Track and Field Begins Competition at AAC Indoor Championships

Friday, February 25

Birmingham, Ala.

9 A.M.

University of Memphis

American Athletic Conference Championship

DeeNia McMiller, 2019-20 Women's Track and Field

Photo by: Jimmy Mitchell

Track and Field Begins Competition at AAC Indoor Championships

Feb 24, 2022 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the first time in two years, University of Memphis track and field is set to make its trip to Birmingham, Ala. for the 2022 American Indoor Track & Field Championship this weekend.

No teams in the conference competed last year due to the championships being cancelled because of COVID-19. Despite this, many AAC athletes still qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships, including Memphis' own DeeNia McMiller.

Held at the Birmingham Crossplex, the two-day meet this weekend will begin Friday with women's pentathlon events and continue through Saturday, finishing after all distance events that afternoon. The awards ceremony will take place at 3:20 p.m. Saturday.

This is the Tigers' second meet in Birmingham. The first was the South Alabama USA Invitational earlier this month, where the team finished with the weekend with 11 top-five performances.

Several Memphis athletes hold conference rankings, while some also are featured in their respective events in the NCAA. Cole Riddleis one of four American pole vaulters ranked in the nation's top 50 (20th, 5.36m). McMiller holds the eighth spot in the nation for her 22.42m weight throw at the Music City Challenge. Iason Machairas ranks first in the conference and 39th nationally for his 18.62m mark in the men's shot put. Robby Watson is the final Tiger who also is featured in the nation's top 50, ranking 30th with his 21.21m weight throw.

Other athletes still have high conference rankings and will challenge for event medals including Alyssa Morello (second, pole vault), Zachary Wyatt (sixth, 800m), Chloe Figgins (third, 5000m) and McMiller in a second event (third, shot put).

Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
(On returning to AAC Championships)
"I am cautiously optimistic about returning to the indoor championships. We definitely have some standout individuals who can challenge for event titles.

"With that being said, ultimately this is a team championship, so my goal is to bring this team together so that we can represent the institution as well as possible. I do know this- we will leave it all on the track!"

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How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Track and Field, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.