University of Houston Athletics
Sunday, May 16
Tampa, Fla.
University of Houston
vs
American Athletic Conference Championships
Houston Sweeps Team Titles at The American Championships
5/16/2021 10:32:00 PM | Track and Field
Cougars win both titles for second time since 2018
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Track & Field program will return to Houston with both the men's and women's 2021 American Athletic Conference team titles after an amazing final day of action at the USF Track & Field Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
The Houston women won five titles on the third day of competition, closing out the meet with 153 points, the second-most in conference meet history. The Houston men rallied back to score 203.5 points on the final day of action to win its fifth consecutive conference title with 221.50 points. The 221.50 points is the most in conference meet history.
This marks the 42nd and 43rd conference title for Head Coach Leroy Burrell and his 15th and 16th in The American.
FULL RESULTS
Brianne Bethel put on an unprecedented display winning both the 200-meter (22.54), 400-meter (51.77), and running as a member of the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays. Bethel shattered the meet record in the 200-meter, clocking the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season. In the 400-meter, Bethel now ranks 18th in the NCAA this season. Both times are Olympic Trials qualifiers in her home country of Barbados. Bethel's time in the 200-meter ranks second in UH history. Cecilia Tamayo-Garza bested her previous lifetime best in the event with the fifth-fastest time in program history at 23.02.
Shaun Maswanganyi has taken the NCAA by storm and was tabbed as The American Freshman of the Year for a pair of record-breaking performances. Maswanganyi obliterated the meet and stadium record in the 100-meter with a windy time of 9.87. Maswanganyi improved to No. 2 in the NCAA this season in the event. The freshman again blazed the track in the 200-meter, breaking the stadium and meet record at 19.93(+3.3) with the No. 2 time in the NCAA this year.
The Houston 4x100-meter relay squad on the women's side left little doubt that they are NCAA contenders with a meet record and program record time in the event at 42.84. Camille Rutherford, Bethel, Tamayo-Garza and Tristan Evelyn combined for the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this year. The men extended their winning streak in the event to seven straight titles as Jordan Booker, Travis Collins, Christian Hamberlin and Maswanganyi combined for a time of 39.42.
Dayo Akindele earned his first outdoor title as a Cougar, blazing to a time of 13.57w in the 110-meter hurdles. Dayo was joined by his younger brother DJ Akindele on the podium as DJ finished with a PR of 13.78 for second-place. DJ Akindele continued his day with third-place finish and PR in the 400-meter hurdles at 52.04, as Quivell Jordan again showed why he was the favorite in the event with a top-finish at 50.10. Jordan helped the Cougars win the event for the second straight year.
Tristan Evelyn added to her impressive resume with a meet record in the 100-meter, securing an Olympic Trials qualifier in the process. The senior clocked a time of 11.14, the second-fastest in program history, for first-palce. She was trailed by Tamayo-Garza in second-place at 11.21, which ranks fourth in program history. Rutherford closed out the day in fifth-place at 11.32.
Nora Monie won her sixth straight meet, clinching the conference title in the Discus Throw. She is the first Cougar to win a conference title in the event and accomplished the feat with a toss of 53.47m (175-5).
Jadon Brome earned his first league title with a big personal-best in the Triple Jump at 16.05m (52-8). He was joined by Quinton Stringfellow on the podium stand at 15.97m (52-4.75) in second-place. Caleb Malbrough finished fifth in the Triple Jump at 15.37m (50-5.25).
The Houston pole vaulters provided a podium sweep as Christyan Sampy cleared 5.37m (17-7.25) to claim the title. Antonio Ruiz picked up a second-place finish in the event at the same height. Ben Percefull collected personal-best in the event and third-place finish with a clearance of 5.27m (17-3.5).
The 400-meter on the men's side saw three Cougars pick up crucial points for UH as senior Jermaine Holt clocked a PR at 46.06 to win the title. Tyrell Valentine did what needed to done, taking third-place at 46.78, followed by Joshua White in sixth-place at 47.84.
The Houston men closed out the day with an emphatic win in the 4x400-meter relay. Valentine, Jordan, White and Booker combined for the fastest time of the season for the Cougar men at 3:05.51 to set a new meet record in the event.
Houston will now set its sights on the 2021 NCAA West Region prelims taking place May 27-29 at Texas A&M where over 30 Houston student-athletes will try to qualifiy for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/UHCougarTF) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTF).
