BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Charlotte 49ers women’s team and South Florida’s men’s team took home the team championships at the 2024 American Athletic Conference Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Saturday. It marks the first American Indoor Track & Field Championship for both programs.
In their first year in the league, the 49ers took home the championship, scoring 107 points to outscore Rice in the last event of the evening, who finished with 105 points. South Florida finished in third place with 75 points, followed by Tulsa (57), Wichita State (48.5), SMU (48), East Carolina (47), Tulane (44), North Texas (35), Memphis (34), UTSA (31), Temple (21.5), Florida Atlantic (8) and UAB (2).
It marks a second straight year that a program has won its first team title at the championships, with South Florida scoring 156 points to win the 2024 title. Charlotte finished in second place with 105.5 points, followed by UTSA (80), Tulsa (79), Wichita State (70), Rice (68), Memphis (36), North Texas (35.5) and East Carolina (31).
There was a three-way tie for the men’s Most Valuable Performer between South Florida’s Jaleel Croal, UTSA’s Gabriel Binion and Tulsa’s Malte Propp. Croal won the 200-meter and 60-meter dash, Propp won the 3,000 meter and 5,000 meter runs, while Binion won the triple jump and long jump. Destiny Masters of Wichita State won the women’s Most Valuable Performer, scoring 21 points while participating in the pentathlon, high jump, long jump and 60-meter hurdles. South Florida’s Markel Jones won Freshman of the Year after earning a gold medal in the 60-meter hurdles. UTSA’s Ida Breigan was named Freshman of the Year on the women’s side, winning the long jump in record breaking fashion. Bob Olesen and his staff earned their first women’s Coaching Staff of the Year in their first season in The American. Erik Jenkins and his staff won their first men’s Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Wichita State’s Destiny Masters earned the first gold medal of day two, clearing 1.86 meters in women’s high jump to take first place and set a personal record. Rice teammates Josie Taylor and Alice Taylor earned silver and bronze medals, both clearing 1.78 meters.
In the women’s mile, Rice took gold and sliver as Taigen Hunter-Galvan came in first with a 4:48.55, while Amelia Attenborough ran a 4:51.19 for second place. Tulsa’s Katharina Pesendorfer rounded out the podium in third place with a 4:51.82.
In the men’s mile, Charlotte’s Tim Haughton narrowly beat Tulsa’s Sean Korsmo for the gold medal. Haughton ran a 4:05.07, while Korsmo’s diving finish earned him a 4:05.10. Charlotte’s Maddon Muhammad ran a 4:05.29 for the bronze medal.
A tight two-heat women’s 400-meter final results in South Florida earning gold and silver. Terren Peterson ran a 54.02 for first place, while Zahria Allers-Liburd took second place at 54.03 seconds. Tulsa’s Elizabeth Roca earned the bronze medal at 54.11 seconds.
In the men’s 400-meter dash, South Florida’s Nathan Metelus took home the gold at 46.35 seconds, while UTSA’s Michael Roth earned the silver medal at 46.44. South Florida’s Shevioe Reid earned the bronze medal with a time of 46.87 seconds.
In men’s shot put, Charlotte’s Jacob Soorus used a third throw of 18.04 meters to earn gold. Memphis teammates Iason Machairas and Sascha Schmidt took home silver and bronze. Macharais used a final throw of 17.28 meters to earn silver, while Schmidt threw 17.15 meters on his first attempt to earn third place.
Wichita State’s Adria Navajon claimed gold in the heptathlon for a third time, totaling 5,468 points for first place. Rice’s Vincent Arousell took home silver with 5,477 points, while Wichita State’s Hudson Bailey won the bronze with 5,048 points.
Memphis took home the gold and bronze medals in the women’s 60-meter hurdles as Madison Fleming ran a 8.17 for first place and Gizel Clayton ran 8.35 for third place. East Carolina’s Sydni McMillan earned silver at 8.30 seconds.
