TicketsCINCINNATI - Loretta Blaut continued her dominance in the high jump with her third indoor crown and Irati Mitxelena defended her title in the triple jump to help the University of Cincinnati women's team to a runner-up finish at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday inside the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. The men improved their team score for the second year in a row, this time scoring 95 points, as the Bearcats placed fourth as a team.
// IN THE STANDINGS • WOMEN
The women's team title came down to the final race with Houston finishing ahead of the Bearcats to bring their overall total to 98 points and take the crown with UC finishing as the runners-up with 94.5 points. Wichita State (84.), SMU (78.0) and UConn (59.0) rounded out the Top 5 teams in the standings. Although the women came up short in defense of the crown they captured last year, the 2019 meet still produced a trophy finish, giving the UC women four trophies in as many years after the finished second in the 2016 and 2017 meets before winning last year.
// IN THE STANDINGS • MEN
The UC men had a solid 2019 meet as the Bearcats compiled 95 points to finish fourth overall in the eight-team standings. Houston defended their title with 159.5 points while Wichita State (107) and Memphis (106) finished just ahead of the Bearcats. The rest of the field including Tulsa (77), UConn (76), USF (25.5) and ECU (17). With their finish, the Bearcats tied for their best placement since joining the American (fourth in both 2015 and 2016) while the 95 points scored is the most in the AAC era, surpassing the 82 they scored last year.
// HAIL TO THE QUEEN
Blaut is certainly no stranger to winning titles and showed that once again today as she captured her third indoor conference high jump crown in a row with a best of 1.82m (5-11.50) to collect all-conference honors and 10 team points in her final AAC meet. The national runner-up indoors and out last year, Blaut capped her conference career by winning each of the last five high jump titles, which includes the past two outdoor crowns as well. All told, the school's indoor and outdoor record holder in the event is now the second woman to post a three-peat in the indoor high jump in the American after former teammate Erika Hurd won the first three titles, meaning only Cincinnati has ever won the women's high jump since the league began in time for the 2014 championship seasons.
// BOUNCING TO ANOTHER TITLE
After Blaut won her third indoor title in a row, Mitxelena successfully bounced her way to her second triple jump crown in as many years as she jumped a best of 13.16m (43-02.25) to take home gold. Her mark, which is 1cm off her all-time best and UC school record, still broke a record today as she bettered the meet record of 13.05m that UC's Rebecka Abrahamsson recorded when she won her crown in 2016. The duo have now won half of the titles in the history of the conference while Mitxelena became the second woman to repeat as the triple jump champion in the American, joining UConn's Odrine Belot, who won the 2014 and 2015 crowns.
// JUST GETTING WARMED UP
On the track, rookie Caisja Chandler picked up where she let oft off yesterday as she continued to pick up speed - and points - for her team. Chandler opened the day running in the final of the 60m where she clocked a time of 7.49, just 0.03 off her life time best, to finish sixth overall and collect three points for the team. Later in the day, she came back to went to work on the 200m final. Racing in the first of two timed finals, Chandler needed to put down a time that would stand up against the second section in order to claim the crown and she nearly did just that as she blasted a time of 23.52 to win her heat. Her time, which lowered her PR and school record by nearly one-quarter of one second (0.24), would finish as the second-best as the winner of the second section ran a meet-record time of 23.12 to take the overall title. With her placement, Chandler added eight more points to the team total.
Finally, she ran the third leg of the 4x400m relay as the team of Haisha Bisiolu, Faith Banks and Tiona Lattimore combined to run 3:43.55, the seventh-fastest in UC history, to finish sixth overall in the meet. Combined, Banks had a hand in scoring 11.75 of the team's points while running two UC freshman records (60m and 200m) and earning all-conference accolades in the 200m. Following the meet, the AAC announced Chandler had been selected as the 2019 AAC Female Freshman of the Year.
// MONSTER MEECE
Sam Meece closed out a highly successful meet Saturday as he placed third in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 17.81m (58-05.25) to lead the men to 11 points in the event as teammate Marcus Abraham also had a PR with a best of 17.71m (58-01.25) to finish fourth. With their marks, the duo now ranks #2 and #3 all-time in UC history, which gives Meece his second big PR of the meet. Last year, as a freshman, Meece placed fifth in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put to score six points for the team. This year, he won the weight throw Friday with a school-record toss before finishing third in the shot put today - both of which are four-place improvements over 2018 - to earn a pair of all-conference finishes and 16 total points for the team. Also, he is not only one of three Bearcats men to hold all-time Top 10 marks in both indoor throws, but he is now the only one with those marks both ranking in the Top 5.
// LIGHT ON HER FOOT
Winning the pentathlon was not enough for Angelica Lightfoot as she came back to race in the final of the 60m hurdles today and placed third in 8.46 after running a PR 8.43 yesterday. With her finish today, not only did Lightfoot earn her second all-conference honor of the weekend, but she also earned six more points for the team, bringing her total a team-best 16 for the meet.
// MORE ON THE HURDLES
Following Lightfoot's run in the hurdles, the men took to the track with Arthur Greenlee and Connor Duricky racing in the final. Greenlee flew over the hurdles to a time of 7.91, lowering his personal best and moving into the #4 position all-time at UC while placing second overall in the race to earn his first set of all-conference honors as a Bearcat. Duricky, making a return to the final after qualifying as a freshman last year, improved upon his eighth-place showing in 2018 as he placed fifth this year in 8.11.
