Darden, Greggs, Barrett Win Regional Titles
May 28, 2005
Randall’s Island, N.Y. (hurricanesports.com) – The fourth-ranked University of Miami women’s track and field team won three individual event titles and had 10 women automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships at the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships this weekend at Randall’s Island, N.Y.
Miami recorded 81 points to finish second at the regional marking the most points scored and highest finish in school history. South Carolina won the East Regional title with 102.25 points.
The top five finishers in each individual event and the top three relays at the NCAA East Regional automatically advanced to the NCAA Championships, June 8-11, in Sacramento, Calif.
“Our women gave a great effort this weekend,” said head coach Amy Deem. “We had several outstanding performances and I felt we took advantage of every opportunity. I thought Charlette (Greggs) and Dominique (Darden) were especially outstanding and showed great leadership.”
Junior All-American Dominique Darden (Harrisburg, Pa.) captured her first NCAA Regional individual title winning the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 55.51 seconds and breaking the school record for the second consecutive day. Darden, who was runner-up at last season’s NCAA East Regional, posted a school-record mark of 55.52 seconds in winning her preliminary heat on Friday.
“I felt very relaxed this weekend,” said Darden after the race. “I tried to just concentrate on executing what I’ve been doing in practice and not get all caught up in the hype surrounding such a big meet.”
In the 200-meters, junior All-American Charlette Greggs (Miami Northwestern) edged FIU’s Sheri-Ann Brooks at the tape to claim her second career individual NCAA East Regional title, and third title overall, in a wind aided time of 22.74 seconds. Greggs, a six-time All-American, won the 400-meters at the 2003 NCAA East Regional and anchored the 2004 East Regional Champion 4×400-meter relay.
NCAA Indoor champion Kim Barrett (Miami Gulliver Prep) continued her dominance in the shot put this season capturing the East Regional title with a throw of 17.31 meters (56-09.50).
The win for Barrett is her ninth consecutive meet title and 11th in 12 events during the indoor and outdoor seasons. Barrett, who recorded her winning toss on her first attempt of the evening, is a perfect 6-0 in the shot put this outdoor season.
“I felt like my technique was better at the start of the competition because it was right after my warm-up,” said Barrett. “I wanted to put up a big number early because I felt the cold conditions would make it difficult later in the competition.”
Two Hurricanes qualified for the NCAA championships in the 400-meters. Senior All-American Wiande Moore (Spring, Texas) recorded her second personal best in as many days finishing fourth in a time of 52.22 seconds. Moore set a personal best in Friday’s preliminaries winning her qualifying heat with a time of 52.66 seconds. Sophomore All-American Ginou Etienne (Miami Central) grabbed the final NCAA automatic berth in the 400-metes placing fifth with a time of 52.40 seconds.
Sophomore All-American Tabia Charles (Pickering, Ontario) placed second in the triple jump with a season best jump of 13.41 meters (44-00.00) to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Miami’s 4×100-meter relay of Darden, Moore, junior All-American India Ransom (Largo, Md.) and Greggs placed second with a time of 44.17 seconds to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Also qualifying for the NCAA Championships was the 4×400-meter relay of Moore, Greggs, freshman All-American Lauren Austin (Oviedo, Fla.) and Etienne which placed second in a time of 3:32.23.
