Pryke Wins Conference Women's Javelin Crown

Saturday, May 13

Houston, Texas

University of Memphis

American Athletic Conference Championships

Simon Hosten, 2016-17 Men's Track and Field

Photo by: Nikki Boertman

May 13, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

AAC Championships/Day Two Men's Results AAC Championships/Day Two Women's Results

Sophomore sets school, meet, stadium record with title throw.

HOUSTON, Texas – University of Memphis' Ashley Pryke continued her perfect outdoor season in the women's javelin in Saturday action at the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships, winning the league crown in the event. Pryke's title was Memphis' first of the 2017 conference meet.

Pryke won the title in record fashion. Her 181-0 (55.18m) throw broke not only her own school record (177-5; 54.09m), but also set the Amercian Athletic Conference, league meet and Houston's Carl Lewis International Stadium mark in the event.

With Saturday's win, Pryke is a perfect 8-for-8 in women's javelin competitions in 2017. Last season, Pryke was third in the women's javelin at the conference meet.

Final-day action at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships is Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. (CT) with field events. The running events are set to start at 5 p.m. (CT).

American Athletic Conference Championships/Day Two Highlights

After advancing to their respective 200 meters finals Friday, Cera Chavez and Davon DeMoss did the same in Saturday's 100 meters preliminaries. Chavez (11.55) and DeMoss (10.30) both finished third in their respective 100 meters preliminaries. On Sunday, Chavez and DeMoss will compete in both the 100 and 200 meters finals.
Freshman Dominique Chatman ran a personal-best 53.58 in the women's 400 meters preliminaries and advanced to Sunday's final in the event. Her previous-best was 55.21 at Alabama's Crimson Tide Invitational earlier this season.
Junior Brock Ballard advanced to the men's 1500 meters final Sunday. Ballard's 3:57.63 was the second-best time in Saturday's preliminaries.
Simon Hosten ran a personal-best 14.31 in the men's 110 meter hurdles and advanced to Sunday's final in the event.
Junior Michael Criticos placed second in the men's javelin. It was his third-straight, top-two performance in the event at the league meet. Criticos placed second as a freshman in 2015 and then won the crown as a sophomore at the 2016 championships.
Sophomore Nicole Lawson jumped a personal-best 17-6 (5.33m) in the women's long jump. Her previous-best was a 17-5.25 (5.31m) leap at 2016 Vanderbilt Invitational (indoor).
Junior ToNaya Gulley ran a personal-best 14.02 in the women's 100 meters hurdles preliminaries Saturday. Her previous-best in the event was 14.25 at the 2016 Memphis Invitational.
Freshman Lennard Biere threw a personal-best 185-0 (56.38m) in the men's javelin. He placed fifth in the event Saturday. His previous-best was a 168-9 (51.44m) throw at the Rhodes Invitational earlier this season.
Freshman Kolbeinn Gunnarsson ran an outdoor personal-best 48.01 in the 400 meters preliminaries.
Senior Destinee Lansden (55.20) and junior Rebeka Holt (55.91) set their season-bests in the women's 400 meters Saturday. Lansden's previous-best was 55.92 at Alabama's Crimson Tide Invitational, while Holt tied her season-best of 55.91 that she ran at the Crimson Tide Invitational.
Wade Wells nearly tied his personal-best in the men's shot put Saturday. His 54-9.5 (16.70m) toss was just 1.25 inches shy of his personal-best (54-10.75; 16.73m), which he set at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships.

2017 American Athletic Conference Championships
Memphis Men's Results
100m (P) – 3. Davon DeMoss, 10.30 (advances to final)
400m (P) – 10. Christopher Walker, 47.88; 11. Kolbeinn Gunnarsson, 48.01; 14. Antaun Andrews, 48.44
1500m (P) – 2. Brock Ballard, 3:57.63 (advances to final)
3000m steeplechase – 5. Julian Sanchez-Pinto, 9:28.24
110m hurdles (P) – 4. Simon Hosten, 14.31 (advances to final); 9. Aaron Persinger, 15.13
Shot put – 4. Yannik Schaly, 57-9.5 (17.61m); 7. Adam Neelly, 55-2 (16.81m); 8. Rafael Valley, 55-0.25 (16.77m); 9. Wade Wells, 54-9.5 (16.70m)
Javelin – 2. Michael Criticos, 223-5 (68.10m); 5. Lennard Biere, 185-0 (56.38m); 6. Simon Hosten, 181-5 (55.29m); 8. Rafael Vallery, 171-3 (52.20m)
Decathlon – 4. Lennard Biere, 7070 points

Memphis Women's Results
100m (P) – 3. Cera Chavez, 11.55 (advances to final)
400m (P) – 5. Dominique Chatman, 53.58 (advances to final); 11. Destinee Lansden, 55.20 ; 14. Rebeka Holt, 55.91
100m hurdles (P) – 12. ToNaya Gulley, 14.02
Long jump – 14. Chardae Greenlee, 17-9.5 (5.42m); 16. Nicole Lawson, 17-6 (5.33m); 17. Sandra Ekblom, 17-4.75 (5.30m)
Shot put – 11. DeeNia McMiller, 45-0.25 (13.72m)
Javelin – 1. Ashley Pryke, 181-0 (55.18m); 9. Kelly Baxter, 112-8 (34.35m)