Carmichael, Hanssler Win Crowns At Conference Meet Friday

Friday, May 13

Orlando, Fla.

University of Memphis

American Athletic Conference Championships

Carolina Carmichael, 2015-16 Women's Track and Field

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Carmichael, Hanssler Win Crowns At Conference Meet Friday

May 13, 2016 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Carmichael wins third-straight pole vault, Hanssler third-consecutive decathlon.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Make it a "three-peat" for University of Memphis seniors Carolina Carmichael and Luis Hanssler.

On Friday, Carmichael and Hanssler both won their third-consecutive league outdoor titles in the women's pole vault and men's decathlon, respectively, at the American Athletic Conference Championships. Carmichael took the pole vault crown with a 13-11.25 (4.25m) mark, and Hanssler won the decathlon with 7369 points.

Carmichael and Hanssler helped lead the Tigers women's and men's squads, respectively, to second-place finishes after day two of the championships. The Memphis women are second with 33 points, trailing only East Carolina with 38 points. On the men's side, the Tigers' 26 points have them in second place behind Connecticut's 37 points.

Carmichael won her third-straight conference women's pole vault title, but it was the Tigers' depth in the event that pushed Memphis to its second-place team position. Memphis had all four of its competitors finish in the top-five of the event, scoring 25 of the Tigers' 33 points on the day.

Senior Clara Amat-Fernandez, who won the league's indoor pole vault crown in February, was third with a 13-3.5 (4.05m) vault. Dorina Baiker and Jada Parker placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Baiker and Parker both vaulted 12-11.5 (3.95m).

Scoring the women's other eight points was sophomore Martine Bye, who placed second in the heptathlon. Bye finished with 5254 points. In Friday's final three events, Bye won the javelin (153-10; 46.90m), placed fourth in the long jump (17-4.25; 5.29m) and finished fifth in the 800 meters (2:26.51). Her javelin mark set the conference record in the event within the heptathlon competition.

On the men's side, Hanssler wrapped up his third-consecutive American Athletic Conference decathlon title by placing in the top-three in all five events Friday, including two first-place finishes. He won the 110-meter hurdles (14.60) and 1500-meter run (4:33.00), placed second in the javelin (162-4; 49.48m) and finished third in both the discus (120-3; 36.65m) and pole vault (13-11.25; 4.25m).

His 110-meter hurdles time was an American Athletic Conference meet record within the decathlon event and also a personal-best. Overall, Hanssler won six of the 10 events in the decathlon.

The Tigers men's squad also received scoring from its two top-eight finishes in the discus. Luke Vaughn, who won the 2015 discus title, fell one inch short in his attempt to defend the crown. Vaughn posted a 186-11 (56.98m) mark and placed second. Rafael Vallery finished fourth with a personal-best throw of 176-8 (53.86m).

In Friday evening action, the men's and women's preliminaries were held for the 800 meters, 400-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash, and Memphis had competitors advance to Sunday finals in three events.

On the men's side, LaForrest Church (1:51.42) and Alex Klatt (1:50.86) both advanced in the 800 meters, and Jason Kimmet (52.75) and Aaron Persinger (53.18) moved on to the 400-meter hurdles finals. For the Tigers women, Melinda Murdock (1:01.78) and Derriana Parrish (1:02.32) advanced to the 400-meter hurdles final.

Third-day action at the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championships begins at 12 p.m. (CT) Saturday.

Memphis Men's Results
Discus – 2. Luke Vaughn, 186-11 (56.98m); 4. Rafael Vallery, 176-8 (53.86m)
Decathlon – 1. Luis Hanssler, 7369 points

Memphis Women's Results
Pole vault – 1. Carolina Carmichael, 13-11.25 (4.25m); 3. Clara Amat-Fernandez, 13-3.5 (4.05m); 4. Dorina Baiker, 12-11.5 (3.95m); 5. Jada Parker, 12-11.5 (3.95m)
Heptathlon – 2. Martine Bye, 5254 points