TicketsCINCINNATI - The first day of competition at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships came to a close Friday night at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kan., with the University of Cincinnati Bearcats winning three titles and breaking several records to post a strong showing on the campus of Wichita State. Annette Echikunwoke and Sam Meece combined to sweep the hammer throw competitions while Aaron Bienenfeld repeated as the winner in the men's 10,000m run after claiming the title last year at home.
// TEAM STANDINGS
The first day of competition saw three event finals held for each gender (10,000m, hammer, javelin) with the UC men sitting second overall by one point while the women are in a three-way tie for fourth. In the men's standings, the host Shockers have 32 points while the Bearcats (31), Tulsa (21), UConn (16) and Memphis (7) round out the Top 5. On the women's side, Memphis has 31 points to lead the way with WSU (18), Tulsa (14) and the trio of UC, SMU and UConn (13) tied for fourth.
// ECHIKUNWOKE SMASHING RECORDS
Echikunwoke won her third hammer crown for the Bearcats and did so in record fashion as she launched the ball out to 65.41m (214-07) to not only win, but break the school, meet and overall conference records. The previous conference meet mark was already owned by the UC senior while the overall mark was 65.23m by Kayla Padgett (ECU) set early in the 2018 season. Currently, her mark ranks her among the Top 12 in the NCAA this year as well. With her victory, Echikunwoke becomes the first Bearcats woman to win the same event three times at outdoor conference meets as well.
// A-A-RON A-A-RUNS TO ANOTHER CROWN
Bienenfeld ran a smooth race to cap the first day of competition as he rounded the track 25 times to finish first in 30:21.63 and successfully defend the title he won in Cincinnati last year. His time, which earned 10 points for the team, also broke the meet record of 30:28.43 run in the 2014 competition by Ernest Kibet (Louisville). The only 10k champion the men's program has had, Bienenfeld is the third UC man to repeat as the champion of a distance event and the first since 1998 when Jeremy Bucher won his second 3,000m steeplechase crown. The first instance came in 1993 and 1994 when Chad Disbennett won the steeplechase.
// SHOOTING OFF MEECE-ILES
The first men's final of the day saw Meece pop a big mark as he won the hammer title with a mark of 62.30m (204-04), claiming 10 points for the team and winning his first outdoor title. Meece, who swept the weight throw/hammer double this year in the AAC, broke the school record that had stood since the 2008 season when Ian Jarman threw 61.87m (203-00). Meece is the first men's hammer champion since 2014 when Josh Province won the inaugural title in the AAC. He also is just the third man to win the event at the conference level as Scott Ference was a three-time champion in the early 1990s (1992-94).
// LAURIA'S LAUNCHINGS
The final individual to earn all-conference honors today was Nicholas Lauria, who finished third in the javelin with a toss of 58.84m (193-00), a throw that earned six points for the team. With his placement, Lauria posted the highest finish for the Bearcats men in the event since 2012 when Brian Zimmerman won the event. In fact, Lauria's finish today marks only the third Top 3 finish for UC in the men's javelin since 1999 after current assistant coach Chris Wineberg took third in 2002.
// LONG DISTANCE POINTS
In the women's 10,000m run, Hannah Markel turned in another outstanding performance as the junior covered the distance in 35:39.62 to finish sixth overall and grab three points for the team. Her time ranks as the second-best in program history and also is the second-best time recorded in a conference championship event behind only Lilian Jelimo, who ran 35:22.35 in 2008. Markel's finish, also the best since Jelimo, marks the first time UC has scored in the event at the conference level since 2008 and the first time it has happened in the AAC era.
// MORE POINTS IN THE HAMMER
Meece was not the only man to score in the men's hammer as both Chris Province and Jacob Rieman tallied points for the team. Province placed sixth and earned three team points with a career-best 55.09m (180-09) toss, a mark that also ranks him eighth all-time in program history. Rieman threw 53.55m (175-08) to place seventh and add two points to the team total.
// MAKING ADVANCEMENTS
Three women and two men advanced from their preliminary round races Friday to reach their respective finals that will be contested Sunday afternoon. On the women's side, Caisja Chandler and Haisha Bisiolu both advanced in the 200m dash with Chandler posting the best time of the day at 23.45 and Bisiolu running 23.98 to qualify seventh in the eight-woman final. Also for the women was Sammy Hentz, who ran 2:10.67 to reach the final of the 800m run as the fourth-fastest qualifier. On the men's side, Chris Borzor ran 21.02 in the 200m dash to reach the final as the fourth qualifier while Connor Duricky reached the final of the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.41, the fifth-fastest time of the day and a PR for the sophomore.
