Pryke Strikes Gold At Conference Championships

Friday, May 10

Wichita, Kan.

All Day

University of Memphis

American Athletic Outdoor Championships

Payton Gleason, 2018-19 Men's Track and Field

Photo by: Matthew Kamph

May 11, 2019 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

American Athletic Conference Championships (Men Results Friday)American Athletic Conference Championships (Women Results Friday)

Senior wins her third-straight javelin title; Jaidi takes silver, McMiller bronze Friday.

WICHITA, Kan. – Make it three-straight for University of Memphis' Ashley Pryke.

For the third year in a row, the Tigers women's javelin standout took the crown in the event at the American Athletic Conference Championships. Pryke took first place with a throw of 169-5 (51.65m). In addition, Pryke earned her fourth-consecutive All-American Athletic Conference accolade with three golds (2017-19) and one bronze (2016).

With her gold Friday, Pryke became the first athlete – male or female – in league history to win three-straight crowns in a throws event (javelin, 2017-19). Three other female athletes won back-to-back titles in their events, and they were SMU's Rayann Chin in the discus (2014, 2015), Cincinnati's Annette Echikunwoke in the hammer (2016, 2017) and Tulane's Daliadiz Ortiz in the javelin (2015, 2016). Only one male thrower in league history has earned consecutive crowns in an event, and he was Connecticut's Cameron Thompson in the hammer (2017, 2018).

The Tigers continue action at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championships Saturday. The field events start at 3 p.m. (CT), with the running events to follow at 5:30 p.m. (CT).

Tigers Tidbits

After the first day of action (three events scored), the Memphis women's team leads the standings with 31 points. The Tigers men are fifth with seven points.
Ashley Pryke's title in the women's javelin Friday was the 19^thof her career and her fourth of the 2019 campaign.
Mona Jaidi finished second – and took silver – behind teammate Ashley Pryke in the women's javelin. Jaidi's effort of 169-0 (51.52m) improved her personal-best by seven inches (168-5; 51.34m).
DeeNia McMiller won the Tigers' first medal of the 2019 Championships with a bronze in the women's hammer. It was McMiller's first all-conference honor at the outdoor championships (she has two indoor all-league honors).
Davon DeMoss (men's 200m) and Hunter Miniard (men's 400m hurdles) advanced to the finals in their respective events.
Senior Megan (Briley) Ryan scored her first career points at an American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships with a seventh-place performance in the women's 10,000 meters. Her time of 35:49.77 was nearly a full-minute improvement of her previous-best (36:46.13).
Freshman Payton Gleason, competing in his first American Athletic Conference Championships, scored points with a seventh-place finish in the men's 10,000 meters. He shaved over 28 seconds off his previous-best time (31:42.08).
Samantha Lenton improved her personal-best in the women's hammer by nearly four feet Friday. Her previous-best was 188-5 (57.43m) at Memphis Invitational two weeks ago.
Other Tigers with personal-bests Friday were: Christian Corsello in the men's 800 meters, Jamaya Fleming in the women's 200 meters and Savanna Owens in the women's 400-meter hurdles.
Hunter Miniard ran a season-best time in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
Vigdis Jonsdottir threw a collegiate personal-best of 197-10 (60.30m) in the women's hammer.

Team Scores
Women (after 3 events):1. Memphis, 31; 2. Wichita State, 18; 3. Tulsa, 14; 4. SMU, 13; 4(t). Cincinnati, 13; 4(t). Connecticut, 13; 7. UCF, 7; 8. USF 5; 9. Houston, 3
Men (after 3 events):1. Wichita State, 32; 2. Cincinnati, 31; 3. Tulsa, 21; 4. Connecticut, 16; 5. Memphis, 7; 6. Tulane, 5; 7. ECU, 4; 8. USF 1

Memphis Results
Men
200m (P) – 7. Davon DeMoss, 21.23 (advances to final); 10. Calvin Austin III, 21.48; 12. Imri Persiado, 21.65; 15. Kolbeinn Gunnarsson, 22.07
800m (P) – 12. Christian Corsello, 1:54.43; 17. Zachary Wyatt, 1:58.59; 20. Matthew Viveiros, 2:01.35
400m Hurdles (P) – 6. Hunter Miniard, 53.49 (advances to final)
10,000m (F) – 7. Payton Gleason, 31:13.95
Hammer (F) – 4. Adar Sheere, 187-4 (57.11m); 9. Parker Evans, 170-2 (51.87m)

Women
200m (P) – 25. Jamaya Fleming, 24.34
800m (P) – 16. Celine Rone, 2:20.90; 19. Erin Gilbert, 2:25.04
400m Hurdles (P) – 16. Savanna Owens, 1:03.38
10,000m (F) – 7. Megan (Briley) Ryan, 35:49.77; 16. Gabrielle Byndas, 38:47.26
Hammer (F) – 3. DeeNia McMiller, 200-7 (61.14m); 5. Vigdis Jonsdottir, 197-10 (60.30m); 8. Samantha Lenton, 192-1 (58.56m); 9. Mona Jaidi, 191-6 (58.38m); 10. Amber Simpson, 186-7 (56.87m)
Javelin (F) – 1. Ashley Pryke, 169-5 (51.65m); 2. Mona Jaidi, 169-0 (51.52m)