All three podium winners in the men’s 60-meter hurdles ran personal bests. South Florida’s Markel Jones ran a 7.81 to take home the gold medal, East Carolina’s Terence Booth earned silver at 7.88, and Charlotte’s Jaden Jenkins ran a 7.95 for the bronze medal.
East Carolina’s Melicia Mouzzon ran a personal best in the 60-meter dash at 7.27 seconds to win the event. Charlotte’s Joyasia Smith won the silver medal at 7.35 seconds, while Rice’s Kennedy Gamble earned the bronze medal at 7.39 seconds.
South Florida took home the top two medals in the men’s 60-meter dash with Jaleel Croal earning the gold medal at 6.65 seconds. Zayquan Lincoln finished with the silver medal at 6.74 seconds, besting East Carolina’s Roya Burris, who earned the bronze medal at 6.75 seconds.
The top two finishers in the women’s 800-meter run broke the previous meet record. Rice’s Taigen Hunter-Galvan earned the gold medal, running a 2:04.17, while Wichita State’s Farrah Miller ran a 2:04.68 for the silver medal. Tulane’s Janae Dean earned the bronze medal at 2:06.17.
All three podium winners ran personal bests in the men’s 800 meter with Sukeil Foucha taking home the gold medal at 1:49.93. South Florida’s Karim Belmahdi earned the silver medal at 1:50.06, and Charlotte’s Maddon Muhammad was the bronze medalist at 1:51.16.
In the women’s triple jump, Rice’s Ginnie Okafor earned the gold medal with a jump of 12.92 meters. Temple’s Inara Shell was the silver medalist at 12.85 meters, and Okafor’s teammate Savannah Simms earned the bronze medal with a leap of 12.81 meters.
Charlotte took home two medals in the women’s 200-meter dash, as Joyasia Smith (23.26) earned the gold medal and Ta-halia Fairman (23.41) took home the bronze. East Carolina’s Melicia Mouzzon was the silver medalist at 23.38 seconds.
South Florida men took home the gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter dash, with Jaleel Croal earning his second gold medal of the meet, running a 20.96 second 200 meters. Teammate Nathan Metelus was the bronze medalist at 21.09, while UTSA’s Brice Chabot earned the silver medal at 21.01.
In the women’s shot put, KeAyla Dove took home the gold with a record-breaking throw, hitting a distance of 18.24 meters – the third best throw in the nation this season. Charlotte’s Patience Marshall earned the silver with a throw of 16.19 meters, while East Carolina’s Naadiya Faison was the bronze medalist with a throw of 15.36 meters.
Lauren Johnston of Charlotte earned the gold medal in the women’s 3,000 meter run with a time of 9:33.09. Tulane’s Paula Vaquera was just behind in second place with a time of 9:33.29, while Tamara Reeves won the bronze medal with a time of 9:34.66.
Tulsa swept the men’s 3,000 meter run with senior Malte Propp leading the pack at 8:01.74 for the gold medal. Christian Baker took home silver at 8:04.45, while teammate Chris McLeod was the bronze medalist at 8:05.10.
UTSA’s Gabriel Binion ended the field events with a gold medal in triple jump with a distance of 15.77 meters. South Florida’s Goodness Iredia took home silver with a jump of 15.76 meters, while UTSA’s Dylan James finished with the bronze medal with a jump of 15.38 meters.
South Florida women ended the day in record breaking fashion, running a 3:36.31 in the 4×400 to claim the gold medal, behind the team of Terren Peterson, Shaniya Benjamin, Zahria Allers-Liburd and Amenda Saint Louis. Needing to outscore Rice by five points to take over the team lead, Charlotte’s team of Angela Alozie, Khia Holloway, Aniya Matthews and Joyasia Smith earned the silver medal with a time of 3:38.23 to give the 49ers the team title. SMU rounded out the podium with the team of Nea Sanders, Whitney Williams, Kiri Chacchia and Hali Murphy running a time of 3:41.21 for the bronze medal.