// A-A-RON CAN A-A-RUN
Aaron Bienenfeld continues to post solid finishes in seemingly every race he enters and did so again today as he placed third in the 3,000m run in a time of 8:18.05 while Andrew Schille was seventh in a PR 8:25.90 as the duo scored eight points for the team. For Bienenfeld, his finish was the second time he placed third and earned all-conference accolades this weekend after doing so one day prior in the 5,000m run. So far, in the two indoor seasons he has raced for the Bearcats, he has scored 25 points, including 12 this year, after scoring 13 last year as the runner-up in the 5,000m and fourth place in the 3,000m.
// THE FIVE BURROUGHS
Combined with Bienenfeld and Schille's finishes, the mid-distance/distance crew scored 24 points on the weekend, the most of any area for the men (jumps had 23). To reach that point, Coach Sam Burroughs' runners had to fare well and did so in the 800m final as Michael Vitucci was fourth overall and freshman Jase Headings seventh for the final seven points earned. While Headings did not improve his time from the day prior, Vitucci did as he races to a time of 1:50.59 to turn in the third-fastest time in UC history. Only the third UC man to run sub-1:51 indoors, Vitucci is now the most decorated indoor 800m run for the men as he has finished in the Top 8 of each of the last three AAC meets, including runner-up in 2016 and sixth place last year. By doing so, he broke a tie with Eric Walker (2nd in 1992 and 1st in 1993) for the most meets scoring in the 800m indoor race for UC.
// STACKING BRICKS
One of the many bright spots on the track this weekend came in the women's 800m run where freshman Rylee Penn and senior Sammy Hentz has monster races. After the duo ran the #3 (2:10.11) and #4 (2:10.02) times in program history, respectively, in the prelims one day before, they came back and placed fourth and fifth, respectively, to earn nine team points. Penn ran 2:10.18 while Hentz, who had never run under 2:13 prior to this meet, ran 2:10.88, her second sub-2:11 in as many races. Combined, it marks the second year in a row two UC women have scored in the 800m in the same meet while the nine points earned are the most in the AAC era for UC and the second-most in program history behind the 16 earned in 1997. Additionally, Penn's finish tied for the fifth-highest in program history while Hentz' showing tied for the sixth-best in the 800m at UC.
All told, the Lara Crofford's women's distance squad had its best showing since joining the American as the points in the 800m, along with three points earned by the distance medley relay one night earlier, gave the squad 12 points. This total surpasses the previous high of nine scored last year while also marking the first time it has scored double-digit points in an AAC indoor meet.
// COMBINED EVENTS COMBINES FOR POINTS
Damien Berthenet scored 5,263 points to finish fourth and Cannon Riddle scored 4,731 points as the duo placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the heptathlon to collect eight points for the team after they posted the #5 and #8 heptathlon marks in school history. Berthenet hit his total as he ran 8.44 in the 60m hurdles (UC heptathlon #3 time) and cleared 4.40m in the heptathlon pole vault (#7) before closing the day in the 1,000m run (2:57.11). Riddle posted PRs in all three events as he ran 9.09, cleared 3.70m and ran 2:43.98 (UC heptathlon #3) on the day. Combined with the women's pentathlon from one day prior (16.5), the multi-event stars scored 24.5 points total on the weekend to help both squads to strong team scores.
// THROWING IT AROUND
While Meece led the charge for the men in the throws, rookie Malin Smith did the same for the women as she finished as the conference runner-up in the shot put with a big PR of 15.95m (52-04.00), which also ranks as the third-best in UC history. The earlier leader in the event before dropping to second via a meet-record toss, Smith scored eight points in her conference debut while senior Leah Heckaman scored five points by finishing fourth with a season-best mark of 15.26m (50-00.75). Additionally, Jane Sensibaugh, a goalie with the UC soccer program, posted a PR in the shot put as she hit a mark of 13.97m (45-10.00) to finish 11th.
// UP AND OVER
The final all-conference honor earned on the day for the men came in the high jump as Albert Kalala tied for third with a clearance of 2.11m (6-11.00), a personal-best clearance and the #8 mark in UC history. Kalala, who entered the day with a best of 2.10m, was joined in the scoring by freshman Jeremy Hayton, who cleared a collegiate PR of 2.20m (6-07.50) to finish eighth and score one point for the team.
// ON DECK
Next up is the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be held at the CrossPlex March 8 and 9. Once the conference meets are concluded this weekend, all marks with be tallied and coaches will declare or scratch athletes in the events they qualify before the NCAA determines who will compete for national titles and All-America honors. Check back to GoBearcats.com for the announcement of those Bearcats that will compete.
2019 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships
CrossPlex • Birmingham, Ala.
