. Grace Winckowski • 1:03.44 • PR & UC #10
800m Run - Prelims
6. Alexis Anton • 2:10.36 • PR & UC #3 • advances to final
9. Sammy Hentz • 2:11.35
10,000m Run - FINAL
9. Tessa Ward • 37:37.30
Hammer - FINAL
13. Leah Heckaman • 52.51m (172-03) • PR & UC #9
14. Alexis Gray • 51.46m (168-10) • PR
Heptathlon - Day One
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 3,075 points
5. Katie Straus • 2,927 points • PR
6. Naomi Urbano • 2,904 points
8. Maggie Loeffler • 2,839 points • PR
HEP #1 • 100m Hurdles
2. Angelica Lightfoot • 14.32 (-0.3) [934p]
4. Katie Straus • 14.73 (+2.1) [878p] • PR & UC HEP #6
7. Naomi Urbano • 15.20 (+1.0) [815p]
11. Maggie Loeffler • 15.31 (-0.3) [801p]
HEP #2 • High Jump
2. Naomi Urbano • 1.73m (5-08.00) [891p] • PR & UC #7 & UC HEP #2
t3. Angelica Lightfoot • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818p] • PR & UC HEP #8(t)
t3. Maggie Loeffler • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818p] • PR & UC HEP #8(t)
t5. Katie Straus • 1.64m (5-04.50) [783p] • PR & UC HEP #10
HEP #3 • Shot Put
4. Naomi Urbano • 11.11m (36-05.50) [602p]
6. Angelica Lightfoot • 10.16m (33-04.00) [540p]
9. Katie Straus • 9.80m (32-02.00) [516p]
10. Maggie Loeffler • 9.61m (31-01.75) [504p]
HEP #4 • 200m Dash
4. Angelica Lightfoot • 26.16 (-1.3) [783p]
6. Katie Straus • 26.55 (-1.0) [750p] • HEP PR
9. Maggie Loeffler • 26.95 (-1.0) [716p]
12. Naomi Urbano • 28.45 (-1.0) [596p]
Men's Results
400m Hurdles - Prelims
10. Connor Duricky • 53.91 • PR
13. Jaashir Morris • 55.94
800m Run - Prelims
10. Michael Vitucci • 1:54.18
15. Logan Baker • 2:03.67
10,000m Run - FINAL
1. Aaron Bienenfeld • 30:50.31 • AAC CHAMPION • 10 points
6. Ryan Guenthner • 32:06.62 • 3 points
12. Spencer Clark • 33:38.68
-- Seamus Collins • did not finish
Hammer - FINAL
7. Sam Meece • 55.48m (182-00) • PR & UC #7 & UC FRESHMAN #1 • 2 points
11. Chris Province • 52.06m (170-09) • PR
13. Danny Jones • 51.76m (169-09) • PR
Decathlon - Day One
1. Alex Bloom • 4,119 points • PR & UC RECORD
7. Ben Wollenslegel • 3,606 points • PR & UC #8
DEC #1 • 100m Dash
2. Alex Bloom • 10.99 (+0.1) [863p]
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 11.35 (+0.4) [784p] • PR
DEC #2 • Long Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 7.42m (24-04.25)(+1.8) [915p] • PR & UC #10 & UC DEC RECORD & AAC DEC RECORD & AAC MEET RECORD & STADIUM DEC RECORD
5. Ben Wollenslegel • 6.75m (22-01.75)(+0.5) [755p]
DEC #3 • Shot Put
3. Alex Bloom • 12.80m (42-00.00) [655p]
11. Ben Wollenslegel • 10.57m (34-08.25) [520p]
DEC #4 • High Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 2.13m (6-11.75) [925p] • AAC DEC MEET RECORD & STADIUM DEC RECORD
3. Ben Wollenslegel • 1.95m (6-04.75) [758p] • PR & UC DEC #7
DEC #5 • 400m Dash
4. Ben Wollenslegel • 50.55 [789p] • PR & UC DEC #10
5. Alex Bloom • 51.19 [761p]
// CHAMPION
Bienenfeld was crowned the 10,000m champion as he battled the heat and a strong field before pulling away from his competitors with just over 1,000m remaining in the race, covering the distance in 30:50.31 to claim the gold medal and 10 points for the team. Bienenfeld, who entered the race ranked fourth in the conference, stayed at the front of the pack before making his move to win the first 10,000m crown in men's program history. In fact, his victory is just the third 10,000m title a Bearcats runner has claimed in program history after Ruth Limo was the women's champion in both 2003 and 2004. Bienenfeld will now turn his attention to the 5,000m run Sunday were he will look to add to the team's point total.
