University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: (Ben Solomon/American Athletic Conference)
Track And Field Review: 2017-18
Aug 28, 2018 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
A "school-record" campaign for the Tigers last year.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The new school year is just underway at the University of Memphis. However, before the 2018-19 track and field/cross country campaign kicks off this weekend, let's look back at the incredible 2017-18 year the Tigers had.
In fact, it was a "school-record" year in more ways than the individual marks in events for the Tigers. Memphis sent 23 qualifiers to the NCAA East Preliminaries, a school record. The Tigers had nine athletes advance to the NCAA Championships, another program record. And, on top of that, Memphis set 15 school event records for a campaign (indoor/outdoor combined) – also a school record.
The "school-record" year in 2017-18 was not confined to the arena of competition. The Tigers had three Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, a school record. Memphis also had six Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, a school record. The Tigers also had 17 student-athletes earn U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors, another program record.
Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
"Looking back, it was quite a banner year for us. I knew coming into the year that we had a pretty special group. We were a team I thought could win a conference title. We didn't pull that off, which was one of our biggest goals. But some of the things we were able to accomplish, there were a lot of positive things that happened throughout the season.
"It's difficult when you're in the middle of the season to step back and appreciate it all and enjoy the moment as the moment is happening. It was one of those seasons when you have a phenomenal group of young men and women come together and get to the place where you think this is the best you could have done. That doesn't happen often, especially in track and field.
"This past year has been a blessing, a great ride. My hat's off to this team, and they helped elevate this program to another level. I'm excited about what we accomplished, and I want to build on that momentum. I'm grateful for the season we had, and I'm excited for the challenge to do an even better job. Let's see what we can do in 2018-19."
2017-18 Highlights
Three Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, a program record
#second straight year selected an Academic All-American
^highest Academic All-America selection in program history
Six Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District, a school record
Nine All-Americans
Nine NCAA Championships qualifiers, a school record
23 NCAA East Preliminaries qualifiers, a school record
17 USTFCCCA All-Academic selections, a program record
Memphis ranked among the nation's elite in USTFCCCA All-Academic selections
15 school records, the most in one athletics year
In fact, it was a "school-record" year in more ways than the individual marks in events for the Tigers. Memphis sent 23 qualifiers to the NCAA East Preliminaries, a school record. The Tigers had nine athletes advance to the NCAA Championships, another program record. And, on top of that, Memphis set 15 school event records for a campaign (indoor/outdoor combined) – also a school record.
The "school-record" year in 2017-18 was not confined to the arena of competition. The Tigers had three Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, a school record. Memphis also had six Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, a school record. The Tigers also had 17 student-athletes earn U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors, another program record.
Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
"Looking back, it was quite a banner year for us. I knew coming into the year that we had a pretty special group. We were a team I thought could win a conference title. We didn't pull that off, which was one of our biggest goals. But some of the things we were able to accomplish, there were a lot of positive things that happened throughout the season.
"It's difficult when you're in the middle of the season to step back and appreciate it all and enjoy the moment as the moment is happening. It was one of those seasons when you have a phenomenal group of young men and women come together and get to the place where you think this is the best you could have done. That doesn't happen often, especially in track and field.
"This past year has been a blessing, a great ride. My hat's off to this team, and they helped elevate this program to another level. I'm excited about what we accomplished, and I want to build on that momentum. I'm grateful for the season we had, and I'm excited for the challenge to do an even better job. Let's see what we can do in 2018-19."
2017-18 Highlights
- Luke Vaughn won the NCAA men's discus title, the first NCAA title for any sport at Memphis since 2005 (Beth Tidmore, air rifle).
- Vaughn's NCAA title was the first for Memphis track and field since the early 1980s (indoor) and the program's first outdoor crown since the early 1970s.
- The men's team placed 20th at the NCAA Championships.
- The men's team posted runner-up finishes at the American Athletic Conference Championships (indoor and outdoor). It was the first time the men's program had top-two finishes at both championships in the same year since 1993 (Great Midwest Conference).
- Luke Vaughn was named the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships Men's Most Valuable Performer.
- Luke Vaughn was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor Male Field Scholar Athlete of the Year, the second Tiger to win the honor in program history (Manuel Ziegler in 2013).
- Michael Criticos was named the American Athletic Conference Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year in men's track and field. Criticos received a $2,000 scholarship that can be applied to graduate or professional studies.
- The men's team earned the American Athletic Conference Academic Excellence Award for the indoor and outdoor seasons (highest collective GPA among league teams).
- The Memphis track and field/cross country combined to place 49 student-athletes on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
- The men's and women's track and field squads were named to the USTFCCCA Academic Team Awards list for the seventh straight year. Memphis was one of three American Athletic Conference schools to have both men's and women's teams on the list (Cincinnati, Tulsa).