February 23, 2019 • Day 2 Results
Women's Results
Team Standings (FINAL)
1. Houston • 98.0
2. CINCINNATI • 94.5
3. Wichita State • 84.0
4. SMU • 78.0
5. UConn • 59.0
6. UCF • 54.0
7. ECU • 43.0
8. Memphis • 36.5
9. Tulane • 35.0
10. Temple • 31.5
11. Tulsa • 24.0
12. USF • 23.5
Event Marks
60m Dash • FINAL
6. Caisja Chandler • 7.49 • 3.0 points
60m Hurdles • FINAL
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 8.46 • All-Conference • 6.0 points
200m Dash • FINAL
2. Caisja Chandler • 23.52 • PR & UC RECORD & UC Frosh Record • All-Conference • 8.0 points
400m Dash • FINAL
5. Tiona Lattimore • 55.32 • 4.0 points
800m Run • FINAL
4. Rylee Penn • 2:10.18 • 5.0 points
5. Sammy Hentz • 2:10.88 • 4.0 points
3,000m Run • FINAL
14. Hannah Markel • 9:56.48
28. Katrina Patterson • 10:02.92 • PR & UC #10
38. Lianne Masquelier • 10:20.95 • PR
-- Sam Mikula • did not finish
4x400m Relay • FINAL
6. Cincinnati • 3:43.55 • UC #7 • 3.0 points
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
Triple Jump • FINAL
1. Irati Mitxelena • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference • 10.0 points
9. Kennedy Marable • 12.21m (40-00.75) • PR & UC #5
High Jump • FINAL
1. Loretta Blaut • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference • 10.0 points
t7. Naomi Urbano • 1.65m (5-05.00) • 1.0 point
-- Katie Kravitsky • no height
-- Katie Straus • no height
Shot Put • FINAL
2. Malin Smith • 15.95m (52-04.00) • PR & UC #3 • All-Conference • 8.0 points
4. Leah Heckaman • 15.26m (50-00.75) • 5.0 points
11. Jane Sensibaugh • 13.97m (45-10.00) • PR
Men's Results
Team Standings (FINAL)
1. Houston • 159.5
2. Wichita State • 107.0
3. Memphis • 106.0
4. CINCINNATI • 95.0
5. Tulsa • 77.0
6. UConn • 76.0
7. USF • 25.5
8. ECU • 17.0
Event Marks
60m Dash • FINAL
5. Quincy Mitchell • 6.82 • 4.0 points
60m Hurdles • FINAL
2. Arthur Greenlee • 7.91 • PR & UC #4 • All-Conference • 8.0 points
5. Connor Duricky • 8.11 • 4.0 points
800m Run • FINAL
4. Michael Vitucci • 1:50.59 • PR & UC #3 • 5.0 points
7. Jase Headings • 1:52.80 • 2.0 points
Mile Run • FINAL
12. Matt Stump • 4:23.58
3,000m Run • FINAL
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 8:18.05 • All-Conference • 6.0 points
7. Andrew Schille • 8:25.90 • PR • 2.0 points
4x400m Relay • FINAL
8. Cincinnati • 3:19.94 • 1.0 point
Borzor, Duricky, Headings, Vitucci
Triple Jump • FINAL
4. Andre Wright • 15.37m (50-05.25) • 5.0 points
11. Brandon White • 14.01m (45-11.75)
12. Tim Maduka • 13.92m (45-08.00)
High Jump • FINAL
t3. Albert Kalala • 2.11m (6-11.00) • PR & UC #8 • All-Conference • 5.5 points
8. Jeremy Hayton • 2.02m (6-07.50) • College PR • 1.0 point
Shot Put • FINAL
3. Sam Meece • 17.81m (58-05.25) • PR & UC #2 • 6.0 points
4. Marcus Abraham • 17.71m (58-01.25) • PR & UC #3 • 5.0 points
9. Aaron Deaton • 16.32m (53-06.60)
Heptathlon • FINAL
4. Damien Berthenet • 5,263 points • UC PR & UC #5 • 5.0 points
6. Cannon Riddle • 4,731 points • PR & UC #8 • 3.0 points
Heptathlon • Day 2 Events Scoring
Damien Berthenet • 2,298 points • PR & UC #5
Cannon Riddle • 2,091 points • PR & UC #7
HEP #5 • 60m Hurdles
3. Damien Berthenet • 8.44 [874 pts] • SB, HEP SB & UC HEP #3
6. Cannon Riddle • 9.09 [726 pts] • PR & HEP PR
HEP #6 • Pole Vault
t3. Damien Berthenet • 4.40m (14-05.25)[731 pts] • HEP SB & UC HEP #7
7. Cannon Riddle • 3.70m (12-01.50)[535 pts] • PR & HEP PR
HEP #7 • 1,000m Run
3. Cannon Riddle • 2:43.98 [830 pts] • PR, HEP PR & UC HEP #3
7. Damien Berthenet • 2:57.11 [693 pts]
Superlatives • Both Days
Conference Champions (4)
Women (3)
Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • Meet Record, PR & UC #2 • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Men (1)
Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • PR & UC RECORD • All-Conference
All-Conference Finishers • Top 3 (8)
Women (6)
1. Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference
1. Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference
1. Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • Meet Record, PR & UC #2 • CHAMPION • All-Conference
2. Caisja Chandler • 200m • 23.52 • PR & UC RECORD & UC Frosh Record • All-Conference
2. Malin Smith • Shot Put • 15.95m (52-04.00) • PR & UC #3 • All-Conference
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 60mH • 8.46 • All-Conference
Men (2)
1. Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • PR & UC RECORD • All-Conference
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 14:26.54 • All-Conference
Point Scorers • Top 8 (32 individuals, 4 relays)
Women (14 individuals, 2 relays)
1. Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • 10.0 points
1. Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • 10.0 points
1. Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • 10.0 points
2. Caisja Chandler • 200m • 23.52 • 8.0 points
2. Malin Smith • Shot Put • 15.95m (52-04.00) • 8.0 points
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 60mH • 8.46 • 6.0 points
4. Rylee Penn • 800m • 2:10.18 • 5.0 points
4. Leah Heckaman • Shot Put • 15.26m (50-00.75) • 5.0 points
