University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Set for American Indoor Championships
2/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
BIRMINGHAM â€" The 2016-17 indoor track and field season has reached the postseason, as the Houston Cougar Men's and Women's Track & Field teams travel to the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships. The 2-day meet will be held Friday and Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Where: Birmingham CrossPlex | Birmingham, Ala. | Feb. 24-25 | Friday: 9 a.m. | Saturday: 9 a.m.
Schedule of Events | Meet Information
Houston will look to score the majority of its points on the weekend in the sprints on each of the men's and women's sides. In the men's 60-meter dash, the Cougars enter with five of the conference's top-8 times this season, including Cameron Burrell (6.63), Eli Hall (6.65) and Mario Burke (6.65) who hold the top-3 marks. On the women's side of the 60, the Cougars boast three of the conference's top times this season, including Tori Williams' 7.45, which ranks third.
Williams enters the 200-meter dash with a season-best 23.60 to rank No. 1 in the conference, while freshman Sierra Smith brings the fourth-fastest mark at 24.23. Hall and Burrell enter 1-2 in the men's 200 at 20.71 and 21.18, respectively, while Burke (21.41) and Curtis Brown (21.51) hold the American's fourth and fifth best times, respectively.
In the distance, senior Brian Barraza looks to score important points for Houston. The El Paso, Texas, native set school records in the 3,000-meter run and the mile this season. His 7:53.60 in the 3,000 ranks No. 2 overall in the American, while he enters with the top mile mark this season at 3:58.66. Barraza also ranks No. 8 in the 800-meter run at 1:52.06. However it is unlikely he will attempt the event.
In the women's distance, senior Selena Sierra enters the 5,000-meter run ranked sixth overall with her school-record time of 17:00.35.
In the hurdles, sophomore Amere Lattin looks to complete an impressive second season with a win in the 60-meter hurdles. The 2016 outdoor champion in each of the 110- and 400-meter hurdles, Lattin is looking for his first indoor crown as he enters No. 1 overall with the third-fastest time in school history at 7.74.
The Cougars enter each of the men's and women's 4x400-meter relays with the top times this season. Each squad set their top marks at the Tyson Invitational with the men running 3:09.95 and the women clocking a 3:38.54.
The horizontal jumps will be another strong scoring opportunity for the Cougars. Houston enters with six of the top-8 marks in the men's long jump, including Trumaine Jefferson's 25-2.0 (7.67m) which ranks No. 1. Burrell enters with the No. 2 mark at 24-7.0 (7.49m) and Antwan Dickerson ranks third with a best of 24-4.25 (7.42m). In the women's long jump, freshman Samiyah Samuels holds the conference's top mark at 19-11.5 (6.08m), while sophomore Cameron Prejean holds the top men's triple jump mark at 50-9.25 (15.47m).
Junior Cameron Cornelius enters the weekend with the top throw this season in the shot put at 59-7.0 (18.16m). The 2014 and 2015 indoor champion in the event has won all four of the shot put competitions he has entered this season after missing the 2016 season with a knee injury. In the women's throws, sophomore Taylor Scaife's top mark of 67-0.75 (20.44m) in the weight throw set a school record and is the second best mark in The American this season.
A WIN WOULD MEAN…
A win at the American Indoor Championships for the men would mean a third-straight indoor title and the 18th indoor championship in program history. The men have won 13 indoor conference championships in Head Coach Leroy Burrell's 18-year tenure.
The Houston women will look for their fifth conference championship under Burrell and eighth overall as they enter the weekend. The Cougar women have not been crowned conference champions since 2006 and last finished inside the top-3 at the 2014 American Championships (third).
NUMBERS OF NOTE
3 â€" Houston has never lost a men's shotput competition at the American Championships. Cameron Cornelius claimed the first two titles in 2014 and 2015, while Felipe Valencia earned the crown at last year's event.
4 â€" The Houston men have four members on the current roster who have won individual conference championships, including Cameron Cornelius who won the shot put in 2014 and 2015, as well as Cameron Burrell (60m, 2016), Brian Barraza (3,000, 2016) and Felipe Valencia (shot put, 2016).
7 â€" The Cougar women have won seven indoor conference championships in program history.
17 â€" The Houston men have won 17 indoor conference championships in program history.
94 â€" Since 1983, Houston women have won 94 individual conference championships including Bria Carter who is the only current Cougar to claim a title after winning the 60 at the 2015 championships.
136 â€" Individually, Houston men have claimed 136 indoor conference championships since 1975.
WATCH IT UNFOLD
Fans can see all of the action at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships live via the league's YouTube channel. The event can be seen by clicking HERE.
Live stats for the American Championships will be available throughout the meet. Live results can be accessed by visiting the MEET INFORMATION page and clicking "Live Stats."
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
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Players Mentioned