// COMBINED EVENTS UPDATE
Four Bearcats finished the first of two days of competition in the combined events with three women taking part in the heptathlon and one man in the decathlon. For the women, Katie Straus currently sit second overall after posting a PR score of 3,107 points, the sixth-best in program history, while Naomi Urbano and Sydney Spears are sitting sixth and eighth, respectively. On the men's side, Damien Berthenet is currently sitting fifth overall with 3,589 points, the ninth-best Day One score in program history. All four individuals will conclude action Saturday.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The second day of competition gets underway at 10:30 a.m. CT (11:30 a.m. ET) with the decathlon followed by the heptathlon starting at 11 a.m. CT. The first field events get underway at 3 p.m. with the women's long jump while the women's 100m hurdles lead off the running events at 5:30 p.m. CT.
2019 AAC Outdoor Championships
Wichita, Kan.
May 10, 2019 • Day 1 Results
Women's Results
200m Dash • Prelims
1. Caisja Chandler • 23.45 (-0.5) • qualifies to final
7. Haisha Bisiolu • 23.98 (-0.1) • qualifies to final
400m Hurdles • Prelims
13. Kylie Cutlip • 1:02.79
17. Grace Winckowski • 1:03.65
800m Run • Prelims
4. Sammy Hentz • 2:10.67 • qualifies to final
10,000m Run • FINAL
6. Hannah Markel • 35:39.62 • SB, PR & UC #2 • 3 points
Hammer • FINAL
1. Annette Echikunwoke • 65.41m (214-07) • SB, PR, UC RECORD, AAC RECORD & AAC Meet Record • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
14. Leah Heckaman • 51.46m (168-10)
Heptathlon Day One
2. Katie Straus • 3,107 points • SB, PR & UC #6
6. Naomi Urbano • 2,973 points • SB, PR & UC #8
8. Sydney Spears • 2,881 points
Heptathlon #1 • 100m Hurdles
3. Katie Straus • 14.44 (+1.1)[917p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #6
5. Sydney Spears • 14.73 (+0.0)[878p]
9. Naomi Urbano • 15.04 (+1.9)[836p]
Heptathlon #2 • High Jump
2. Naomi Urbano • 1.68m (5-06.00)[830p]
t8. Katie Straus • 1.59m (5-02.50)[724p]
t11. Sydney Spears • 1.56m (5-01.25)[689p]
Heptathlon #3 • Shot Put
2. Katie Straus • 12.04m (39-06.00)[664p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #5
3. Naomi Urbano • 11.69m (38-04.24)[641p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #7
8. Sydney Spears • 10.26m (33-08.00)[546p]
Heptathlon #4 • 200m Dash
4. Katie Straus • 25.95 (+2.1)[802p]
5. Sydney Spears • 26.34 (+2.1)[768p]
15. Naomi Urbano • 27.56 (+1.6)[666p] • SB
Men's Results
200m Dash • Prelims
4. Chris Borzor • 21.02 (+1.7) • qualifies to final
14. Quincy Mitchell • 21.74 (+0.0)
16. Anthony Woods • 22.22 (+0.0)
18. Mykel Chambers • 22.34 (+1.8)
400m Hurdles • Prelims
5. Connor Duricky • 53.41 • SB & PR • qualifies to final
800m Run • Prelims
13. Michael Vitucci • 1:54.63
10,000m Run • FINAL
1. Aaron Bienenfeld • 30:21.63 • AAC Meet Record • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
13. Nick Grismer • 31:56.56 • PR
15. Ryan Guenthner • 32:31.82
Hammer • FINAL
1. Sam Meece • 62.30m (204-04) • SB, PR & UC RECORD • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
6. Chris Province • 55.09m (180-09) • SB, PR & UC #8 • 3 points
7. Jacob Rieman • 53.55m (175-08) • 2 points
12. Aaron Deaton • 49.86m (163-07)
15. Danny Jones • 48.64m (159-07)
Javelin • FINAL
3. Nicholas Lauria • 58.84m (193-00) • 6 points • All-Conference
14. Chris Province • 43.17m (141-07)
Decathlon - Day One
5. Damien Berthenet • 3,589 points • UC DEC #9
Decathlon #1 • 100m Dash
5. Damien Berthenet • 11.45 (+1.9)[763p]
Decathlon #2 • Long Jump
2. Damien Berthenet • 6.92m (22-08.50)(+1.4)[795p] • UC DEC #6
Decathlon #3 • Shot Put
3. Damien Berthenet • 12.51m (41-00.50)[637p] • UC DEC #6
Decathlon #4 • High Jump
5. Damien Berthenet • 1.89m (6-02.25)[705p]
Decathlon #5 • 400m Dash
6. Damien Berthenet • 52.83 [689p]
TEAM SCORES
Women (3 of 21 events)
1. Memphis • 31
2. Wichita State • 18
3. Tulsa • 14
4. CINCINNATI, SMU & UConn • 13
Men (3 of 21 events)
1. Wichita State • 32
2. CINCINNATI • 31
3. Tulsa • 21
4. UConn • 16
5. Memphis • 7
// TEAM STANDINGS
The first day of competition saw three event finals held for each gender (10,000m, hammer, javelin) with the UC men sitting second overall by one point while the women are in a three-way tie for fourth. In the men's standings, the host Shockers have 32 points while the Bearcats (31), Tulsa (21), UConn (16) and Memphis (7) round out the Top 5. On the women's side, Memphis has 31 points to lead the way with WSU (18), Tulsa (14) and the trio of UC, SMU and UConn (13) tied for fourth.
