UM Track Star McCray Wins National Championship

June 5, 1999

BOISE, Idaho – Miamisenior Yolanda McCray (Miami Southridge) ended hercollegiate career in grand fashion Saturday by winning the NCAA nationalchampionship in the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track andFieldChampionships in Boise, ID.

McCray, running in laneseven, won with a time of 12.85 setting a UMschool record and posting the second fastest time in the world thisyear.

“Coming into today’s finalI just wanted to run a clean race,” saidMcCray. “Running in lane seven can be difficult. I did not get offto a verygood start but I managed to stay off the hurdles and pull away at theend.”

In Friday’s semifinals,McCray started out quickly but took third inher heat after clipping the sixth hurdle. In Saturday’s final the six-timeAll-American had no such problems. McCray, who got off to a slow start,fellbehind early but ran a clean race and caught the pack by the eighthhurdle.McCray then took command after the 10th hurdle and out sprinted thefield atthe finish for the title.

“Yolanda probably had herworst start of the championships,” saidhead coach Amy Deem. “But she maintained her composure and explodedafterthe 10th hurdle. I am extremely happy that she was able to end herHurricanecareer on such a high note.”

The victory for McCray,who sat out last season in order toconcentrate on her nursing studies, gives Miami its first nationalchampionship since 1995 and its fourth 100-hurdle national championshipinthe last seven years. Former Hurricane great Gillian Russell won theeventin 1993, 1994 and 1995.

McCray’s national championshipcaps a stellar UM career whichincludes six All-America honors, seven BIG EAST titles and two BIGEAST MostOutstanding Track Athlete Awards. Prior to the NCAA Championships McCraywasawarded the Sports Society’s Babe Didrickson Zaharius Award as thetopamateur/professional female athlete of the year.