TicketsNASHVILLE, TENN. – Loretta Blaut won the high jump and Aaron Bienenfeld broke his own school record in the 5,000m as the University of Cincinnati track and field team wrapped up its first day of action at the Music City Challenge in inside the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility.
Blaut and Bienenfeld's performances were just two of a number of standout efforts that saw the Bearcats post 11 personal bests and five UC Top-10 marks Friday.
// BLAUT WINS ... AGAIN
High jumper Loretta Blaut posted a top mark of 1.76m to win the high jump competition. The senior has been the top collegiate finisher in each event she's entered in the 2019 season. Tied for the national lead in the event, Blaut passed on the first two heights before clearing 1.71 and 1.76 on her first attempt. She missed on all three jumps at 1.81. The second-place finisher, Logan Boss, who was competing unattached, also cleared 1.76 but did so on her second attempt, giving Blaut the edge. Katie Straus was 10th and Katie Kravitsky was 11th as both posted personal-best jumps of 1.66m.
// BIENENFELD POSTS UC RECORD MARK IN 5K
Junior Aaron Bienenfeld ran a PR of 14:08.81 in the 5,000m, placing third and besting his own UC record by five seconds. He clocked 14:13.82 in 2018, which had broken Eric Finan's school record from 2011. Ryan Guenthner ran a 14:53.50 personal best and came home in 13th place.
// WEIGHT THROW NUMBERS IMPRESSIVE
Sam Meece (19.11m) had the top UC mark of the night, but fellow throwers Chris Province (17.32m) and Aaron Deaton (16.78m) each posted PRs and UC Top-10 marks. Province bettered his own sixth-place mark of 17.18m, set in 2018, while Deaton beat his previous best throw of 16.53. Meece placed eighth, Province in 16th and Deaton came home 22nd.
Former NCAA Champion Annette Echikunwoke, competing unattached in the women's event, took second place with a toss of 22.82m.
// LIGHTFOOT LEAPS
Angelica Lightfoot earned a Top-10 finish in the long jump, setting a PR and the No. 6 UC jump of all-time with her 5.87m leap. She placed ninth, ahead of Irati Mitxelena (10th/5.85m) and Naomi Urbano (20th/5.40m).
// WOMEN'S DMR NEARLY SETS SCHOOL RECORD
In the second-last event of the evening, the women's distance medley relay quartet of Sam Mikula, Faith Banks, Rylee Penn and Hannah Markel crossed the line in 11:42.66, placing third in the event while recording a season-best time and the No. 2 clocking in Bearcats history. The record mark of 11:41.09 was set a year ago by Mikula, Tiona Lattimore, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide.
// LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday events at the Music City Challenge get rolling at 11:30 a.m. ET with the women's pole vault, followed by the shot put and triple jump. Running events start at 2 p.m. ET with UC student-athletes in the 60m hurdles, 60m dash, 400m, women's 800m and 4x400m relay.
// COMPETING TEAMS
Vanderbilt, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, East Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee State, Memphis, Lipscomb and Milligan, UCF, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Illinois State, Indiana State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota State, Rice, Southern Methodist, Towson, Tulane, Western Kentucky and Xavier.
// ADMISSION & PARKING
General admission tickets are available at the facility for $5. Doors will open at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday. Spectators can park in lot #75 off of Natchez Trace.
Music City Challenge (Day One – Feb. 8, 2019)
Nashville, Tennessee – Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility
Men's Results
200m
11. Quincy Mitchell – 22.00 – PR
18. Mykel Chambers – 22.37
5,000m
3. Aaron Bienenfeld – 14:08.81 – PR & UC #1
13. Ryan Guenthner – 14:53.50 – PR
Long Jump
9. Andre Wright – 7.15m (23-05.50)
12. Brandon White – 6.79m (22-03.50)
High Jump
8. Albert Kalala – 2.02m (6-07.50)
10. Jeremy Hayton – 1.97m (6-05.50)
21. Cannon Riddle – 1.87m (6-01.50)
Pole Vault
10. Austin Goolsby – 4.95m (16-02.75) – PR
11. Nicholas Lauria – 4.80m (15-09.00) – PR
Weight Throw (35-Pound)
8. Sam Meece – 19.11m (62-08.50)
16. Chris Province – 17.32m (56-10.00) – PR & UC #6
22. Aaron Deaton – 16.78m (55-00.75) – PR & UC #10
Marcus Abraham – Foul
Distance Medley Relay
Cincinnati "A" (Matt Stump, Michael Vitucci, Jase Headings, Cannon Riddle) – DNF
Women's Results
200m Dash
3. Caisja Chandler – 24.15
37. Kylie Cutlip – 26.41
5,000m
16. Katrina Patterson – 17:42.44 – PR
Long Jump
9. Angelica Lightfoot – 5.87m (19-03.25) – PR & UC #6
10. Irati Mitxelena – 5.85m (19-02.50)
20. Naomi Urbano – 5.40m (17-08.75)
Sydney Spears – FOUL
High Jump
1. Loretta Blaut – 1.76m (5-09.25)
10. Katie Straus – 1.66m (5-05.25) – PR
11. Katie Kravitsky – 1.66m (5-05.25) – PR
Weight Throw (20-Pound)
Leah Heckaman – FOUL
Izzy Kline – FOUL
Jane Sensibaugh – FOUL
Distance Medley Relay
3. Cincinnati "A" (Sam Mikula, Faith Banks, Rylee Penn, Hannah Markel) – 11:42.66 –SB & UC #2
Blaut and Bienenfeld's performances were just two of a number of standout efforts that saw the Bearcats post 11 personal bests and five UC Top-10 marks Friday.
