Pryke, Criticos Sweep Javelin Crowns Friday

Friday, April 21

Jonesboro, Ark.

University of Memphis

Red Wolves Open

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Apr 21, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Red Wolves Open/Friday Results

Wheeler improves personal-best in women's 5000m again.

JONESBORO, Ark. – For the fifth time in five meets this outdoor campaign, University of Memphis' Michael Criticos and Ashley Pryke swept the men's and women's javelin events, respectively, to lead the Tigers in Friday action at Arkansas State's Red Wolves Open. Despite the threat of inclement weather, all events were held Friday.

Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m. (CT) with field events, and the running events start at 12 p.m. (CT).

Criticos won the men's javelin by over 45 feet over second-place finisher and teammate Simon Hosten. Criticos had a 222-10 (67.93m) throw, and Hosten had a 175-6 (53.50m) mark. Hosten competed in the javelin in preparation for the men's decathlon at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships in May.

On the women's side, Pryke won the javelin with a school-record throw of 177-5 (54.09m). Her throw Friday surpassed her previous school record of 175-3 (53.41m), which she set in the 2017 outdoor season opener at Rhodes College Mar. 17. Pryke's Mar. 17 javelin mark (175-3) bested her school-record throw of 160-10 (49.03m) set as a freshman in 2016.

2017 Red Wolves Open Highlights/Day One

Junior Lauren Wheeler continued the assault on her personal-best in the women's 5000 meters, as she improved for the third time this campaign. Entering the 2017 outdoor season, Wheeler's best was 19:09.81. In the opening meet at the Mar. 18 Rhodes Invitational, she cut her personal-best by 19 seconds to 18:50.78. At the Apr. 2 Southeast Missouri Joey Haines Invitational, Wheeler bettered that mark by 15 more seconds at 18:35.57. Then, on Friday, Wheeler cut her time in the event by nearly 11 more seconds to 18:24.68. Overall, she has improved her personal-best by 45 seconds in the 2017 outdoor season.
With her javelin result Friday, Ashley Pryke has the top mark in the American Athletic Conference and the fifth-best throw nationally. Her 177-5 javelin throw leads The American by nearly seven feet.

Junior Antaun Andrews ran a personal-best 21.99 seconds in the men's 200 meters. His previous top time in the event was 22.15 seconds at Ole Miss' Joe Walker Invitational earlier this outdoor season.
Senior Christopher Walker just missed tying his personal-best in the men's 200 meters. He ran a 22.27 Friday, and his personal-best is 22.26 set at the Crimson Tide Invitational two weeks ago.
Junior Rebeka Holt placed third in the women's 200 meters in a time of 24.74 seconds. It was the first time she ran the outdoor 200 meters in her career. Holt ran the 200 meters indoors once in 2017.
Two freshmen on the Tigers men's squad recorded season-bests Friday. Adam Neelly had a season-best 161-1 (49.11m) hammer throw, and Zach Shasteen posted a season-best 15-7.75 (4.77m) pole vault.

Memphis Men's Results
200m – 5. Antaun Andrews, 21.99; 9. Christopher Walker, 22.27
Hammer – 2. Adam Neelly, 161-1 (49.11m)
Javelin – 1. Michael Criticos, 222-10 (67.93m); 2. Simon Hosten, 175-6 (53.50m); 4. Grant Mathis, 172-8 (52.63m); 8. Rafael Vallery, 160-7 (48.95m)
Pole vault – 5. Zach Shasteen, 15-7.75 (4.77m)

Memphis Women's Results
200m – 3. Rebeka Holt, 24.74
5000m – 2. Lauren Wheeler, 18:24.68
Long jump – 8. Nicole Lawson, 16-9.75 (5.12m)
Hammer – 3. DeeNia McMiller, 163-3 (49.75m)
Javelin – 1. Ashley Pryke, 177-5 (54.09m)