4. Katie Straus • Pentathlon • 3,739 pts • 5.0 points
5. Tiona Lattimore • 400m • 55.32 • 4.0 points
5. Sammy Hentz • 800m • 2:10.88 • 4.0 points
6. Caisja Chandler • 60m • 7.49 • 3.0 points
6. Cincinnati • 4x400m Relay • 3:43.55 • 3.0 points
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
6. Cincinnati • DMR • 11:50.01 • 3.0 points
Mikula, Bisiolu, Hentz, Markel
6. Irati Mitxelena • Long Jump • 5.80m (19-00.50) • 3.0 points
t6. Brooke Catherine • Pole Vault • 3.84m (12-07.25) • 2.5 points
t6. Allie Plybon • Pole Vault • 3.84m (12-07.25) • 2.5 points
t7. Sydney Spears • Pentathlon • 3,517 pts • 1.5 points
t7. Naomi Urbano • High Jump • 1.65m (5-05.00) • 1.0 point
Men (18 individuals, 2 relays)
1. Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • 10.0 points
2. Arthur Greenlee • 60mH • 7.91 • 8.0 points
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 3,000m • 8:18.05 • 6.0 points
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 5,000m Run • 14:26.54 • 6.0 points
3. Sam Meece • Shot Put • 17.81m (58-05.25) • 6.0 points
t3. Albert Kalala • High Jump • 2.11m (6-11.00) • 5.5 points
4. Michael Vitucci • 800m • 1:50.59 • 5.0 points
4. Andre Wright • Triple Jump • 15.37m (50-05.25) • 5.0 points
4. Marcus Abraham • Shot Put • 17.71m (58-01.25) • 5.0 points
4. Damien Berthenet • Heptathlon • 5,263 points • 5.0 points
5. Quincy Mitchell • 60m • 6.82 • 4.0 points
5. Connor Duricky • 60mH • 8.11 • 4.0 points
5. Nicholas Lauria • Pole Vault • 4.93m (16-02.00) • 4.0 points
5. Andre Wright • Long Jump • 7.31m (23-11.75) • 4.0 points
6. Cincinnati • Distance Medley Relay • 10:19.68 • 3.0 points
Vitucci, Borzor, Headings, Stump
6. Austin Goolsby • Pole Vault • 4.93m (16-02.00) • 3.0 points
6. Cannon Riddle • Heptathlon • 4,731 points • 3.0 points
7. Jase Headings • 800m • 1:52.80 • 2.0 points
7. Andrew Schille • 3,000m • 8:25.90 • 2.0 points
7. Chris Province • 18.32m (60-01.25) • 2.0 points
8. Cincinnati • 4x400m Relay • 3:19.94 • 1.0 point
Borzor, Duricky, Headings, Vitucci
t8. Ben Scharf • Pole Vault • 4.78m (15-08.25) • 0.5 points
8. Jeremy Hayton • High Jump • 2.02m (6-07.50) • 1.0 point
All-Time Top 10 Program Marks (45)
Women (26)
Overall Top 10
#1 • 200m final • Caisja Chandler • 23.52 • UC Frosh Indoor Record
#1 • 200m prelims • Caisja Chandler • 23.76 • UC Frosh Indoor Record
#2 • 800m prelims • Sammy Hentz • 2:10.02
#2 • Pentathlon • Angelica Lightfoot • 3,926 pts • Meet Record
#3 • 60m prelims • Caisja Chandler • 7.44 • UC Frosh Record
#3 • 60mH prelims • Angelica Lightfoot • 8.43
#3 • 800m prelims • Rylee Penn • 2:10.11
#3 • Shot Put • Malin Smith • 15.95m (52-04.00)
#4 • DMR • Cincinnati • 11:50.01
Mikula, Bisiolu, Hentz, Markel
#5 • Triple Jump • Kennedy Marable • 12.21m (40-00.75)
#6 • Weight Throw • Leah Heckaman • 17.27m (56-08.00)
#6 • Pentathlon • Katie Straus • 3,739 pts
#7 • 4x400m Relay • Cincinnati • 3:43.55
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
#8 • Pentathlon • Sydney Spears • 3,517 pts
#10 • 3,000m • Katrina Patterson • 10:02.92
Pentathlon Top 10
#1 • Pent SP • Angelica Lightfoot • 13.30m (43-07.75)
#2 • Pent 60mH • Angelica Lightfoot • 8.56
#2 • Pent LJ • Angelica Lightfoot • 5.83m (19-01.50)
#4t • Pent HJ • Angelica Lightfoot • 1.68m (5-06.00)
#4 • Pent 800m • Katie Straus • 2:23.75
#5 • Pent 60mH • Katie Straus • 8.90
#6t • Pent HJ • Katie Straus • 1.65m (5-05.00)
#8 • Pent 60mH • Naomi Urbano • 9.18
#9t • Pent 60mH • Sydney Spears • 9.20
#9 • Pent 800m • Sydney Spears • 2:27.40
#10 • Pent SP • Katie Straus • 11.12m (36-05.75)
Men (19)
Overall Top 10
#1 • Weight Throw • Sam Meece • 20.98m (68-10.00)
#2 • Shot Put • Sam Meece • 17.81m (58-05.25)
#3 • 800m final • Michael Vitucci • 1:50.59
#3 • HEP Day 1 • Damien Berthenet • 2,965 points
#3 • Shot Put • Marcus Abraham • 17.71m (58-01.25)
#4 • 60mH final • 7.91
#5 • Weight Throw • Chris Province • 18.32m (60-01.25)
#5 • Heptathlon • Damien Berthenet • 5,263 points
#5 • HEP Day 2 • Damien Berthenet • 2,298 points
#7 • HEP Day 2 • Cannon Riddle • 2,091 points
#8 • High Jump • Albert Kalala • 2.11m (6-11.00)
#8 • Heptathlon • Cannon Riddle • 4,731 points
Heptathlon Top 10
#2 • HEP LJ • Damien Berthenet • 7.02m (23-00.50)
#3 • HEP 60mH • Damien Berthent • 8.44
#3 • HPE 1,000m • Cannon Riddle • 2:43.98
#6 • HEP 60m • Cannon Riddle • 7.31
#7 • HEP 60m • Damien Berthenet • 7.32
#7 • HEP PV • Damien Berthenet • 4.40m (14-05.25)
#9 • HEP SP • Cannon Riddle • 11.06m (36-03.50)
// IN THE STANDINGS • WOMEN
The women's team title came down to the final race with Houston finishing ahead of the Bearcats to bring their overall total to 98 points and take the crown with UC finishing as the runners-up with 94.5 points. Wichita State (84.), SMU (78.0) and UConn (59.0) rounded out the Top 5 teams in the standings. Although the women came up short in defense of the crown they captured last year, the 2019 meet still produced a trophy finish, giving the UC women four trophies in as many years after the finished second in the 2016 and 2017 meets before winning last year.