// BLAUT WINS ... AGAIN
High jumper Loretta Blaut posted a top mark of 1.76m to win the high jump competition. The senior has been the top collegiate finisher in each event she's entered in the 2019 season. Tied for the national lead in the event, Blaut passed on the first two heights before clearing 1.71 and 1.76 on her first attempt. She missed on all three jumps at 1.81. The second-place finisher, Logan Boss, who was competing unattached, also cleared 1.76 but did so on her second attempt, giving Blaut the edge. Katie Straus was 10th and Katie Kravitsky was 11th as both posted personal-best jumps of 1.66m.
// BIENENFELD POSTS UC RECORD MARK IN 5K
Junior Aaron Bienenfeld ran a PR of 14:08.81 in the 5,000m, placing third and besting his own UC record by five seconds. He clocked 14:13.82 in 2018, which had broken Eric Finan's school record from 2011. Ryan Guenthner ran a 14:53.50 personal best and came home in 13th place.
// WEIGHT THROW NUMBERS IMPRESSIVE
Sam Meece (19.11m) had the top UC mark of the night, but fellow throwers Chris Province (17.32m) and Aaron Deaton (16.78m) each posted PRs and UC Top-10 marks. Province bettered his own sixth-place mark of 17.18m, set in 2018, while Deaton beat his previous best throw of 16.53. Meece placed eighth, Province in 16th and Deaton came home 22nd.
Former NCAA Champion Annette Echikunwoke, competing unattached in the women's event, took second place with a toss of 22.82m.
// LIGHTFOOT LEAPS
Angelica Lightfoot earned a Top-10 finish in the long jump, setting a PR and the No. 6 UC jump of all-time with her 5.87m leap. She placed ninth, ahead of Irati Mitxelena (10th/5.85m) and Naomi Urbano (20th/5.40m).
// WOMEN'S DMR NEARLY SETS SCHOOL RECORD
In the second-last event of the evening, the women's distance medley relay quartet of Sam Mikula, Faith Banks, Rylee Penn and Hannah Markel crossed the line in 11:42.66, placing third in the event while recording a season-best time and the No. 2 clocking in Bearcats history. The record mark of 11:41.09 was set a year ago by Mikula, Tiona Lattimore, Alexis Anton and Meg Westerheide.
// LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday events at the Music City Challenge get rolling at 11:30 a.m. ET with the women's pole vault, followed by the shot put and triple jump. Running events start at 2 p.m. ET with UC student-athletes in the 60m hurdles, 60m dash, 400m, women's 800m and 4x400m relay.
// COMPETING TEAMS
Vanderbilt, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, East Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee State, Memphis, Lipscomb and Milligan, UCF, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Illinois State, Indiana State, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota State, Rice, Southern Methodist, Towson, Tulane, Western Kentucky and Xavier.
// ADMISSION & PARKING
General admission tickets are available at the facility for $5. Doors will open at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday. Spectators can park in lot #75 off of Natchez Trace.
Music City Challenge (Day One – Feb. 8, 2019)
Nashville, Tennessee – Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility
Men's Results
200m
11. Quincy Mitchell – 22.00 – PR
18. Mykel Chambers – 22.37
5,000m
3. Aaron Bienenfeld – 14:08.81 – PR & UC #1
13. Ryan Guenthner – 14:53.50 – PR
Long Jump
9. Andre Wright – 7.15m (23-05.50)
12. Brandon White – 6.79m (22-03.50)
High Jump
8. Albert Kalala – 2.02m (6-07.50)
10. Jeremy Hayton – 1.97m (6-05.50)
21. Cannon Riddle – 1.87m (6-01.50)
Pole Vault
10. Austin Goolsby – 4.95m (16-02.75) – PR
11. Nicholas Lauria – 4.80m (15-09.00) – PR
Weight Throw (35-Pound)
8. Sam Meece – 19.11m (62-08.50)
16. Chris Province – 17.32m (56-10.00) – PR & UC #6
22. Aaron Deaton – 16.78m (55-00.75) – PR & UC #10
Marcus Abraham – Foul
Distance Medley Relay
Cincinnati "A" (Matt Stump, Michael Vitucci, Jase Headings, Cannon Riddle) – DNF
Women's Results
200m Dash
3. Caisja Chandler – 24.15
37. Kylie Cutlip – 26.41
5,000m
16. Katrina Patterson – 17:42.44 – PR
Long Jump
9. Angelica Lightfoot – 5.87m (19-03.25) – PR & UC #6
10. Irati Mitxelena – 5.85m (19-02.50)
20. Naomi Urbano – 5.40m (17-08.75)
Sydney Spears – FOUL
High Jump
1. Loretta Blaut – 1.76m (5-09.25)
10. Katie Straus – 1.66m (5-05.25) – PR
11. Katie Kravitsky – 1.66m (5-05.25) – PR
Weight Throw (20-Pound)
Leah Heckaman – FOUL
Izzy Kline – FOUL
Jane Sensibaugh – FOUL
Distance Medley Relay
3. Cincinnati "A" (Sam Mikula, Faith Banks, Rylee Penn, Hannah Markel) – 11:42.66 –SB & UC #2