// SCORING POINTS
Two other men scored points for the team Friday with both being true freshmen. In the 10,000m run, Ryan Guenthner battled his way through the race and finished in 32:06.62 to place sixth overall. His fellow classmate, Sam Meece, took part in the first event of the day and placed seventh overall with a best of 55.48m (182-00) to score two teams points (more on his mark below). Through the first day of action, the Bearcats men have scored 15 points and sit third in the early standings with UConn leading with 20 and Tulsa second with 16.
// HERE COMES THE BLOOM
As the program has become accustomed, Alex Bloom went off in the decathlon. The senior All-American scored 4,119 points to lead the way after Day One with his point total breaking his own UC decathlon record. To get to that point total, Bloom ran 10.99 in the 100m dash, threw the shot put 12.80m (42-00.00) and raced to a time of 51.19 in the 400m dash, the first, third and fifth events of the day, respectively. While solid, those marks paled in comparison to what he did in the long jump and high jump. First, the long jump, his first attempt saw him fly to 7.42m (24-04.25) to break his own UC decathlon, AAC decathlon and AAC decathlon meet record of 7.33m set last year in Houston. To top that, his mark also ranks as the #10 mark in program history (all competitors) and broke the Gettler Stadium decathlon record. But, not to be outdone, he took aim at the high jump and came away with another huge performance, this time with a best of 2.13m (6-11.75). That mark, which just 1cm under his PR, broke the conference meet and stadium decathlon record. It also sent him higher up the NCAA East order lists and should be good enough to earn his place at the regional meet in two weeks.
Bloom was joined in the decathlon by fellow senior Ben Wollenslegel, who currently sits seventh overall with a PR score of 3,606 points, the #8 total in program history. Wollenslegel recorded PRs in the 100m dash (11.35), 400m dash (50.55) and high jump (1.95m/6-04.75) on his way to his PR score with two of those marks earning Top 10 rankings. His high jump clearance ranks him #7 in UC decathlon history while his quarter mile time places him at #10.
// FOUR TO SCORE
In the women's heptathlon, the first four events of the two-day competition were completed with all four women in the Top 8 through Day One with Angelica Lightfoot leading the way in third place with 3,075 points. Katie Straus (2,927 points), Naomi Urbano (2,904) and Maggie Loeffler (2,839) sit fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively, with Straus and Loeffler each posting PRs for their first-day scoring. After a solid start in the 100m hurdles, the ladies combined to record four PRs in the high jump, led by Urbano, who cleared 1.73m (5-08.00) to not only record the second-best heptathlon clearance in school history, but also the #7 mark at UC ever. Lifghtfoot and Loeffler both cleared 1.67m (5-05.75) to tie their PRs and the #8 mark in UC heptathlon history while Straus tied her PR of 1.64m (5-04.50) to post the #10 mark. The quartet all posted strong marks in the shot put and the 200m dash to finish out the day and set themselves up for a big finish Saturday.
// MOVING ON
Several preliminary rounds were contested on the track today with a trio of Bearcats women advancing to their respective finals on Sunday. In the 800m run, Alexis Anton ran 2:10.36 to finish sixth overall while posting the #3 time in UC history to earn a qualifying spot in the final while Sammy Hentz ran 2:11.35 and finished ninth, missing the final by one place. In the 200m dash, both Tiona Lattimore and Haisha Bisiolu did what they needed to do to advance to the final as the pair finished sixth (23.08) and seventh (23.91), respectively.
// HAMMER BESTS
Five individuals competed in the hammer Friday, including three men and two women, with all five Bearcats posting personal-best marks. The men were up first and saw Meece throw 55.48m (182-00) and improve his best by 2'1". That mark improved his #7 standing in the program's all-time Top 10 ledger while also increasing his UC freshman record. In the same event, Chris Province threw 52.06m (170-09) and Danny Jones, another freshman, threw 51.76m (169-09) as both recorded personal bests. Jones' mark would have gone down as a freshman record had Meece not thrown further this year. On the women's side, both Leah Heckaman and Alexis Gray recorded PRs with Heckaman moving up to #9 on the program's Top 10 list with her throw of 52.51m (172-03). Gray finished with a best of 51.46m (168-10).
// MORE PRS
Three Bearcats raced in the 400m hurdles with two recording PRs. For the women, Grace Winckowski ran 1:03.44 to improve her career best and post the #10 in UC history. For the men, freshman Connor Duricky ran 53.91 to place 10th overall with his PR. Senior Jaashir Morris was 13th overall in 55.94.
// SO CLOSE
In the women's 10,000m run, Tessa Ward was the lone entrant for the Bearcats and nearly scored for the team as she finished ninth, missing the points by one place. Ward, who recently graduate from UC for the second time in two years, ran a time of 37:37.30 on the day.