// IN THE STANDINGS • MEN
The UC men had a solid 2019 meet as the Bearcats compiled 95 points to finish fourth overall in the eight-team standings. Houston defended their title with 159.5 points while Wichita State (107) and Memphis (106) finished just ahead of the Bearcats. The rest of the field including Tulsa (77), UConn (76), USF (25.5) and ECU (17). With their finish, the Bearcats tied for their best placement since joining the American (fourth in both 2015 and 2016) while the 95 points scored is the most in the AAC era, surpassing the 82 they scored last year.
// HAIL TO THE QUEEN
Blaut is certainly no stranger to winning titles and showed that once again today as she captured her third indoor conference high jump crown in a row with a best of 1.82m (5-11.50) to collect all-conference honors and 10 team points in her final AAC meet. The national runner-up indoors and out last year, Blaut capped her conference career by winning each of the last five high jump titles, which includes the past two outdoor crowns as well. All told, the school's indoor and outdoor record holder in the event is now the second woman to post a three-peat in the indoor high jump in the American after former teammate Erika Hurd won the first three titles, meaning only Cincinnati has ever won the women's high jump since the league began in time for the 2014 championship seasons.
// BOUNCING TO ANOTHER TITLE
After Blaut won her third indoor title in a row, Mitxelena successfully bounced her way to her second triple jump crown in as many years as she jumped a best of 13.16m (43-02.25) to take home gold. Her mark, which is 1cm off her all-time best and UC school record, still broke a record today as she bettered the meet record of 13.05m that UC's Rebecka Abrahamsson recorded when she won her crown in 2016. The duo have now won half of the titles in the history of the conference while Mitxelena became the second woman to repeat as the triple jump champion in the American, joining UConn's Odrine Belot, who won the 2014 and 2015 crowns.
// JUST GETTING WARMED UP
On the track, rookie Caisja Chandler picked up where she let oft off yesterday as she continued to pick up speed - and points - for her team. Chandler opened the day running in the final of the 60m where she clocked a time of 7.49, just 0.03 off her life time best, to finish sixth overall and collect three points for the team. Later in the day, she came back to went to work on the 200m final. Racing in the first of two timed finals, Chandler needed to put down a time that would stand up against the second section in order to claim the crown and she nearly did just that as she blasted a time of 23.52 to win her heat. Her time, which lowered her PR and school record by nearly one-quarter of one second (0.24), would finish as the second-best as the winner of the second section ran a meet-record time of 23.12 to take the overall title. With her placement, Chandler added eight more points to the team total.
Finally, she ran the third leg of the 4x400m relay as the team of Haisha Bisiolu, Faith Banks and Tiona Lattimore combined to run 3:43.55, the seventh-fastest in UC history, to finish sixth overall in the meet. Combined, Banks had a hand in scoring 11.75 of the team's points while running two UC freshman records (60m and 200m) and earning all-conference accolades in the 200m. Following the meet, the AAC announced Chandler had been selected as the 2019 AAC Female Freshman of the Year.
// MONSTER MEECE
Sam Meece closed out a highly successful meet Saturday as he placed third in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 17.81m (58-05.25) to lead the men to 11 points in the event as teammate Marcus Abraham also had a PR with a best of 17.71m (58-01.25) to finish fourth. With their marks, the duo now ranks #2 and #3 all-time in UC history, which gives Meece his second big PR of the meet. Last year, as a freshman, Meece placed fifth in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put to score six points for the team. This year, he won the weight throw Friday with a school-record toss before finishing third in the shot put today - both of which are four-place improvements over 2018 - to earn a pair of all-conference finishes and 16 total points for the team. Also, he is not only one of three Bearcats men to hold all-time Top 10 marks in both indoor throws, but he is now the only one with those marks both ranking in the Top 5.
// LIGHT ON HER FOOT
Winning the pentathlon was not enough for Angelica Lightfoot as she came back to race in the final of the 60m hurdles today and placed third in 8.46 after running a PR 8.43 yesterday. With her finish today, not only did Lightfoot earn her second all-conference honor of the weekend, but she also earned six more points for the team, bringing her total a team-best 16 for the meet.
// MORE ON THE HURDLES
Following Lightfoot's run in the hurdles, the men took to the track with Arthur Greenlee and Connor Duricky racing in the final. Greenlee flew over the hurdles to a time of 7.91, lowering his personal best and moving into the #4 position all-time at UC while placing second overall in the race to earn his first set of all-conference honors as a Bearcat. Duricky, making a return to the final after qualifying as a freshman last year, improved upon his eighth-place showing in 2018 as he placed fifth this year in 8.11.
// A-A-RON CAN A-A-RUN
Aaron Bienenfeld continues to post solid finishes in seemingly every race he enters and did so again today as he placed third in the 3,000m run in a time of 8:18.05 while Andrew Schille was seventh in a PR 8:25.90 as the duo scored eight points for the team. For Bienenfeld, his finish was the second time he placed third and earned all-conference accolades this weekend after doing so one day prior in the 5,000m run. So far, in the two indoor seasons he has raced for the Bearcats, he has scored 25 points, including 12 this year, after scoring 13 last year as the runner-up in the 5,000m and fourth place in the 3,000m.
