WICHITA, Kan. – The Shocker men's and women's teams look to defend home turf as Wichita State hosts the American Athletic Conference Championships, beginning May 10-12 at Cessna Stadium.
 
In its second year in the American Athletic Conference, Wichita State will host the 2019 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The three-day meet will feature 12 women's teams and 10 men's teams.
 
Competition begins Friday, May 10 with the start of the men's decathlon and the open women's hammer throw at 12:00 p.m. Women's heptathlon is set to start at 12:30 p.m., while the gun goes off for the open track events at 6:30 p.m.
 
Saturday starts with day two of the multi-events at 10:30 a.m., followed by open field events at 3:00 p.m., and open track events at 5:30 p.m.
 
Championship Sunday concludes the meet beginning with field events at 2:30 p.m., followed by running events at 4:30 p.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
 
SHOCKER MEN
In the most recent USTFCCCA conference rating index rankings, the men are ranked No. 2 behind heavy favorite Houston. Wichita State will look to battle nationally ranked No. 8 Houston for the conference title by scoring points with depth in all areas of track and field. The Shockers have 28 top-8 marks on the most recent TFRRS conference performance list, including the top marks in the 1500m (Zack Penrod, Jed Helker), hammer throw (Cory Martens, Isaiah Evans) and javelin (Aaron True, Jeff Ast). Austin Corley and True return as defending conference champions in their respective events, Corley won the 400m hurdles dethroning two-time champion Amere Lattin, while True won the javelin setting a conference meet record.
 
SHOCKER WOMEN
A slight favorite heading into the championships, according to the USTFCCCA conference rating index rankings with the Shockers at No. 1 over Cincinnati. After earning MVP honors at the indoor championships, Rebekah Topham enters the meet as the only Shocker with a No. 1 ranking. The Griswold, Iowa, native leads the conference in 3000m steeplechase. Shockers return two conference champions from 2018, including two-time champion Winny Koskei in the 5000m and 10,000m. Kendra Henry looks to defend her heptathlon title. The Shockers currently have 25 top-8 marks on the conference performance list.
 
BACK FOR MORE
Wichita State returns all 13 all-conference honorees from the 2018 outdoor season, including four champions in five events. Winny Koskei and Jared Belardo each earned multiple all-conference honors, Koskei was champion in the 5000m and 10,000m, while Belardo finished second in the long jump and triple jump.
 
CONFERENCE LEADERS
Four Shockers hold No. 1 rankings in The American, including Cory Martens (hammer; 61.41m/201-6), Aaron True (javelin; 75.33m/247-2), Zack Penrod (1500m; 3:42.96) and Rebekah Topham (3000m Steeplechase; 10:09.94).
 
LAST TIME AT THE OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last year at the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championships in Cincinnati, Wichita State finished third in both the men's and women's team standings. The Shockers recorded 13 all-conference honors, including four champions in five events. Winny Koskei highlighted the meet as the only Shocker to win multiple events taking gold in the women's 5000m and 10,000m.
 
IT'S IN THE BOOKS
The Shockers have recorded 30 Wichita State all-time top-10 marks during the outdoor season, including three school records. Winny Koskei set a school record on March 22, winning the Herm Wilson Invitational 3000m with a time of 9:40.68, whle the women's 4x400m team of Daysha Bullocks, Paula Garcia, Taniyah McMillian and Tianna Holmes set a school record with a time of 3:38.21, on April 26 and Kelsey Slawson capped off the regular season bettering her school record in the shot put with a toss of 15.90m/52-2.
 
TICKETS
Single day tickets, all-session passes and heat sheets can be purchased beginning May 10, at the west side gates of Cessna Stadium only. Single-day tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizen, ages 65 and older, and children under 12, children 3 and under are free. All-session passes can be purchased at $14 for adults and $10 for senior citizen, ages 65 and older, and children under 12, children 3 and under are free. Heat sheets along with a schedule of events can be purchased for $2.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
The meet will be streamed live on Facebook through the American Digital Network. A live results link will be provided the day before meet and will be posted on goshockers.com and the American's championship central page. Printed results will be posted around Cessna Stadium.
 
PARKING
Parking is free to the public and will be available on the west side of Cessna Stadium and Charles Koch Arena.