Sunday, May 14
Tampa, Fla.
University of Houston
vs
American Championships
Photo by: American Athletic Conference
Houston Second at Final American Conference Championships
5/14/2023 8:35:00 PM | Track and Field
Cougars win eight total titles, 11 silver or bronze medals at American Athletic Conference Championships
TAMPA, Fla. – The Houston track and field team won seven titles on Sunday at the American Athletic Conference Championships but both teams finished second in the team standings.
Houston continued its dominance in the 400-meter relay over the last decade by winning its ninth-straight title in the event. The Cougars never lost the relay while in The American and won it with a different four legs nearly every year.
The men won the 1,600-meter relay at the end of the meet as well, avenging a loss last year to South Florida by edging the Bulls on Sunday by 0.42 seconds for the 1,600-meter relay crown.
Junior Shaun Maswanganyi completed the double for the second time in his career, winning the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Maswanganyi's 9.96 second time in the 100 (2.9) ranks third nationally this season and his 19.99 (2.4) ranks fifth in the nation. Maswanganyi won the 100 and 200 the last time the championships were in Tampa in 2021. Maswanganyi also won the 60-meter dash and 200 at the indoor conference championships.
Junior Lloyd Frilot won the 800-meter run for Houston's second-straight title in the event. Frilot ran the second-fastest time in program history, running 1:49.09 for a conference championships record. Fellow junior Adam Mason finished second in the 800, running 1:48.83 to move into the top 10 all-time list at #5 in program history.
The 110-meter hurdles have only been won by Cougars as junior De'Vion Wilson defended his title in the event, running 13.53 for a conference championships record. Houston went one-two in the event as senior DJ Akindele followed Wilson for the silver medal in 13.77 seconds. Wilson also finished second in the 400-meter hurdles.
Senior Christyan Sampy won the pole vault with a jump of 5.46 meters. Sampy has now won the conference title the last two times it has been held in Tampa, last winning the outdoor title in 2021.
Assistant coach Sandra Glover's 400-meter hurdles school record finally fell, 32 years after she set it as senior Sydni Townsend ran nearly a full second faster than Glover's 56.97 time from 1991. Townsend finished second overall in 55.99 and ranks ninth in the country now.
Senior Hailey Pollard got her first medal as a Cougar, finishing third in the discus with a 51.62-meter throw. Pollard's throw ranks fourth all-time in program history. Sophomore Daisy Monie finished fourth in the discus with the program's seventh-best throw of 50.93 meters.
Senior Cecilia Tamayo-Garza finished second in both the 100 and 200, running a blazing fast 22.45 in the 200, the second-fastest time in school history and fastest since 2007.
Tamayo-Garza and the women's 1,600-meter relay finished second by running 3:35.55.
The men's team title came down to the 1,600-meter relay, where the team champions Wichita State needed to finish in fourth place or better – even if Houston won – which occurred even though Houston won the relay. Wichita State finished third overall and won the meet by two points.
UP NEXT
Houston athletes in the top 48 of the NCAA West Qualifying List, and the top 24 relay teams, will compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, Calif., May 24-27 with the top 12 competitors and relays from each event qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas June 7-10.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
Houston continued its dominance in the 400-meter relay over the last decade by winning its ninth-straight title in the event. The Cougars never lost the relay while in The American and won it with a different four legs nearly every year.
NINE STRAIGHT! 9️⃣‼️
— #HTownSpeedCity (@UHCougarTF) May 14, 2023
Houston has won EVERY @American_Conf 4x100m relay! #HTownSpeedCity pic.twitter.com/qM09VyPtia
The men won the 1,600-meter relay at the end of the meet as well, avenging a loss last year to South Florida by edging the Bulls on Sunday by 0.42 seconds for the 1,600-meter relay crown.
Junior Shaun Maswanganyi completed the double for the second time in his career, winning the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Maswanganyi's 9.96 second time in the 100 (2.9) ranks third nationally this season and his 19.99 (2.4) ranks fifth in the nation. Maswanganyi won the 100 and 200 the last time the championships were in Tampa in 2021. Maswanganyi also won the 60-meter dash and 200 at the indoor conference championships.
Junior Lloyd Frilot won the 800-meter run for Houston's second-straight title in the event. Frilot ran the second-fastest time in program history, running 1:49.09 for a conference championships record. Fellow junior Adam Mason finished second in the 800, running 1:48.83 to move into the top 10 all-time list at #5 in program history.
The 110-meter hurdles have only been won by Cougars as junior De'Vion Wilson defended his title in the event, running 13.53 for a conference championships record. Houston went one-two in the event as senior DJ Akindele followed Wilson for the silver medal in 13.77 seconds. Wilson also finished second in the 400-meter hurdles.
Senior Christyan Sampy won the pole vault with a jump of 5.46 meters. Sampy has now won the conference title the last two times it has been held in Tampa, last winning the outdoor title in 2021.
Assistant coach Sandra Glover's 400-meter hurdles school record finally fell, 32 years after she set it as senior Sydni Townsend ran nearly a full second faster than Glover's 56.97 time from 1991. Townsend finished second overall in 55.99 and ranks ninth in the country now.
Senior Hailey Pollard got her first medal as a Cougar, finishing third in the discus with a 51.62-meter throw. Pollard's throw ranks fourth all-time in program history. Sophomore Daisy Monie finished fourth in the discus with the program's seventh-best throw of 50.93 meters.
Senior Cecilia Tamayo-Garza finished second in both the 100 and 200, running a blazing fast 22.45 in the 200, the second-fastest time in school history and fastest since 2007.
Tamayo-Garza and the women's 1,600-meter relay finished second by running 3:35.55.
The men's team title came down to the 1,600-meter relay, where the team champions Wichita State needed to finish in fourth place or better – even if Houston won – which occurred even though Houston won the relay. Wichita State finished third overall and won the meet by two points.
UP NEXT
Houston athletes in the top 48 of the NCAA West Qualifying List, and the top 24 relay teams, will compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, Calif., May 24-27 with the top 12 competitors and relays from each event qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas June 7-10.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
– UHCougars.com –
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Hurdles
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