TicketsCINCINNATI - As the summer rolls on, so do the results compiled by several international members of the University of Cincinnati track & field program with the most notable result coming from Irati Mitxelena, who recently captured the Spanish U23 national title in the long jump while posting personal-best marks in a pair of events in the national meet. Four different individuals have competed recently with three taking part in their respective national championship events.
// MITXELENA CLAIMS NATIONAL TITLE
Mitxelena, who recently completed her second year with the Bearcats program, took part in both the long jump and triple jump competitions at the U23 meet in Spain over the weekend and walked away with a pair of podium finishes while posting personal-best marks. First, she captured the national title in the long jump as she recorded four marks in her six attempts, all of which were personal bests. After opening with a leap of 5.99m, she came back and jumped 6.03m before fouling her third attempt. In the finals, following her first career 6m mark, she posted back-to-back improvements, first jumping 6.23m before closing with a leap of 6.26m (20-06.50) in the fifth round to claim gold.
The next day, she was back at it once again, this time in the triple jump where she place second overall. Mitxelena got off to an amazing start as she her first attempt measured 13.00m, marking the first time in her career she has hit the 13m line. Following a pair of fouls, she headed into the final where she jumped 12.92m in the fourth round and a foul in the fifth. On her final attempt, however, she recorded another PR, this time bouncing her way to a mark of 13.14m (43-01.50) to grab the silver medal.
With both of her marks, Mitxelena not only posted life time bests, but also moved up the UC all-time Top 10 charts, claiming the #2 positions in both events. Her long jump mark saw her climb up from #8 after she jumped 5.94m (19-06.00) earlier this year. Her new mark of 6.26m not only ranks #2 in program history, but makes her just the fourth UC woman to post a leap of 20'. Similarly, already at #2 after jumping 12.79m (41-11.50) earlier this year, Mitxelena is now just the second UC woman to post a mark of 13m.
2018 Spain U23 Championships
1. Long Jump (July 7) • 6.26m (20-06.50)(+1.8) • National Champion • PR & UC #2
2. Triple Jump (July 8) • 13.14m (43-01.50)(+1.8) • PR & UC #2
// BERTHENET GOES BIG IN DECATHLON
Damien Berthenet, who will join the program this fall after recently signing a National Letter of Intent with the Bearcats, will head to Cincinnati with a pair of Top 3 showings in the decathlon after posting back-to-back career scores in France. First, Berthenet closed out the month of June by taking part in the French U23 Championships where he was the national runner-up after scoring a PR 7,386 points. To reach that score, he posted several season-best marks along with two personal-bests, including running 11.28 in the 100m dash and throwing the javelin 52.55m.
Two weeks later, he was back on the track for another decathlon, this time at the French Championships where he finished third overall. This time, he placed third overall after scoring 7,573 points, a massive PR of 187 points. Along the way, he not only recorded a handful of season-best marks, he added a trio of personal bests, including the 100m dash (11.13), 110m hurdles (14.68) and the javelin (55.88m). He also posted his first 7m long jump mark (7.17m), but it was wind-aided, keeping it from counting toward records.
With his big marks, Berthenet was recently selected to represent France in the U23 Combined Events Match that will be held July 28-29 in Aubagne, France. The match will feature competitors from France, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine.
2018 France U23 Championships
2. Decathlon (June 23-24) • 7,386 points • PR
11.28 • 6.83m • 12.63m • 2.02m • 50.95 • 14.71 • 38.29m • 4.60m • 52.55m • 4:45.85
2018 France Championships
3. Decathlon (July 6-7) • 7,573 points • PR
11.13 • 7.17m • 12.64m • 2.00m • 51.46 • 14.68 • 39.66m • 4.60m • 55.88m • 4:40.44
// BIENENFELD ON THE PODIUM
Aaron Bienenfeld, who recently completed his first indoor and outdoor seasons with the Bearcats after joining the program in January, took part in the U23 championships in his native Germany, taking part in a pair of races. Individually, he entered the 5,000m run and placed fourth overall as he finished in 14:51.07. Bienenfeld, who was running for SSC Hanau-Rodenbach, then joined a pair of teammates to race in the 3x1,000m relay. The trio raced to a time of 7:32.94 to finish third overall and collect the bronze medal in the 17-team event.
2018 Germany U23 Championships
4. 5,000m Run (June 30) • 14:51.07
3. 3x1,000m (June 30) • 7:32.94
// VALLES ROUNDING BACK INTO FORM
After seeing an injury bring about an early end to his time at Cincinnati this year, Adrian Valles, a six-time All-American and seven-time American Athletic Conference champion, looks to be rounding back in to form as he cleared back-to-back season bests recently. First, Valles took part in the Elche Meeting in Spain where he won the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 5.30m (17-04.50). Four days later, he won the Control RFEA de Pertiga meeting, this time climbing over 5.55m (18-02.50) to better his season best.
Valles, who took part in two other meets, but was unable to clear a height, will next compete in the Spanish National Championships at the end of July with the hopes of continuing to climb higher and qualify to the European Championships in August.