// ECHIKUNWOKE SMASHING RECORDS
Echikunwoke won her third hammer crown for the Bearcats and did so in record fashion as she launched the ball out to 65.41m (214-07) to not only win, but break the school, meet and overall conference records. The previous conference meet mark was already owned by the UC senior while the overall mark was 65.23m by Kayla Padgett (ECU) set early in the 2018 season. Currently, her mark ranks her among the Top 12 in the NCAA this year as well. With her victory, Echikunwoke becomes the first Bearcats woman to win the same event three times at outdoor conference meets as well.
// A-A-RON A-A-RUNS TO ANOTHER CROWN
Bienenfeld ran a smooth race to cap the first day of competition as he rounded the track 25 times to finish first in 30:21.63 and successfully defend the title he won in Cincinnati last year. His time, which earned 10 points for the team, also broke the meet record of 30:28.43 run in the 2014 competition by Ernest Kibet (Louisville). The only 10k champion the men's program has had, Bienenfeld is the third UC man to repeat as the champion of a distance event and the first since 1998 when Jeremy Bucher won his second 3,000m steeplechase crown. The first instance came in 1993 and 1994 when Chad Disbennett won the steeplechase.
// SHOOTING OFF MEECE-ILES
The first men's final of the day saw Meece pop a big mark as he won the hammer title with a mark of 62.30m (204-04), claiming 10 points for the team and winning his first outdoor title. Meece, who swept the weight throw/hammer double this year in the AAC, broke the school record that had stood since the 2008 season when Ian Jarman threw 61.87m (203-00). Meece is the first men's hammer champion since 2014 when Josh Province won the inaugural title in the AAC. He also is just the third man to win the event at the conference level as Scott Ference was a three-time champion in the early 1990s (1992-94).
// LAURIA'S LAUNCHINGS
The final individual to earn all-conference honors today was Nicholas Lauria, who finished third in the javelin with a toss of 58.84m (193-00), a throw that earned six points for the team. With his placement, Lauria posted the highest finish for the Bearcats men in the event since 2012 when Brian Zimmerman won the event. In fact, Lauria's finish today marks only the third Top 3 finish for UC in the men's javelin since 1999 after current assistant coach Chris Wineberg took third in 2002.
// LONG DISTANCE POINTS
In the women's 10,000m run, Hannah Markel turned in another outstanding performance as the junior covered the distance in 35:39.62 to finish sixth overall and grab three points for the team. Her time ranks as the second-best in program history and also is the second-best time recorded in a conference championship event behind only Lilian Jelimo, who ran 35:22.35 in 2008. Markel's finish, also the best since Jelimo, marks the first time UC has scored in the event at the conference level since 2008 and the first time it has happened in the AAC era.
// MORE POINTS IN THE HAMMER
Meece was not the only man to score in the men's hammer as both Chris Province and Jacob Rieman tallied points for the team. Province placed sixth and earned three team points with a career-best 55.09m (180-09) toss, a mark that also ranks him eighth all-time in program history. Rieman threw 53.55m (175-08) to place seventh and add two points to the team total.
// MAKING ADVANCEMENTS
Three women and two men advanced from their preliminary round races Friday to reach their respective finals that will be contested Sunday afternoon. On the women's side, Caisja Chandler and Haisha Bisiolu both advanced in the 200m dash with Chandler posting the best time of the day at 23.45 and Bisiolu running 23.98 to qualify seventh in the eight-woman final. Also for the women was Sammy Hentz, who ran 2:10.67 to reach the final of the 800m run as the fourth-fastest qualifier. On the men's side, Chris Borzor ran 21.02 in the 200m dash to reach the final as the fourth qualifier while Connor Duricky reached the final of the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.41, the fifth-fastest time of the day and a PR for the sophomore.
// COMBINED EVENTS UPDATE
Four Bearcats finished the first of two days of competition in the combined events with three women taking part in the heptathlon and one man in the decathlon. For the women, Katie Straus currently sit second overall after posting a PR score of 3,107 points, the sixth-best in program history, while Naomi Urbano and Sydney Spears are sitting sixth and eighth, respectively. On the men's side, Damien Berthenet is currently sitting fifth overall with 3,589 points, the ninth-best Day One score in program history. All four individuals will conclude action Saturday.