The Bulls also took home the gold medal in the men’s 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:09.53 run by the team of Devontie Archer, Daunte O’Banion, Market Jones and Tre’Sean Bouie. UTSA took home silver with a time of 3:11.44 run by the team of Martin Kouyoumdjian, Noah Rhodes, Nabil Tezkratt and Michael Roth. Wichita State’s team of Joakim Genereux, Jason Parrish, Bryan Haney and Trace Spires took home the bronze with a time of 3:14.08.
2024 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Men’s Teams Scores
1. South Florida – 156
2. Charlotte – 105.5
3. UTSA – 80
4. Tulsa – 79
5. Wichita State – 70
6. Rice – 68
7. Memphis – 36
8, North Texas – 35.5
9. East Carolina – 31
Women’s Teams Scores
1. Charlotte – 107
2. Rice – 105
3. South Florida – 75
4. Tulsa – 57
5. Wichita State – 48.5
6. SMU – 48
7. East Carolina – 47
8. Tulane – 44
9. North Texas – 35
10. Memphis – 34
11. UTSA – 31
12. Temple 21.5
13. Florida Atlantic – 8
14. UAB – 2
Women’s Most Valuable Performer
Destiny Masters, Wichita State
Men’s Most Valuable Performer
Jaleel Croal, South Florida
Gabriel Binion, UTSA
Malte Propp, Tulsa
Women’s Freshman of the Year
Ida Breigan, UTSA
Men’s Freshman of the Year
Markel Jones, South Florida
Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year
Bob Olesen (Charlotte)
Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year
Erik Jenkins (South Florida)
2024 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
Friday, February 23 (ESPN+) |
Women’s Pentathlon – Eliza Kraule, Rice, 4,335 points *Meet Record*
9:00 a.m. W-Pentathlon 60m Hurdles – Destiny Masters, Wichita State, 8.40 *Meet Record*
9:45 a.m. W-Pentathlon High Jump – Destiny Masters, Wichita State, 1.82m *Meet Record*
11:30 a.m. W-Pentathlon Shot Put – Olivia Dobson, SMU, 14.08m
12:45 p.m. W-Pentathlon Long Jump – Eliza Kraule, Rice, 6.26m *Meet Record*
2:00 p.m. W-Pentathlon 800m Run – Sadie Millard, Wichita State, 2:22.18
Men’s Heptathlon – Vincent Arousell, Rice, 3,174 (after one day)
11:00 a.m. M-Heptathlon 60m Dash – Adria Navajon, Wichita State, 6.92
11:45 a.m. M-Heptathlon Long Jump – Adria Navajon, Wichita State, 7.28m
1:00 p.m. M-Heptathlon Shot Put – Vincent Arousell, Rice, 13.78m
3:20 p.m. M-Heptathlon High Jump – Vincent Arousell, Rice, 2.01m
Field Events
12:00 p.m. High Jump – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Brady Palen, Wichita State, 2.18m
12:00 p.m. Pole Vault – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Kobe Babin, South Florida, 5.03m
2:00 p.m. Long Jump – Women’s Trials & FINAL – Ida Breigan, UTSA, 6.58m *Meet Record*
2:15 p.m. Weight Throw – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Cal Abdulky, Rice, 21.03m
3:30 p.m. Pole Vault – Women’s Trials & FINAL – Riley Felts, Charlotte, 4.47m *Meet Record*
4:00 p.m. Long Jump – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Gabriel Binion, UTSA, 7.55m
4:15 p.. Weight Throw – Women’s Trials & FINAL – Tara SImpson-Sullivan, Rice, 21.14m
Track Events
1:05 p.m.Mile Run – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Taigen Hunter-Galvan, Rice, 4:57.11
1:20 p.m. Mile Run – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Andrew Murray, Rice, 4:06.16