// THE FIVE BURROUGHS
Combined with Bienenfeld and Schille's finishes, the mid-distance/distance crew scored 24 points on the weekend, the most of any area for the men (jumps had 23). To reach that point, Coach Sam Burroughs' runners had to fare well and did so in the 800m final as Michael Vitucci was fourth overall and freshman Jase Headings seventh for the final seven points earned. While Headings did not improve his time from the day prior, Vitucci did as he races to a time of 1:50.59 to turn in the third-fastest time in UC history. Only the third UC man to run sub-1:51 indoors, Vitucci is now the most decorated indoor 800m run for the men as he has finished in the Top 8 of each of the last three AAC meets, including runner-up in 2016 and sixth place last year. By doing so, he broke a tie with Eric Walker (2nd in 1992 and 1st in 1993) for the most meets scoring in the 800m indoor race for UC.
// STACKING BRICKS
One of the many bright spots on the track this weekend came in the women's 800m run where freshman Rylee Penn and senior Sammy Hentz has monster races. After the duo ran the #3 (2:10.11) and #4 (2:10.02) times in program history, respectively, in the prelims one day before, they came back and placed fourth and fifth, respectively, to earn nine team points. Penn ran 2:10.18 while Hentz, who had never run under 2:13 prior to this meet, ran 2:10.88, her second sub-2:11 in as many races. Combined, it marks the second year in a row two UC women have scored in the 800m in the same meet while the nine points earned are the most in the AAC era for UC and the second-most in program history behind the 16 earned in 1997. Additionally, Penn's finish tied for the fifth-highest in program history while Hentz' showing tied for the sixth-best in the 800m at UC.
All told, the Lara Crofford's women's distance squad had its best showing since joining the American as the points in the 800m, along with three points earned by the distance medley relay one night earlier, gave the squad 12 points. This total surpasses the previous high of nine scored last year while also marking the first time it has scored double-digit points in an AAC indoor meet.
// COMBINED EVENTS COMBINES FOR POINTS
Damien Berthenet scored 5,263 points to finish fourth and Cannon Riddle scored 4,731 points as the duo placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the heptathlon to collect eight points for the team after they posted the #5 and #8 heptathlon marks in school history. Berthenet hit his total as he ran 8.44 in the 60m hurdles (UC heptathlon #3 time) and cleared 4.40m in the heptathlon pole vault (#7) before closing the day in the 1,000m run (2:57.11). Riddle posted PRs in all three events as he ran 9.09, cleared 3.70m and ran 2:43.98 (UC heptathlon #3) on the day. Combined with the women's pentathlon from one day prior (16.5), the multi-event stars scored 24.5 points total on the weekend to help both squads to strong team scores.
// THROWING IT AROUND
While Meece led the charge for the men in the throws, rookie Malin Smith did the same for the women as she finished as the conference runner-up in the shot put with a big PR of 15.95m (52-04.00), which also ranks as the third-best in UC history. The earlier leader in the event before dropping to second via a meet-record toss, Smith scored eight points in her conference debut while senior Leah Heckaman scored five points by finishing fourth with a season-best mark of 15.26m (50-00.75). Additionally, Jane Sensibaugh, a goalie with the UC soccer program, posted a PR in the shot put as she hit a mark of 13.97m (45-10.00) to finish 11th.
// UP AND OVER
The final all-conference honor earned on the day for the men came in the high jump as Albert Kalala tied for third with a clearance of 2.11m (6-11.00), a personal-best clearance and the #8 mark in UC history. Kalala, who entered the day with a best of 2.10m, was joined in the scoring by freshman Jeremy Hayton, who cleared a collegiate PR of 2.20m (6-07.50) to finish eighth and score one point for the team.
// ON DECK
Next up is the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be held at the CrossPlex March 8 and 9. Once the conference meets are concluded this weekend, all marks with be tallied and coaches will declare or scratch athletes in the events they qualify before the NCAA determines who will compete for national titles and All-America honors. Check back to GoBearcats.com for the announcement of those Bearcats that will compete.
2019 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships
CrossPlex • Birmingham, Ala.