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
Houston supporters interested in joining the Podium Club or for more information, please click here.
--UHCougars.com--
The Houston women won five titles on the third day of competition, closing out the meet with 153 points, the second-most in conference meet history. The Houston men rallied back to score 203.5 points on the final day of action to win its fifth consecutive conference title with 221.50 points. The 221.50 points is the most in conference meet history.
This marks the 42nd and 43rd conference title for Head Coach Leroy Burrell and his 15th and 16th in The American.
FULL RESULTS
Brianne Bethel put on an unprecedented display winning both the 200-meter (22.54), 400-meter (51.77), and running as a member of the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays. Bethel shattered the meet record in the 200-meter, clocking the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season. In the 400-meter, Bethel now ranks 18th in the NCAA this season. Both times are Olympic Trials qualifiers in her home country of Barbados. Bethel's time in the 200-meter ranks second in UH history. Cecilia Tamayo-Garza bested her previous lifetime best in the event with the fifth-fastest time in program history at 23.02.
Shaun Maswanganyi has taken the NCAA by storm and was tabbed as The American Freshman of the Year for a pair of record-breaking performances. Maswanganyi obliterated the meet and stadium record in the 100-meter with a windy time of 9.87. Maswanganyi improved to No. 2 in the NCAA this season in the event. The freshman again blazed the track in the 200-meter, breaking the stadium and meet record at 19.93(+3.3) with the No. 2 time in the NCAA this year.
The Houston 4x100-meter relay squad on the women's side left little doubt that they are NCAA contenders with a meet record and program record time in the event at 42.84. Camille Rutherford, Bethel, Tamayo-Garza and Tristan Evelyn combined for the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this year. The men extended their winning streak in the event to seven straight titles as Jordan Booker, Travis Collins, Christian Hamberlin and Maswanganyi combined for a time of 39.42.
Dayo Akindele earned his first outdoor title as a Cougar, blazing to a time of 13.57w in the 110-meter hurdles. Dayo was joined by his younger brother DJ Akindele on the podium as DJ finished with a PR of 13.78 for second-place. DJ Akindele continued his day with third-place finish and PR in the 400-meter hurdles at 52.04, as Quivell Jordan again showed why he was the favorite in the event with a top-finish at 50.10. Jordan helped the Cougars win the event for the second straight year.
Tristan Evelyn added to her impressive resume with a meet record in the 100-meter, securing an Olympic Trials qualifier in the process. The senior clocked a time of 11.14, the second-fastest in program history, for first-palce. She was trailed by Tamayo-Garza in second-place at 11.21, which ranks fourth in program history. Rutherford closed out the day in fifth-place at 11.32.
Nora Monie won her sixth straight meet, clinching the conference title in the Discus Throw. She is the first Cougar to win a conference title in the event and accomplished the feat with a toss of 53.47m (175-5).
Jadon Brome earned his first league title with a big personal-best in the Triple Jump at 16.05m (52-8). He was joined by Quinton Stringfellow on the podium stand at 15.97m (52-4.75) in second-place. Caleb Malbrough finished fifth in the Triple Jump at 15.37m (50-5.25).
The Houston pole vaulters provided a podium sweep as Christyan Sampy cleared 5.37m (17-7.25) to claim the title. Antonio Ruiz picked up a second-place finish in the event at the same height. Ben Percefull collected personal-best in the event and third-place finish with a clearance of 5.27m (17-3.5).
The 400-meter on the men's side saw three Cougars pick up crucial points for UH as senior Jermaine Holt clocked a PR at 46.06 to win the title. Tyrell Valentine did what needed to done, taking third-place at 46.78, followed by Joshua White in sixth-place at 47.84.
The Houston men closed out the day with an emphatic win in the 4x400-meter relay. Valentine, Jordan, White and Booker combined for the fastest time of the season for the Cougar men at 3:05.51 to set a new meet record in the event.
Houston will now set its sights on the 2021 NCAA West Region prelims taking place May 27-29 at Texas A&M where over 30 Houston student-athletes will try to qualifiy for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/UHCougarTF) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTF).
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
Houston supporters interested in joining the Podium Club or for more information, please click here.
--UHCougars.com--
Players Mentioned
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Pole Vault
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