Elche Meeting
1. Pole Vault (June 16) • 5.30m (17-04.50) • SB
Control RFEA de Pertiga
1. Pole Vault (June 20) • 5.55m (18-02.50) • SB
5th Trofeo Diputaction de Castellon
- Pole Vault (June 26) • no height
Landau Meeting
- Pole Vault (July 4) • no height
// MITXELENA CLAIMS NATIONAL TITLE
Mitxelena, who recently completed her second year with the Bearcats program, took part in both the long jump and triple jump competitions at the U23 meet in Spain over the weekend and walked away with a pair of podium finishes while posting personal-best marks. First, she captured the national title in the long jump as she recorded four marks in her six attempts, all of which were personal bests. After opening with a leap of 5.99m, she came back and jumped 6.03m before fouling her third attempt. In the finals, following her first career 6m mark, she posted back-to-back improvements, first jumping 6.23m before closing with a leap of 6.26m (20-06.50) in the fifth round to claim gold.
The next day, she was back at it once again, this time in the triple jump where she place second overall. Mitxelena got off to an amazing start as she her first attempt measured 13.00m, marking the first time in her career she has hit the 13m line. Following a pair of fouls, she headed into the final where she jumped 12.92m in the fourth round and a foul in the fifth. On her final attempt, however, she recorded another PR, this time bouncing her way to a mark of 13.14m (43-01.50) to grab the silver medal.
With both of her marks, Mitxelena not only posted life time bests, but also moved up the UC all-time Top 10 charts, claiming the #2 positions in both events. Her long jump mark saw her climb up from #8 after she jumped 5.94m (19-06.00) earlier this year. Her new mark of 6.26m not only ranks #2 in program history, but makes her just the fourth UC woman to post a leap of 20'. Similarly, already at #2 after jumping 12.79m (41-11.50) earlier this year, Mitxelena is now just the second UC woman to post a mark of 13m.
2018 Spain U23 Championships
1. Long Jump (July 7) • 6.26m (20-06.50)(+1.8) • National Champion • PR & UC #2
2. Triple Jump (July 8) • 13.14m (43-01.50)(+1.8) • PR & UC #2
// BERTHENET GOES BIG IN DECATHLON
Damien Berthenet, who will join the program this fall after recently signing a National Letter of Intent with the Bearcats, will head to Cincinnati with a pair of Top 3 showings in the decathlon after posting back-to-back career scores in France. First, Berthenet closed out the month of June by taking part in the French U23 Championships where he was the national runner-up after scoring a PR 7,386 points. To reach that score, he posted several season-best marks along with two personal-bests, including running 11.28 in the 100m dash and throwing the javelin 52.55m.
Two weeks later, he was back on the track for another decathlon, this time at the French Championships where he finished third overall. This time, he placed third overall after scoring 7,573 points, a massive PR of 187 points. Along the way, he not only recorded a handful of season-best marks, he added a trio of personal bests, including the 100m dash (11.13), 110m hurdles (14.68) and the javelin (55.88m). He also posted his first 7m long jump mark (7.17m), but it was wind-aided, keeping it from counting toward records.
With his big marks, Berthenet was recently selected to represent France in the U23 Combined Events Match that will be held July 28-29 in Aubagne, France. The match will feature competitors from France, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine.
2018 France U23 Championships
2. Decathlon (June 23-24) • 7,386 points • PR
11.28 • 6.83m • 12.63m • 2.02m • 50.95 • 14.71 • 38.29m • 4.60m • 52.55m • 4:45.85
2018 France Championships
3. Decathlon (July 6-7) • 7,573 points • PR
11.13 • 7.17m • 12.64m • 2.00m • 51.46 • 14.68 • 39.66m • 4.60m • 55.88m • 4:40.44
// BIENENFELD ON THE PODIUM
Aaron Bienenfeld, who recently completed his first indoor and outdoor seasons with the Bearcats after joining the program in January, took part in the U23 championships in his native Germany, taking part in a pair of races. Individually, he entered the 5,000m run and placed fourth overall as he finished in 14:51.07. Bienenfeld, who was running for SSC Hanau-Rodenbach, then joined a pair of teammates to race in the 3x1,000m relay. The trio raced to a time of 7:32.94 to finish third overall and collect the bronze medal in the 17-team event.
2018 Germany U23 Championships
4. 5,000m Run (June 30) • 14:51.07
3. 3x1,000m (June 30) • 7:32.94
// VALLES ROUNDING BACK INTO FORM
After seeing an injury bring about an early end to his time at Cincinnati this year, Adrian Valles, a six-time All-American and seven-time American Athletic Conference champion, looks to be rounding back in to form as he cleared back-to-back season bests recently. First, Valles took part in the Elche Meeting in Spain where he won the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 5.30m (17-04.50). Four days later, he won the Control RFEA de Pertiga meeting, this time climbing over 5.55m (18-02.50) to better his season best.
Valles, who took part in two other meets, but was unable to clear a height, will next compete in the Spanish National Championships at the end of July with the hopes of continuing to climb higher and qualify to the European Championships in August.
Elche Meeting
1. Pole Vault (June 16) • 5.30m (17-04.50) • SB
Control RFEA de Pertiga
1. Pole Vault (June 20) • 5.55m (18-02.50) • SB
5th Trofeo Diputaction de Castellon
- Pole Vault (June 26) • no height
Landau Meeting
- Pole Vault (July 4) • no height