February 23, 2019 • Day 2 Results
Women's Results
Team Standings (FINAL)
1. Houston • 98.0
2. CINCINNATI • 94.5
3. Wichita State • 84.0
4. SMU • 78.0
5. UConn • 59.0
6. UCF • 54.0
7. ECU • 43.0
8. Memphis • 36.5
9. Tulane • 35.0
10. Temple • 31.5
11. Tulsa • 24.0
12. USF • 23.5
Event Marks
60m Dash • FINAL
6. Caisja Chandler • 7.49 • 3.0 points
60m Hurdles • FINAL
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 8.46 • All-Conference • 6.0 points
200m Dash • FINAL
2. Caisja Chandler • 23.52 • PR & UC RECORD & UC Frosh Record • All-Conference • 8.0 points
400m Dash • FINAL
5. Tiona Lattimore • 55.32 • 4.0 points
800m Run • FINAL
4. Rylee Penn • 2:10.18 • 5.0 points
5. Sammy Hentz • 2:10.88 • 4.0 points
3,000m Run • FINAL
14. Hannah Markel • 9:56.48
28. Katrina Patterson • 10:02.92 • PR & UC #10
38. Lianne Masquelier • 10:20.95 • PR
-- Sam Mikula • did not finish
4x400m Relay • FINAL
6. Cincinnati • 3:43.55 • UC #7 • 3.0 points
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
Triple Jump • FINAL
1. Irati Mitxelena • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference • 10.0 points
9. Kennedy Marable • 12.21m (40-00.75) • PR & UC #5
High Jump • FINAL
1. Loretta Blaut • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference • 10.0 points
t7. Naomi Urbano • 1.65m (5-05.00) • 1.0 point
-- Katie Kravitsky • no height
-- Katie Straus • no height
Shot Put • FINAL
2. Malin Smith • 15.95m (52-04.00) • PR & UC #3 • All-Conference • 8.0 points
4. Leah Heckaman • 15.26m (50-00.75) • 5.0 points
11. Jane Sensibaugh • 13.97m (45-10.00) • PR
Men's Results
Team Standings (FINAL)
1. Houston • 159.5
2. Wichita State • 107.0
3. Memphis • 106.0
4. CINCINNATI • 95.0
5. Tulsa • 77.0
6. UConn • 76.0
7. USF • 25.5
8. ECU • 17.0
Event Marks
60m Dash • FINAL
5. Quincy Mitchell • 6.82 • 4.0 points
60m Hurdles • FINAL
2. Arthur Greenlee • 7.91 • PR & UC #4 • All-Conference • 8.0 points
5. Connor Duricky • 8.11 • 4.0 points
800m Run • FINAL
4. Michael Vitucci • 1:50.59 • PR & UC #3 • 5.0 points
7. Jase Headings • 1:52.80 • 2.0 points
Mile Run • FINAL
12. Matt Stump • 4:23.58
3,000m Run • FINAL
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 8:18.05 • All-Conference • 6.0 points
7. Andrew Schille • 8:25.90 • PR • 2.0 points
4x400m Relay • FINAL
8. Cincinnati • 3:19.94 • 1.0 point
Borzor, Duricky, Headings, Vitucci
Triple Jump • FINAL
4. Andre Wright • 15.37m (50-05.25) • 5.0 points
11. Brandon White • 14.01m (45-11.75)
12. Tim Maduka • 13.92m (45-08.00)
High Jump • FINAL
t3. Albert Kalala • 2.11m (6-11.00) • PR & UC #8 • All-Conference • 5.5 points
8. Jeremy Hayton • 2.02m (6-07.50) • College PR • 1.0 point
Shot Put • FINAL
3. Sam Meece • 17.81m (58-05.25) • PR & UC #2 • 6.0 points
4. Marcus Abraham • 17.71m (58-01.25) • PR & UC #3 • 5.0 points
9. Aaron Deaton • 16.32m (53-06.60)
Heptathlon • FINAL
4. Damien Berthenet • 5,263 points • UC PR & UC #5 • 5.0 points
6. Cannon Riddle • 4,731 points • PR & UC #8 • 3.0 points
Heptathlon • Day 2 Events Scoring
Damien Berthenet • 2,298 points • PR & UC #5
Cannon Riddle • 2,091 points • PR & UC #7
HEP #5 • 60m Hurdles
3. Damien Berthenet • 8.44 [874 pts] • SB, HEP SB & UC HEP #3
6. Cannon Riddle • 9.09 [726 pts] • PR & HEP PR
HEP #6 • Pole Vault
t3. Damien Berthenet • 4.40m (14-05.25)[731 pts] • HEP SB & UC HEP #7
7. Cannon Riddle • 3.70m (12-01.50)[535 pts] • PR & HEP PR
HEP #7 • 1,000m Run
3. Cannon Riddle • 2:43.98 [830 pts] • PR, HEP PR & UC HEP #3
7. Damien Berthenet • 2:57.11 [693 pts]
Superlatives • Both Days
Conference Champions (4)
Women (3)
Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • Meet Record, PR & UC #2 • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference
Men (1)
Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • PR & UC RECORD • All-Conference
All-Conference Finishers • Top 3 (8)
Women (6)
1. Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • CHAMPION • All-Conference
1. Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • Meet Record • CHAMPION • All-Conference
1. Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • Meet Record, PR & UC #2 • CHAMPION • All-Conference
2. Caisja Chandler • 200m • 23.52 • PR & UC RECORD & UC Frosh Record • All-Conference
2. Malin Smith • Shot Put • 15.95m (52-04.00) • PR & UC #3 • All-Conference
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 60mH • 8.46 • All-Conference
Men (2)
1. Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • PR & UC RECORD • All-Conference
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 14:26.54 • All-Conference
Point Scorers • Top 8 (32 individuals, 4 relays)
Women (14 individuals, 2 relays)
1. Angelica Lightfoot • Pentathlon • 3,926 pts • 10.0 points
1. Irati Mitxelena • Triple Jump • 13.16m (43-02.25) • 10.0 points
