USF track and field is having a record-breaking weekend at the AAC Championships

Tampa, Fla., May 14, 2023 The University of South Florida track and field team won five event titles and broke six program records on the final day of the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by USF.

“Today was the decision of a very successful championship match,” head coach Erik Jenkins said, “Our student-athletes had quality performances in several groups of events. We are moving in the right direction and the many accomplishments this weekend show that.”

Riley Hunt started the Bulls’ day off strong with a new personal best in the women’s pole vault of 3.82 meters (12-6.25) to finish fifth in the event. He Sweet finished seventh with a score of 3.82 m (12-6.25).

NCAA indoor champion Romaine Beckford completed the indoor and outdoor high jump competition with a leap of 2.17 meters (7-1.5) and again won the conference championship. Kendell Mosley achieved fourth place for the Bulls with a jump of 2.00 meters (6-6.75).

Nia Robinson finished fourth in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 12.67m (41-7), good for fifth on the program’s top ten all-time list. Robinson also moved up to third on the women’s high jump list after posting a mark of 1.76 meters (5-9.25) to finish fifth in the competition.

In the men’s pole vault, Kobe Babinset a new program record after clearing 5.36 meters (17-7) and finished second in the competition. Stone Baker followed by third place with a new personal best of 5.26m (17-3). Noah Bitter finished eighth with a season’s best mark of 4.91 m (16-1.25).

The Bulls’ fourth podium finish of the day came in the women’s 4×100 relay, whereJe’Nia Burton,Terran Peterson,Jadaja Baxterand Shania Benjamin finished in 44.70 seconds to earn bronze and move into sixth on USF’s all-time list. Meanwhile, the men’s relay teamDanelson Mahautiere,Shevioe Reid, Jaleel CroalandZayquan Lincoln ran a new program record time of 39.77 seconds and finished second in the race.

MichaelBourneIII clocked a program-record 13.91 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles to earn third place in the event. Victor Steiner finished fifth with a time of 14:09. Bourne later won the conference championship in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.86 to move into fifth on the program’s all-time list.

Sanique Walker captured a second AAC championship for the Bulls after completing a new program, and AAC meet record 55.87 seconds. He is currently ranked sixth in the NCAA.

In the 400 meters, JeNyiaBurton earned her second podium finish for the Bulls, running a new program record time of 52.74 seconds for third.Doneisha Anderson he was followed by a fourth-place finish of 53.52 seconds, which moves him to third on the program’s all-time list.

In the men’s seriesShevioe Reid also recorded a new personal best time of 45.96 seconds, earning the Bulls another title Elijah Wright followed in third with a season-best time of 46.70 seconds. Daunte O’Banion finished seventh with a time of 47.73.

Bulls, Lincoln and Croaltook also earned points for fifth (10.29) and eighth (10.42) in the men’s 100m.

Benjamin returned to the track in the women’s 200 meters and finished fifth in a program record time of 23:11. In the men’s competition, e.g.Shevioe Reid The Bulls finished third with a time of 20.53 seconds. Jaleel Croal earned the Bulls a point in eighth place.

Benjamin’s women’s 4×400 relay team, He warms up Allers-LiburdAnderson and Burton won the AAC championship after completing a new program and AAC record time of 3:32.24.

Shortly thereafter, the men’s team of O’Banion, Reid, Bourne and Wright ran the third-best time in program history at 3:07.96, finishing second in the event and closing out the 2023 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships.

The women’s team finished fourth in the competition with 78 points, the most points in program history. It was the highest program mark in AAC history and the best since 2013 as a member of the Big East Conference. The women finished the weekend with four program records and three conference championships (400m hurdles, long jump and 4×400 relay), the most since 2013.

The men’s team finished the weekend in fifth place with 103 points, the most in program history. It was the highest finish since 2016. The men finished the weekend with three program records and three conference titles (400m, 400m hurdles and high jump), the most since 2013.

Next

The Bulls will compete in the NCAA East Region Preliminaries beginning on May 24 in Jacksonville, Fl.

About USF Athletics
The USF track and field team has earned 54 All-American selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. The Tampa nativeShania Benjaminset a program record and earned three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while 2016 graduate triple jumper Matthew O’Neal became USF’s first six-time NCAA All-American. The Bulls have two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 – O’Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). The head coachErik Jenkinstook over the program in 2020, and in the 2021 offseason, the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top-10 all-time program points. USF will host the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at USF Track and Field Stadium, located on the east end of campus.

#GoBulls