1:35 p.m. 400m Dash – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Elizabeth Roca, Rice, 53.97
1:50 p.m. 400m Dash – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Shevioe Reid, South Florida, 47.08
2:05 p.m. 60m Hurdles – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Madison Fleming, Memphis, 8.30
2:15 p.m. 60m Hurdles – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Markel Jones, South Florida, 7.89
2:25 p.m. 60m Dash – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Melicia Mouzzon, East Carolina, 7.28
2:35 p.m. 60m Dash – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Saminu Abdul-Rasheed, South Florida, 6.57 *Meet Record*
2:50 p.m. 800m Dash – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifer: Janae Dean, Rulane, 2:10.52
3:05 p.m. 800m Dash – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier:Gabriel Moronta, South Florida, 1:53.88
3:20 p.m. 200m Dash – Women’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Ta-Halia Fairman, Charlotte, 23.30
3:40 p.m. 200m Dash – Men’s Trials – Top Qualifier: Shevioe Reid, South Florida, 21.07
4:35 p.m. 5,000m Run Seeded – Women’s FINAL – Chloe Hershenow, Tulsa, 16:19.24
5:00 p.m. 5,000m Run Seeded – Men’s FINAL – Malte Propp, Tulsa, 13:47.96 *Meet Record*
5:20 p.m. Distance Medley Relay – Women’s FINAL – SMU, 11:34.87
5:40 p.m. Distance Medley Relay – Men’s FINAL – Tulsa, 9:47.07
Saturday, February 24 (ESPN+)
Men’s Heptathlon – Adria Navajon, Wichita State, 5,568 points
9:15 a.m. M-Heptathlon 60m Hurdles – Adria Navajon, Wichita State, 8.22
10:45 a.m. M-Heptathlon Pole Vault – Starrett Vesper, East Carolina, 4.75m
2:20 p.m. M-Heptathlon 1000m Run – Luke Porter, Wichita State, 2:46.15
Field Events
10:30 a.m. High Jump – Women’s Trials & FINAL – Destiny Masters, Wichita State, 1.86m
10:45 a.m. Shot Put – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Jacob Soorus, Charlotte, 18.04m
11:45 a.m. Triple Jump – Women’s Trials & FINAL – Ginne Okafor, Rice, 12.92m
1:15 p.m. Shot Put – Women’s Trials & FINAL – KeAyla Dove, North Texas, 18.24m *Meet Record*
1:45 p.m. Triple Jump – Men’s Trials & FINAL – Gabriel Binion, UTSA, 15.77m
Track Events
12:05 p.m. Mile Run – Women’s FINAL – Taigen Hunter-Galvan, Rice, 4:48:55
12:15 p.m. Mile Run – Men’s FINAL – Tim Haughton, Charlotte, 4:05.07
12:25 p.m. 400m Dash – Women’s – Terren Peterson, South Florida, 54.02
12:35 p.m. 400m Dash – Men’s – Nathan Metelus, South Florida, 46.35
12:45 p.m. 60m Hudles – Women’s FINAL – Madison Fleming, Memphis, 8.17
12:55 p.m. 60m Hurdles – Men’s FINAL – Markel Jones, South Florida, 7.81
1:05 p.m. 60m Dash – Women’s FINAL – Melicia Mouzzon, East Carolina, 7.27
1:15 p.m. 60m Dash – Men’s FINAL – Jaleel Croal, South Florida, 6.65
1:25 p.m. 800m Run – Women’s FINAL – Taigen Hunter-Galvan, Rice, 2:04.17
1:35 p.m. 800m Run – Men’s FINAL – Sukeil Foucha, North Texas, 1:49.93
1:45 p.m. 200m Dash – Women’s – Joyasia Smith, Charlotte, 23.26
1:55 p.m. 200m Dash – Men’s – Jaleel Croal, South Florida, 20.96
2:55 p.m. 3,000m Run Seeded – Women’s FINAL – Lauren Johnston, Charlotte, 9:33.09
3:10 p.m. 3,000m Run Seeded – Men’s FINAL – Malte Propp, Tulsa, 8:01.74
3:25 p.m. 4x400m Relay – Women’s FINAL – South Florida, 3:36.31 *Meet Record*
3:35 p.m. 4×400 Relay – Men’s FINAL – South Florida, 3:09.53
