TicketsLOUISVILLE, Ky.— The University of Cincinnati's track and field program recorded nine program all-time top 10 marks in the team's first meet of the new year, the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet.
Facing quality competition that included Big 12 opponents Texas and UCF, the Bearcats started off the two-day meet strong as graduate student Noah Thomas and freshman Oliver Mayer each recorded UC all-time top 10 marks in the men's weight throw.
Thomas, who recorded the ninth-best mark in program history in the team season opener, recorded a new personal best of 18.89m / 61' 11.75, moving him to fourth all-time in school history. The graduate transfer also placed fourth overall in the event.
Mayer shattered his old personal best by over a meter with a throw of 18.01m / 59' 5.5", the ninth-best mark in program history as he finished seventh overall in the event.
Following the trend of event group teammates chasing records, the dynamic pair of sophomore Gwen Stare and freshman Madison Conatser also recorded all-time top 10 times in the women's 1,000m run.
Stare ran a blistering 2:53.96 as she placed third overall in the event and moved to fourth all-time in the record book. Her personal best time is also currently the 24th fastest time in the nation.
Conatser was right behind Stare throughout the entire race as she placed sixth with the sixth fastest time in program history, 2:55.43, and is currently the 28th fastest in the nation.
In the women's pole vault, junior Abby Knouff delivered her best performance of the season as she cleared a bar high of 4.17m / 13' 8.25" and placed second overall. Her season-best mark is currently 12th best in the nation.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson had a big day on the track, recording personal records in the 60m and 300m. His 300m time of 34.89 was the eighth fastest in school history.
Day two was highlighted by Tyler Wirth's victory in the men's 3,000m. He ran an impressive 8:06.24, just one second off his personal best, to earn the win.
Standout freshman Juliette Laracuente-Huebner began her day by finishing second overall in the women's triple jump, leaping a personal best 12.47m / 40' 11", the sixth-best mark in program history.
She has now recorded UC all-time top marks in back-to-back meets as she recorded the fifth-best long jump by a Bearcat in the season opener.
Senior Korbin Spencer closed out his weekend on a high note as he moved to eighth in the UC record with a shot put throw of 17.19m 56' / 4.75". However, it was teammate graduate student Giovanni Gutierrez who had the best day in the pit as he placed sixth overall in the event with a mark of 17.55m / 57' 7".
Senior Jack Barchet and freshman Claire Curtsinger also joined in on the action as each added two more UC all-time top 10 times to the list. Barchet ran the seventh fastest men's 800m in school history with a time of 1:51.76, the 17th fastest time in the country, and Curtsinger turned in a personal best time of 9:56.04 in the women's 3,000m, the ninth best time in program history.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will head to Bloomington, Ind., for the second time this season to compete in the Indiana Invitational on Jan 19-20, inside the Gladstien Fieldhouse. Cincinnati began the indoor season in Bloomington competing in the Indiana Early Bird Meet.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Facing quality competition that included Big 12 opponents Texas and UCF, the Bearcats started off the two-day meet strong as graduate student Noah Thomas and freshman Oliver Mayer each recorded UC all-time top 10 marks in the men's weight throw.
Thomas, who recorded the ninth-best mark in program history in the team season opener, recorded a new personal best of 18.89m / 61' 11.75, moving him to fourth all-time in school history. The graduate transfer also placed fourth overall in the event.
Mayer shattered his old personal best by over a meter with a throw of 18.01m / 59' 5.5", the ninth-best mark in program history as he finished seventh overall in the event.
Following the trend of event group teammates chasing records, the dynamic pair of sophomore Gwen Stare and freshman Madison Conatser also recorded all-time top 10 times in the women's 1,000m run.
Stare ran a blistering 2:53.96 as she placed third overall in the event and moved to fourth all-time in the record book. Her personal best time is also currently the 24th fastest time in the nation.
Conatser was right behind Stare throughout the entire race as she placed sixth with the sixth fastest time in program history, 2:55.43, and is currently the 28th fastest in the nation.
In the women's pole vault, junior Abby Knouff delivered her best performance of the season as she cleared a bar high of 4.17m / 13' 8.25" and placed second overall. Her season-best mark is currently 12th best in the nation.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson had a big day on the track, recording personal records in the 60m and 300m. His 300m time of 34.89 was the eighth fastest in school history.
Day two was highlighted by Tyler Wirth's victory in the men's 3,000m. He ran an impressive 8:06.24, just one second off his personal best, to earn the win.
Standout freshman Juliette Laracuente-Huebner began her day by finishing second overall in the women's triple jump, leaping a personal best 12.47m / 40' 11", the sixth-best mark in program history.
She has now recorded UC all-time top marks in back-to-back meets as she recorded the fifth-best long jump by a Bearcat in the season opener.
Senior Korbin Spencer closed out his weekend on a high note as he moved to eighth in the UC record with a shot put throw of 17.19m 56' / 4.75". However, it was teammate graduate student Giovanni Gutierrez who had the best day in the pit as he placed sixth overall in the event with a mark of 17.55m / 57' 7".
Senior Jack Barchet and freshman Claire Curtsinger also joined in on the action as each added two more UC all-time top 10 times to the list. Barchet ran the seventh fastest men's 800m in school history with a time of 1:51.76, the 17th fastest time in the country, and Curtsinger turned in a personal best time of 9:56.04 in the women's 3,000m, the ninth best time in program history.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will head to Bloomington, Ind., for the second time this season to compete in the Indiana Invitational on Jan 19-20, inside the Gladstien Fieldhouse. Cincinnati began the indoor season in Bloomington competing in the Indiana Early Bird Meet.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.