// ON DECK
Day Two of competition at the AAC Championships will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with decathlon 110m hurdles. After a change in times by the Competition Committee, the men's discus has been moved up two hours to 12:30 p.m. and will be the first open field event of the day while the track events get underway at 5 p.m. with the preliminary rounds of the women's 100m hurdles.
2018 AAC Outdoor Championships
May 10 • Day 1 • Gettler Stadium/Coy Field • Cincinnati
Women's Results
200m Dash - Prelims
6. Tiona Lattimore • 23.80 (+0.3) • advances to final
7. Haisha Bisiolu • 23.91 (-0.6) • advances to final
400m Hurdles - Prelims
14. Grace Winckowski • 1:03.44 • PR & UC #10
800m Run - Prelims
6. Alexis Anton • 2:10.36 • PR & UC #3 • advances to final
9. Sammy Hentz • 2:11.35
10,000m Run - FINAL
9. Tessa Ward • 37:37.30
Hammer - FINAL
13. Leah Heckaman • 52.51m (172-03) • PR & UC #9
14. Alexis Gray • 51.46m (168-10) • PR
Heptathlon - Day One
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 3,075 points
5. Katie Straus • 2,927 points • PR
6. Naomi Urbano • 2,904 points
8. Maggie Loeffler • 2,839 points • PR
HEP #1 • 100m Hurdles
2. Angelica Lightfoot • 14.32 (-0.3) [934p]
4. Katie Straus • 14.73 (+2.1) [878p] • PR & UC HEP #6
7. Naomi Urbano • 15.20 (+1.0) [815p]
11. Maggie Loeffler • 15.31 (-0.3) [801p]
HEP #2 • High Jump
2. Naomi Urbano • 1.73m (5-08.00) [891p] • PR & UC #7 & UC HEP #2
t3. Angelica Lightfoot • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818p] • PR & UC HEP #8(t)
t3. Maggie Loeffler • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818p] • PR & UC HEP #8(t)
t5. Katie Straus • 1.64m (5-04.50) [783p] • PR & UC HEP #10
HEP #3 • Shot Put
4. Naomi Urbano • 11.11m (36-05.50) [602p]
6. Angelica Lightfoot • 10.16m (33-04.00) [540p]
9. Katie Straus • 9.80m (32-02.00) [516p]
10. Maggie Loeffler • 9.61m (31-01.75) [504p]
HEP #4 • 200m Dash
4. Angelica Lightfoot • 26.16 (-1.3) [783p]
6. Katie Straus • 26.55 (-1.0) [750p] • HEP PR
9. Maggie Loeffler • 26.95 (-1.0) [716p]
12. Naomi Urbano • 28.45 (-1.0) [596p]
Men's Results
400m Hurdles - Prelims
10. Connor Duricky • 53.91 • PR
13. Jaashir Morris • 55.94
800m Run - Prelims
10. Michael Vitucci • 1:54.18
15. Logan Baker • 2:03.67
10,000m Run - FINAL
1. Aaron Bienenfeld • 30:50.31 • AAC CHAMPION • 10 points
6. Ryan Guenthner • 32:06.62 • 3 points
12. Spencer Clark • 33:38.68
-- Seamus Collins • did not finish
Hammer - FINAL
7. Sam Meece • 55.48m (182-00) • PR & UC #7 & UC FRESHMAN #1 • 2 points
11. Chris Province • 52.06m (170-09) • PR
13. Danny Jones • 51.76m (169-09) • PR
Decathlon - Day One
1. Alex Bloom • 4,119 points • PR & UC RECORD
7. Ben Wollenslegel • 3,606 points • PR & UC #8
DEC #1 • 100m Dash
2. Alex Bloom • 10.99 (+0.1) [863p]
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 11.35 (+0.4) [784p] • PR
DEC #2 • Long Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 7.42m (24-04.25)(+1.8) [915p] • PR & UC #10 & UC DEC RECORD & AAC DEC RECORD & AAC MEET RECORD & STADIUM DEC RECORD
5. Ben Wollenslegel • 6.75m (22-01.75)(+0.5) [755p]
DEC #3 • Shot Put
3. Alex Bloom • 12.80m (42-00.00) [655p]
11. Ben Wollenslegel • 10.57m (34-08.25) [520p]
DEC #4 • High Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 2.13m (6-11.75) [925p] • AAC DEC MEET RECORD & STADIUM DEC RECORD
3. Ben Wollenslegel • 1.95m (6-04.75) [758p] • PR & UC DEC #7
DEC #5 • 400m Dash
4. Ben Wollenslegel • 50.55 [789p] • PR & UC DEC #10
5. Alex Bloom • 51.19 [761p]