CINCINNATI - Two members of the University of Cincinnati track & field program have earned honors from the American Athletic Conference this week with Kennedy Marable being named the AAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week and Aaron Bienenfeld earning AAC Men's Track Athlete of the Week. Both seniors post league-leading marks in their respective competitions last weekend.
// BOUNCING TO THE TOP
Marable posted a big jump in the triple jump as she bounced her way to a mark of 12.97m (42-06.75) to win the event at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tenn. Her mark, which ranks her #25 in the NCAA this year, is the leading mark in the AAC and moved her up to #3 all-time in program history. Her mark also leaves her just 0.03m shy of becoming on the third woman in program history to bounce her way to a 13m or better mark indoors.
// BREAKING BARRIERS
For the third time this year, Bienenfeld walked off the track with an impressive time, one that ranks as the fastest in the conference. This time, he ventured to Seattle for Washington's Husky Classic, a meet that annual produces fast times in the distance events. Bienenfeld took on a tough field in the 5,000m run and raced to a time of 13:48.56 to finish fifth overall and moved on to the NCAA season list at #23. Additionally, his time leads the AAC (by 5.82 seconds) and smashed his previous PR and own UC record by 20.25 seconds. The leader in the AAC in the 3,000m and #2 in the mile (was #1 until this past weekend), Bienenfeld is the first man in UC history to run under 14 minutes at that distance.
// HONORS HAUL
Bienenfeld has earned his third track accolade of the season while Marable earned her first career honor and the second field accolade of the year for the Bearcats after her fellow jumping mate Irati Mitxelena was previously honored.
// AWARD HISTORY
The awards earned is the 62nd and 63rd in program history when including cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field since the AAC began selecting award recipients in the 2013-14 academic year. Bienenfeld's award is the 24th for the men all-time and the eighth indoor track honor received, all of which have come in the past three seasons. Marables's honor is the 39th overall for the women's program and 22nd women's indoor field accolade. With her selection, UC has had at least one women's field student-athlete selected for a weekly award for the seventh year in a row.
// NEXT MEET
The Bearcats are off from competition this week as they prepare to compete in the first meet of the championship season. Next week, UC will head to the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., Friday and Saturday (Feb. 28-29) to compete in the AAC Indoor Championships.
Marable, Bienenfeld Earn Weekly AAC Honors
Two members of the University of Cincinnati track & field program have earned honors from the American Athletic Conference this week with Kennedy Marable being named the AAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week and Aaron Bienenfeld earning AAC Men's Track Athlete of the Week.