// IN THE BLOCKS
The second day of competition gets underway at 10:30 a.m. CT (11:30 a.m. ET) with the decathlon followed by the heptathlon starting at 11 a.m. CT. The first field events get underway at 3 p.m. with the women's long jump while the women's 100m hurdles lead off the running events at 5:30 p.m. CT.
2019 AAC Outdoor Championships
Wichita, Kan.
May 10, 2019 • Day 1 Results
Women's Results
200m Dash • Prelims
1. Caisja Chandler • 23.45 (-0.5) • qualifies to final
7. Haisha Bisiolu • 23.98 (-0.1) • qualifies to final
400m Hurdles • Prelims
13. Kylie Cutlip • 1:02.79
17. Grace Winckowski • 1:03.65
800m Run • Prelims
4. Sammy Hentz • 2:10.67 • qualifies to final
10,000m Run • FINAL
6. Hannah Markel • 35:39.62 • SB, PR & UC #2 • 3 points
Hammer • FINAL
1. Annette Echikunwoke • 65.41m (214-07) • SB, PR, UC RECORD, AAC RECORD & AAC Meet Record • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
14. Leah Heckaman • 51.46m (168-10)
Heptathlon Day One
2. Katie Straus • 3,107 points • SB, PR & UC #6
6. Naomi Urbano • 2,973 points • SB, PR & UC #8
8. Sydney Spears • 2,881 points
Heptathlon #1 • 100m Hurdles
3. Katie Straus • 14.44 (+1.1)[917p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #6
5. Sydney Spears • 14.73 (+0.0)[878p]
9. Naomi Urbano • 15.04 (+1.9)[836p]
Heptathlon #2 • High Jump
2. Naomi Urbano • 1.68m (5-06.00)[830p]
t8. Katie Straus • 1.59m (5-02.50)[724p]
t11. Sydney Spears • 1.56m (5-01.25)[689p]
Heptathlon #3 • Shot Put
2. Katie Straus • 12.04m (39-06.00)[664p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #5
3. Naomi Urbano • 11.69m (38-04.24)[641p] • SB, PR & UC HEP #7
8. Sydney Spears • 10.26m (33-08.00)[546p]
Heptathlon #4 • 200m Dash
4. Katie Straus • 25.95 (+2.1)[802p]
5. Sydney Spears • 26.34 (+2.1)[768p]
15. Naomi Urbano • 27.56 (+1.6)[666p] • SB
Men's Results
200m Dash • Prelims
4. Chris Borzor • 21.02 (+1.7) • qualifies to final
14. Quincy Mitchell • 21.74 (+0.0)
16. Anthony Woods • 22.22 (+0.0)
18. Mykel Chambers • 22.34 (+1.8)
400m Hurdles • Prelims
5. Connor Duricky • 53.41 • SB & PR • qualifies to final
800m Run • Prelims
13. Michael Vitucci • 1:54.63
10,000m Run • FINAL
1. Aaron Bienenfeld • 30:21.63 • AAC Meet Record • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
13. Nick Grismer • 31:56.56 • PR
15. Ryan Guenthner • 32:31.82
Hammer • FINAL
1. Sam Meece • 62.30m (204-04) • SB, PR & UC RECORD • CHAMPION • 10 points • All-Conference
6. Chris Province • 55.09m (180-09) • SB, PR & UC #8 • 3 points
7. Jacob Rieman • 53.55m (175-08) • 2 points
12. Aaron Deaton • 49.86m (163-07)
15. Danny Jones • 48.64m (159-07)
Javelin • FINAL
3. Nicholas Lauria • 58.84m (193-00) • 6 points • All-Conference
14. Chris Province • 43.17m (141-07)
Decathlon - Day One
5. Damien Berthenet • 3,589 points • UC DEC #9
Decathlon #1 • 100m Dash
5. Damien Berthenet • 11.45 (+1.9)[763p]
Decathlon #2 • Long Jump
2. Damien Berthenet • 6.92m (22-08.50)(+1.4)[795p] • UC DEC #6
Decathlon #3 • Shot Put
3. Damien Berthenet • 12.51m (41-00.50)[637p] • UC DEC #6
Decathlon #4 • High Jump
5. Damien Berthenet • 1.89m (6-02.25)[705p]
Decathlon #5 • 400m Dash
6. Damien Berthenet • 52.83 [689p]
TEAM SCORES
Women (3 of 21 events)
1. Memphis • 31
2. Wichita State • 18
3. Tulsa • 14
4. CINCINNATI, SMU & UConn • 13
Men (3 of 21 events)
1. Wichita State • 32
2. CINCINNATI • 31
3. Tulsa • 21
4. UConn • 16
5. Memphis • 7