TicketsCLEMSON, S.C.— Senior Rylee Penn (3,000m), sophomore Steven McElroy (400m) and freshman Seth Elking (freshman 3,000m) each broke school records at Clemson's Bob Pollock Invitational, which was held on Friday and Saturday.
Bearcats recorded 14 all-time UC top 10 times or marks and won five events inside the Clemson Indoor Track Complex.
"Our first meet ever at Clemson did not disappoint," head coach Susan Seaton said. "We are coming home with four school records, five meet champions and many new UC top-10 all-time marks. At the mid-way point of the season, we are building momentum to get sharp for the championship part of the season."
Penn had a meet to remember as she shattered the Cincinnati women's indoor 3,000-meter record with a time of 9:14.54. She bested fellow teammate senior Maddie Walker's previous school record by a full 15 seconds. Her time is also a full 15 seconds faster than the second-best time in the American Athletic Conference and ranks 19th in the nation.
The Corona, Calif. native not only won the 3,000m meter race but also won the women's one-mile with a personal best of 4:37.19. Penn's time is the second fastest in UC history and only three seconds behind the record.
McElroy broke the Cincinnati indoor 400-meter record with a time of 46.44. McElroy now holds both UC indoor and outdoor 400-meter records after breaking Antoine Drakeford's 13-year-old indoor record. He holds the top spot in the AAC and is 14th the country.
The men's 3,000-meter event saw four Bearcats run UC all-time times. Elking broke the Cincinnati freshman record by 10 seconds with a time of 8:20.60. Elking has now broken both the 3,000-meter and one-mile indoor UC freshman records this season.
Senior Milo Greder placed fifth overall in the 3,000-meter with a personal best time of 8:00.34, which is fourth in school history, and senior Tyler Wirth placed seventh with the fifth-fastest time in UC history, 8:05.92. Graduate transfer Jamie Dailey added his name to the UC record as well, running the 10th-fastest 3,000 meter time (8:18.11) ever by a Bearcat.
Senior Victoria Abunaw showcased her speed as she tied the UC record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.31 seconds. Abunaw currently ranks fourth in the AAC.
Senior Taylor Beard (1.84m) and sophomore Annika Kinley (1.78m) finished first and second in the women's high jump. Beard's event-winning jump is not only the top mark in the AAC but is also tied for eighth in the nation.
Senior Fred Moudani once again proved why he is one of the top shot put throws in the nation, as he won the men's shot put with a throw of 18.94 meters. Moudani has won the shot put event in all three meets he has competed in this season.
Freshman Kendal Fisher won the unseeded women's pole vault event with a personal best mark of 3.92m. Her vault currently ranks third in the AAC.
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats are splitting squads next weekend as the distance runners will head to South Bend, Ind., for the Meyo Invitational and the sprinters and field athletes will head East for the Doc Hale Meet in Blacksburg, Va. Both meets begin on Friday, Feb. 3 and end Saturday, Feb. 4.
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