May 1, 2002
Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – The 24th-ranked University of Miami women’s track and field team looks to win its fourth title in the last five seasons when it travels to the BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 3-5, in Storrs, CT.
Once again the Hurricanes look strong in the sprints with senior Wyllesheia Myrick (Miami Northwestern) and freshman Lauryn Williams (Rochester, PA) leading the way. A total of seven UM runners have qualified in the 100-meters while five have qualified in the 200-meters.
Myrick ranks on the NCAA list in two individual events and two relays. The 2000 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer, ranks 14th in the nation in the 100-meters (11.53) and 17th in the 200-meters (23.59), and is a member of UM’s 9th-ranked 4×100-meter relay (44.57) and 5th-ranked 4×400-meter relay (3:34.21). Myrick currently ranks second on the BIG EAST lists in both the 100-meters and 200-meters, and is sixth in the 400-meters (54.35).
Williams earned All-America honors in the 60-meters during the indoor season and ranks sixth in the nation in the 100-meters (11.44) this outdoor season. She was named the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Track Performer at the conference indoor championships earlier this year after taking first in both the 60-meters and 200-meters. Williams has the fastest time in the BIG EAST this season in the 100-meters and ranks seventh in the conference in the 200-meters.
Miami’s 400-meter contingent will also be strong with six UM runners qualifying for the conference meet. Heading the list is junior Saraque Whittaker (Ft. Lauderdale St, Thomas Aquinas) who ranks 19th in the nation and second in the BIG EAST in the event. Whittaker won the 500-meter championship at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships earlier this year.
Juniors Sharianne Lawson (Palm Beach Lakes) and Jamillah Wade (Philadelphia, PA) will lead the UM hurdlers.
Lawson ranks No. 1 in the BIG EAST and sixth in the nation in the 100-meter hurdles (13.26) this season. She has also recorded BIG EAST qualifying marks in the 100-meters (12.36) and long jump (6.16 meters).
Wade, the defending BIG EAST Champion, currently ranks second in the BIG EAST and 27th in the nation in the 400-meter hurdles (58.97).
Senior All-American Kareen Clarke (Lithonic, GA) has led the Hurricanes’ strong group of jumpers this season. The four-time All-American and defending BIG EAST Champion ranks second in the nation in the triple jump (13.62m), while posting the nation’s 11th best mark in the long jump (6.33m).
A total of six jumpers for Miami have qualified in the long jump while three will compete in the triple jump. Miami’s long jump qualifiers include Clarke, Lawson, junior Gina Harris (Philadelphia, PA), and freshmen Chinela Davis (Havenstraw, NY), Amber Williams (Succasunna, NJ) and Sichting Walker (Angleton, TX). Clarke, Harris and Walker will also compete in the triple jump.
UM will also be well represented in the distance events with senior Jennifer Geroux (Balto, MD) and junior Melissa Norris (Pembroke Pines – Flanagan) both qualifying in the 10,000-meters.
In the throwing events Miami will look to junior Megan Cobb (Ypsilanti, MI) who has qualified in the hammer (44.26 meters) and javelin (39.18 meters).
The Hurricanes could get a big boost in the heptathlon. Amber Williams ranks second in the BIG EAST in the event. Williams finished second in the pentathlon at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships.