Senior Moves to NCAA 100-Meter Hurdles Final
June 4, 1999
BOISE, Idaho ? Five-time All-AmericaYolanda McCray (Miami Southridge)finished third in her heat Friday evening with a time of 12.90 to advancethefinals of the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and FieldChampionships in Boise, ID.
McCray, who owns the thirdfastest time in the world this year, gotoff to a strong start but struggled in the middle of the race hittingthefifth hurdle. McCray quickly regained her stride and finished strongintaking third. The top four finishers of both heats qualified for theSaturday?s final.
“I felt really fast today,”said McCray after the race. “I got off toa great start but hitting the fifth hurdle really took me off my stride.Iwas still able to finish strong which gives me confidence for tomorrow.”
McCray, who registered thefifth fastest qualifying time, set theBronco Stadium record in Thursday?s preliminaries winning her heatin a timeof 12.87. Her time broke the old mark set in 1994 by former HurricanegreatGillian Russell. That year Russell ran 12.97 in winning the secondof herthree career NCAA Outdoor national championships.
“Yolanda looked really goodtoday and was actually running fasterthan yesterday before she hit the hurdle,” said head track coach AmyDeem. “This track is very fast which pulls you towards the hurdles. Yolandajustneeds to adjust her stride in order to stay off the hurdles.”
McCray, a senior, has twiceearned All-America honors in the100-hurdles having reached the NCAA finals in the event in 1996 and1997.McCray finished seventh in 1996 and fifth in 1997. McCray did not competeatthe 1998 NCAA Championships in order to concentrate on her nursingstudies.
McCray, who earned All-Americahonors with a third-place finish inthe 60-meter hurdles at this year?s NCAA Indoor Track and FieldChampionships, is attempting continue the Hurricanes impressive streakofoutdoor All-Americans. Miami has had at least one All-American at everyNCAAOutdoor Championship meet since 1992. Overall, the Hurricanes havehad 17NCAA outdoor All-Americans over the last seven seasons.