- The men's team had the highest GPA in the American Athletic Conference (3.36), and the women's GPA was third-highest in the league (3.37).
- The Tigers' 17 USTFCCCA All-Academic selections were 14th in the nation and tops in the league.
Three Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, a program record
| Student-Athlete | Team |
| Olushola Olojo# | Third |
| Ashley Pryke | Third |
| Rafael Vallery^ | Second |
^highest Academic All-America selection in program history
Six Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District, a school record
| Student-Athlete | Team |
| Kristen Adams | Second |
| Brock Ballard | Second |
| Olushola Olojo | First |
| Aaron Persinger | Second |
| Ashley Pryke | First |
| Rafael Vallery | First |
Nine All-Americans
| Men's Team | Women's Team |
| Calvin Austin III (4x400m)/Honorable Mention | Ashley Pryke (javelin)/First Team |
| Ryan Champlin (4x400m)/ Honorable Mention | Martina Rodriguez Sala (1500m)/Second Team |
| Michael Criticos (javelin)/First Team | |
| Naaman Norment (4x400m)/ Honorable Mention | |
| Jarred Pasley (4x400m)/ Honorable Mention | |
| Rafael Vallery (discus)/Second Team | |
| Luke Vaughn (discus)/First Team-NCAA champion |
Nine NCAA Championships qualifiers, a school record
| Men's Team | Women's Team |
| Calvin Austin III (4x400m) | Ashley Pryke (javelin) |
| Ryan Champlin (4x400m) | Martina Rodriguez Sala (1500m) |
| Michael Criticos (javelin) | |
| Naaman Norment (4x400m) | |
| Jarred Pasley (4x400m) | |
| Rafael Vallery (discus) | |
| Luke Vaughn (discus) |
23 NCAA East Preliminaries qualifiers, a school record
| Men's Team | Women's Team |
| Noah Agnew (high jump) | Saida Burns-Moore (high jump/triple jump) |
| Calvin Austin III (4x100m/4x400m) | Nina de Poorter (discus) |
| Ryan Champlin (4x100m/4x400m) | Mona Jaidi (discus/hammer/javelin) |
| Michael Criticos (javelin) | Samantha Lenton (discus) |
| Davon DeMoss (100m/200m/4x100m) | Ashley Pryke (javelin) |
| Kolbeinn Gunnarsson (4x100m) | Martina Rodriguez Sala (1500m) |
| Jason Kimmet (400m hurdles) | Jasmine Wilson (javelin) |
| Adam Neelly (discus/shot put) | |
| Naaman Norment (4x400m) | |
| Olushola Olojo (triple jump) | |
| Jarred Pasley (400m/4x400m) | |
| Imri Persiado (200m/4x100m) | |
| Julian Sanchez-Pinto (3000m steeplechase) | |
| Rafael Vallery (discus/shot put) | |
| Luke Vaughn (discus/shot put) | |
| Jordan Wesner (high jump) |
17 USTFCCCA All-Academic selections, a program record
Memphis ranked among the nation's elite in USTFCCCA All-Academic selections
| Rank | School | No./Honorees | Rank | School | No./Honorees |
| 1 | BYU | 31 | Princeton | 19 | |
| 2 | Arkansas | 30 | 11 | Kentucky | 18 |
| 3 | Stanford | 25 | Wisconsin | 18 | |
| 4 | N. Dakota St. | 23 | 13 | Memphis | 17 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 21 | Oregon | 17 | |
| Nebraska | 21 | 15 | Michigan St. | 16 | |
| 7 | Penn State | 20 | Oklahoma St. | 16 | |
| Virginia Tech | 20 | Texas | 16 | ||
| 9 | Colorado St. | 19 | Utah St. | 16 | |
| Kansas | 19 |
15 school records, the most in one athletics year
| Men's Team | Women's Team |
| Indoor Shot Put – Luke Vaughn | Indoor 60m – Cera Chavez |
| Indoor 4x400m – Davon DeMoss/Ryan Champlin/Calvin Austin III/Jarred Pasley | Indoor 200m – Cera Chavez |
| Outdoor Shot Put – Luke Vaughn | Weight Throw – DeeNia McMiller |
| Outdoor Discus – Luke Vaughn | Outdoor 1500m – Martina Rodriguez Sala |
| Outdoor 4x100m -- Davon DeMoss/Imri Persiado/Kolbeinn Gunnarsson/Calvin Austin III | Outdoor 5000m -- Martina Rodriguez Sala |
| Outdoor 4x400m -- Calvin Austin III/Jarred Pasley/Ryan Champlin/Naaman Norment | Outdoor 10,000m – Arnica Zitting |
| Outdoor High Jump – Saida Burns-Moore | |
| Outdoor Discus – Mona Jaidi | |
| Hammer – Mona Jaidi |
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
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/ Women's Track and Field
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Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
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/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
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/ Men's Track and Field
Middle Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
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