CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati track & field program unofficially got its 2020 season underway Friday night as the Bearcats split into Red and Black teams for the 40th edition of the Red vs. Black Intrasquad meet. The meet, held inside the Armory Fieldhouse on campus, saw Black win both the men's team title (56-46) and the overall combined crown (98-91) while Red won the women's title (45-42). The meet came down to the final race - the men's 4x400m - to determine the overall champion.
// FAST FINISH
Three times posted tied for meet records with both coming at the 55m distance. First, Arthur Greenlee IV (Red) ran to a time of 7.0h to win the 55m hurdles and tie for the meet record with two outstanding individuals, including Olympic Silver Medalist David Payne (2002) and Terence Sommerville (2012). In the 55m dash, both Anthony Woods (B) and Isaiah McCall (B) crossed the line in 6.1h with Woods edging his challenger as both tied the meet record, posting the ninth and 10th times the record has been recorded, respectively. Additionally, the duo continued a streak in which a UC man has run 6.1h in the event for the fifth year in a row.
// BREAKING OUT BROOMS • TEAM
Five different events saw all available points go to one team with Black sweeping four and Red one. Those events including Black claiming all nine points (5-3-1) in the men's long jump, the men's 55m dash and both relays while Red swept its way through the women's high jump.
// BREAKING OUT BROOMS • INDIVIDUAL
Two men swept through events in different ways with Andre Wright (B) winning the long and triple jumps and Logan Baker (R) capturing the 800m. Wright took the long jump title with a best of 7.12m before bouncing his way to a win in the triple jump with a mark of 14.99m. Baker raced just once on the day and captured gold in the 800m in 1:59.8h. Where the sweep comes in to play is the fact Baker has now won the 800m title at the intrasquad in all three seasons he has raced the event.
// TRIPLE CROWNS
Sophomore transfer Victoria Abunaw (B) had a strong showing in her first UC event as she had a hand in three titles. She first won the 300m (40.9h) before taking the 55m hurdles crown (7.9h). Then, she finished the day with a win in the 4x400m relay as she anchored her squad to the overall victory (4:10.0h) as she split 62.2h in the race.
// ROOKIE IMPRESSIONS
Six rookies won events in their first collegiate competitions with five competing for the women and one for the men. In the field, both Taylor Beard (R) and Lawrence Mitchell (R) won the high jump competitions with Beard clearing 1.60m and Mitchell 2.07m in their respective victories. Hannah Jackson (R) led things off on the day as she won the first event - the weight throw - with a heave of 16.35m. The remaining three freshmen were part of victorious relay squads with Akari Porter (B) running 52.0h on the lead leg for the men while the duo of Leah King (B) and Juliet McGregor (B) split 61.4h on the second leg and 62.0h on the third leg, respectively, to help their team to a win.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will officially open their 2020 season December 6 when they travel to Lexington, Ky., for the Blue & White Open hosted by Kentucky.
FULL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND HERE
Black Downs Red, 98-91, in UC’s 40th Intrasquad Meet
The University of Cincinnati track & field program unofficially got its 2020 season underway Friday night as the Bearcats split into Red and Black teams for the 40th edition of the Red vs. Black Intrasquad meet.