1. Loretta Blaut • High Jump • 1.82m (5-11.50) • 10.0 points
2. Caisja Chandler • 200m • 23.52 • 8.0 points
2. Malin Smith • Shot Put • 15.95m (52-04.00) • 8.0 points
3. Angelica Lightfoot • 60mH • 8.46 • 6.0 points
4. Rylee Penn • 800m • 2:10.18 • 5.0 points
4. Leah Heckaman • Shot Put • 15.26m (50-00.75) • 5.0 points
4. Katie Straus • Pentathlon • 3,739 pts • 5.0 points
5. Tiona Lattimore • 400m • 55.32 • 4.0 points
5. Sammy Hentz • 800m • 2:10.88 • 4.0 points
6. Caisja Chandler • 60m • 7.49 • 3.0 points
6. Cincinnati • 4x400m Relay • 3:43.55 • 3.0 points
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
6. Cincinnati • DMR • 11:50.01 • 3.0 points
Mikula, Bisiolu, Hentz, Markel
6. Irati Mitxelena • Long Jump • 5.80m (19-00.50) • 3.0 points
t6. Brooke Catherine • Pole Vault • 3.84m (12-07.25) • 2.5 points
t6. Allie Plybon • Pole Vault • 3.84m (12-07.25) • 2.5 points
t7. Sydney Spears • Pentathlon • 3,517 pts • 1.5 points
t7. Naomi Urbano • High Jump • 1.65m (5-05.00) • 1.0 point
Men (18 individuals, 2 relays)
1. Sam Meece • Weight Throw • 20.98m (68-10.00) • 10.0 points
2. Arthur Greenlee • 60mH • 7.91 • 8.0 points
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 3,000m • 8:18.05 • 6.0 points
3. Aaron Bienenfeld • 5,000m Run • 14:26.54 • 6.0 points
3. Sam Meece • Shot Put • 17.81m (58-05.25) • 6.0 points
t3. Albert Kalala • High Jump • 2.11m (6-11.00) • 5.5 points
4. Michael Vitucci • 800m • 1:50.59 • 5.0 points
4. Andre Wright • Triple Jump • 15.37m (50-05.25) • 5.0 points
4. Marcus Abraham • Shot Put • 17.71m (58-01.25) • 5.0 points
4. Damien Berthenet • Heptathlon • 5,263 points • 5.0 points
5. Quincy Mitchell • 60m • 6.82 • 4.0 points
5. Connor Duricky • 60mH • 8.11 • 4.0 points
5. Nicholas Lauria • Pole Vault • 4.93m (16-02.00) • 4.0 points
5. Andre Wright • Long Jump • 7.31m (23-11.75) • 4.0 points
6. Cincinnati • Distance Medley Relay • 10:19.68 • 3.0 points
Vitucci, Borzor, Headings, Stump
6. Austin Goolsby • Pole Vault • 4.93m (16-02.00) • 3.0 points
6. Cannon Riddle • Heptathlon • 4,731 points • 3.0 points
7. Jase Headings • 800m • 1:52.80 • 2.0 points
7. Andrew Schille • 3,000m • 8:25.90 • 2.0 points
7. Chris Province • 18.32m (60-01.25) • 2.0 points
8. Cincinnati • 4x400m Relay • 3:19.94 • 1.0 point
Borzor, Duricky, Headings, Vitucci
t8. Ben Scharf • Pole Vault • 4.78m (15-08.25) • 0.5 points
8. Jeremy Hayton • High Jump • 2.02m (6-07.50) • 1.0 point
All-Time Top 10 Program Marks (45)
Women (26)
Overall Top 10
#1 • 200m final • Caisja Chandler • 23.52 • UC Frosh Indoor Record
#1 • 200m prelims • Caisja Chandler • 23.76 • UC Frosh Indoor Record
#2 • 800m prelims • Sammy Hentz • 2:10.02
#2 • Pentathlon • Angelica Lightfoot • 3,926 pts • Meet Record
#3 • 60m prelims • Caisja Chandler • 7.44 • UC Frosh Record
#3 • 60mH prelims • Angelica Lightfoot • 8.43
#3 • 800m prelims • Rylee Penn • 2:10.11
#3 • Shot Put • Malin Smith • 15.95m (52-04.00)
#4 • DMR • Cincinnati • 11:50.01
Mikula, Bisiolu, Hentz, Markel
#5 • Triple Jump • Kennedy Marable • 12.21m (40-00.75)
#6 • Weight Throw • Leah Heckaman • 17.27m (56-08.00)
#6 • Pentathlon • Katie Straus • 3,739 pts
#7 • 4x400m Relay • Cincinnati • 3:43.55
Bisiolu, Banks, Chandler, Lattimore
#8 • Pentathlon • Sydney Spears • 3,517 pts
#10 • 3,000m • Katrina Patterson • 10:02.92
Pentathlon Top 10
#1 • Pent SP • Angelica Lightfoot • 13.30m (43-07.75)
#2 • Pent 60mH • Angelica Lightfoot • 8.56
#2 • Pent LJ • Angelica Lightfoot • 5.83m (19-01.50)
#4t • Pent HJ • Angelica Lightfoot • 1.68m (5-06.00)
#4 • Pent 800m • Katie Straus • 2:23.75
#5 • Pent 60mH • Katie Straus • 8.90
#6t • Pent HJ • Katie Straus • 1.65m (5-05.00)
#8 • Pent 60mH • Naomi Urbano • 9.18
#9t • Pent 60mH • Sydney Spears • 9.20
#9 • Pent 800m • Sydney Spears • 2:27.40
#10 • Pent SP • Katie Straus • 11.12m (36-05.75)
Men (19)
Overall Top 10
#1 • Weight Throw • Sam Meece • 20.98m (68-10.00)
#2 • Shot Put • Sam Meece • 17.81m (58-05.25)
#3 • 800m final • Michael Vitucci • 1:50.59
#3 • HEP Day 1 • Damien Berthenet • 2,965 points
#3 • Shot Put • Marcus Abraham • 17.71m (58-01.25)
#4 • 60mH final • 7.91
#5 • Weight Throw • Chris Province • 18.32m (60-01.25)
#5 • Heptathlon • Damien Berthenet • 5,263 points
#5 • HEP Day 2 • Damien Berthenet • 2,298 points
#7 • HEP Day 2 • Cannon Riddle • 2,091 points
#8 • High Jump • Albert Kalala • 2.11m (6-11.00)
#8 • Heptathlon • Cannon Riddle • 4,731 points
Heptathlon Top 10
#2 • HEP LJ • Damien Berthenet • 7.02m (23-00.50)
#3 • HEP 60mH • Damien Berthent • 8.44
#3 • HPE 1,000m • Cannon Riddle • 2:43.98
#6 • HEP 60m • Cannon Riddle • 7.31
#7 • HEP 60m • Damien Berthenet • 7.32
#7 • HEP PV • Damien Berthenet • 4.40m (14-05.25)
#9 • HEP SP • Cannon Riddle • 11.06m (36-03.50)