TicketsBIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The University of Cincinnati men's track and field team claimed its first American Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday inside the Birmingham Crossplex.
The UC men's team scored 143 points to claim its first-ever AAC title and its first indoor conference title since 1995, when Cincinnati was a member of the Great Midwest Conference. It also marked the Bearcats' first men's indoor or outdoor title since 2004.
"It's been a lot of hard work to get to our first title since 2004," head coach Susan Seaton said. "I am just so proud of everyone that is involved with the program, all of the athletes, trainers, support staff, and coaches, and I could not be happier."
The UC women's team placed second overall in the team standings, scoring 94 points. It is the fourth year in a row the women have placed second since winning the conference title in 2018.
In total, the Bearcats earned eight conference event titles, as each team won four.
Senior Rylee Penn was named AAC Women's Most Valuable Performer as she won both conference titles in the women's mile (4:45.40) and 3,000m (9:32.52). She also was a member of the gold-medal winning women's DMR that broke the school record with a time of 11:21.95. She is the first Bearcat to win the honor since Annette Echikunwoke in 2017.
After recovering from an injury that kept her out all last season, Penn had a season to remember as she scored points for the women's team at the AAC Championships for the first time in her career.
Fred Moudani led the way for the UC men as he won the men's shot put with a championship meet record 19.73m/64'-8.75" and placed third in the men's weight throw with a mark of 18.19.
Junior Giovanni Gutierrez joined Moudani on the podium in the men's shot put, placing second overall with a mark of 17.55 meters.
Sophomore Steven McElroy successfully defended his 400-meter title and claimed a gold medal with a time of 46.33. Sophomore Korbin Spencer won the men's weight throw with a meet-record throw of 19.49 meters.
The women's high jump squad proved why they are the No. 2-ranked high jump squad in the country by winning the AAC title for the eighth time in the past nine years.
Senior Taylor Beard won her first career AAC indoor high jump title, clearing a height of 1.82m. Sophomore Spirit Morgan finished second with a mark of 1.78m.
Sophomore Naquille Harris broke the Cincinnati men's 60-meter record with a time of 6.7 seconds to earn a silver medal. Harris broke fellow teammate graduate student Austin Edwards' record of 6.72 seconds.
The UC women's DMR team of seniors Penn and Carmen Licht, freshman Gwen Stare and junior Alicia Thorpe broke the championship meet and Cincinnati record with a time of 11:21.95 and successfully defended its title.
The men's DMR team of juniors Jack Barchet, Matt Hoak and David Endres and senior Tyler Wirth broke the Cincinnati program record with a time of 9:41.29 to earn the AAC title. The Tulsa DMR team finished the race in first but was disqualified for a thrown baton.
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