University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, May 14
Orlando, Fla.
University of Memphis
vs
American Athletic Conference Championships
Photo by: Nikki Boertman
Criticos Wins Men's Javelin At Conference Championships Saturday
May 14, 2016 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Tigers sophomore sets conference and school records in winning crown.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Another day at the 2016 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and another individual title for the University of Memphis Tigers.
Tigers sophomore Michael Criticos claimed the school's third 2016 conference title when he placed won the men's javelin. Criticos won the javelin crown with a throw of 235-9 (71.85m), which is both an American Athletic Conference Championships meet and school record. He broke his own school record of 233-0 which he set at Auburn's War Eagle Invitational in late April.
Criticos' javelin title helped keep the Memphis men in the top half of the meet's standings heading into the final day of action Sunday. The Tigers men' squad has 48 points, which was good for second prior to the men's 3000-meter steeplechase that was held late Saturday night. Connecticut is in first place with 80 points, and USF is third with 46.5 points.
On the women's side, Memphis held down first place with 50 points prior to the women's 3000-meter steeplechase which was held late Saturday night. East Carolina is second with 44 points, followed by Cincinnati with 40 points.
Memphis had no competitors running in either men's or women's 3000-meter steeplechase.
Also helping the Tigers men's team score Saturday was freshman Jordan Wesner, who was runner-up in the high jump. Wesner jumped a personal-best 7-1.5 (2.17m). His jump also was only .75 shy of tying the school's high jump record.
Memphis had two other scorers in the men's javelin with Rafael Vallery and Grant Mathis placing in the event's top-eight. Vallery, who placed fourth in the discus with a personal-best throw on Friday, also recorded a personal-best and finished sixth in the javelin on Saturday. Vallery had a 188-1 (57.33m) javelin throw.
Mathis placed eighth in the javelin with a 181-7 (55.35m) toss.
The Tigers women's squad took over the top spot in the team standings on the strength of finishes in the long jump and javelin. Junior Chardae Greenlee and freshman Ashley Pryke led the women's team with third-place performances in their respective events.
Greenlee, who will attempt to defend her triple jump title Sunday, placed third in Saturday's long jump with a mark of 19-5.5 (5.93m). Senior Sydney Wright was fifth in the long jump at 19-4 (5.89m).
Pryke, who set the program's javelin record earlier in her freshman campaign, was third in the event at her first conference outdoor championships meet. She was third with a 153-8 (46.84m) throw. Jasmine Wilson placed eighth with a 131-9 (40.17m) toss.
In preliminaries action Saturday, Destinee Lansden advanced to the women's 400 meters final Sunday in a personal-best time of 54.34. Martina Rodriguez Sala advanced to Sunday's 1500 meters final with the preliminaries third-best time at 4:34.30.
For the Tigers men, Juan Paul Green (47.85) and Christopher Walker (48.04) both advanced in the 400 meters.
The American Athletic Conference Championships wraps up action Sunday. The final day begins at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
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Memphis Men's Results
Javelin – 1. Michael Criticos, 235-9 (71.85m); 6. Rafael Vallery, 188-1 (57.33m); 8. Grant Mathis, 181-7 (55.35m)
High jump – 2. Jordan Wesner, 7-1.5 (2.17m)
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Memphis Women's Results
Javelin – 3. Ashley Pryke, 153-8 (46.84m); 8. Jasmine Wilson, 131-9 (40.17m)
Long jump – 3. Chardae Greenlee, 19-5.5 (5.93m); 5. Sydney Wright, 19-4 (5.89m)
Tigers sophomore Michael Criticos claimed the school's third 2016 conference title when he placed won the men's javelin. Criticos won the javelin crown with a throw of 235-9 (71.85m), which is both an American Athletic Conference Championships meet and school record. He broke his own school record of 233-0 which he set at Auburn's War Eagle Invitational in late April.
Criticos' javelin title helped keep the Memphis men in the top half of the meet's standings heading into the final day of action Sunday. The Tigers men' squad has 48 points, which was good for second prior to the men's 3000-meter steeplechase that was held late Saturday night. Connecticut is in first place with 80 points, and USF is third with 46.5 points.
On the women's side, Memphis held down first place with 50 points prior to the women's 3000-meter steeplechase which was held late Saturday night. East Carolina is second with 44 points, followed by Cincinnati with 40 points.
Memphis had no competitors running in either men's or women's 3000-meter steeplechase.
Also helping the Tigers men's team score Saturday was freshman Jordan Wesner, who was runner-up in the high jump. Wesner jumped a personal-best 7-1.5 (2.17m). His jump also was only .75 shy of tying the school's high jump record.
Memphis had two other scorers in the men's javelin with Rafael Vallery and Grant Mathis placing in the event's top-eight. Vallery, who placed fourth in the discus with a personal-best throw on Friday, also recorded a personal-best and finished sixth in the javelin on Saturday. Vallery had a 188-1 (57.33m) javelin throw.
Mathis placed eighth in the javelin with a 181-7 (55.35m) toss.
The Tigers women's squad took over the top spot in the team standings on the strength of finishes in the long jump and javelin. Junior Chardae Greenlee and freshman Ashley Pryke led the women's team with third-place performances in their respective events.
Greenlee, who will attempt to defend her triple jump title Sunday, placed third in Saturday's long jump with a mark of 19-5.5 (5.93m). Senior Sydney Wright was fifth in the long jump at 19-4 (5.89m).
Pryke, who set the program's javelin record earlier in her freshman campaign, was third in the event at her first conference outdoor championships meet. She was third with a 153-8 (46.84m) throw. Jasmine Wilson placed eighth with a 131-9 (40.17m) toss.
In preliminaries action Saturday, Destinee Lansden advanced to the women's 400 meters final Sunday in a personal-best time of 54.34. Martina Rodriguez Sala advanced to Sunday's 1500 meters final with the preliminaries third-best time at 4:34.30.
For the Tigers men, Juan Paul Green (47.85) and Christopher Walker (48.04) both advanced in the 400 meters.
The American Athletic Conference Championships wraps up action Sunday. The final day begins at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
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Memphis Men's Results
Javelin – 1. Michael Criticos, 235-9 (71.85m); 6. Rafael Vallery, 188-1 (57.33m); 8. Grant Mathis, 181-7 (55.35m)
High jump – 2. Jordan Wesner, 7-1.5 (2.17m)
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Memphis Women's Results
Javelin – 3. Ashley Pryke, 153-8 (46.84m); 8. Jasmine Wilson, 131-9 (40.17m)
Long jump – 3. Chardae Greenlee, 19-5.5 (5.93m); 5. Sydney Wright, 19-4 (5.89m)
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
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