No. 2 Hurricanes Win Second Straight ACC Championship
April 22, 2006
Winston-Salem, N.C. (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami women’s track and field team won it’s second consecutive ACC Outdoor Championship. Senior All-American Charlette Greggs (Miami, Fla.) won the 200-meter and 400-meter becoming the first person in ACC outdoor track history to repeat the 200/400 double. Senior All-American Dominique Darden (Harrisburg, Pa.) took first place in the 400 hurdles, third place in the 100 hurdles and was part of the second place 4×100 meter relay team. All-American Tabia Charles (Pickering, Ont.) took the triple jump gold, setting a new school record, stadium record and personal best.
With the victory the Hurricanes win their second straight ACC outdoor conference meet, fourth straight ACC conference meet and ninth straight conference meet overall. Since entering the ACC, the Hurricanes have yet to lose a conference meet.
In winning the 400-meters, Greggs broke the Kentner Stadium record in 51.97. She was followed closely by teammate Ginou Etienne who finished in a close second running 52.18, her season best. Both earned all-ACC honors in the event and NCAA Regional times..This was the turning point in the meet as after the 400 meters the Hurricanes stood in first place three points ahead of Florida State and never looked back.
Greggs, later in the day completed the double by running 23.17 in the 200 meter. That was a NCAA regional time and just off the stadium record she set yesterday. She was joined by Etienne and Freshman Krista Simkins (Wissahickon, Pa.) who finished fifth (24.04) and seventh (24.35) in the event, respectively.
Darden, in winning the 400-hurdles, set a new Kentner Stadium record, running 56.59. She also ran 13.37 in the 100 meter hurdles and along with teammates Simkins, Amy Seward (Miami, Fla.) and All-American India Ransom (Largo, Md.) finished second in the 4×100 meter relay in 44.65. All three marks were NCAA Regional qualifiers.
Charles, who yesterday won the long jump, posted a mark of 13.61m (44-08.00), earning her second all-ACC honor of the meet. She led a one-two result in the triple jump as Brenda Faluade (Katy, Texas) finished second jumping 13.01m (42-08.25). Both marks were NCAA regional qualifing marks.
Earlier in the day, in the first field event final, sophomore Kaitlin Nazario (Dover, N.J.), earned the Hurricanes’ first all-ACC honor of the third day of competition by placing third in the javelin throw. Her mark of 43.64m (143-02) is a NCAA Regional qualifying mark, a new school record and personal best.
In the 800-meter run freshman Ena Luefroy came from behind in the last 20 meters to finish third running 2:08.66. Her time is a personal best and NCAA Regional qualifying mark. Her performance also earns her an all-ACC honor.In the high jump Viktoria Andonova finished second, with a mark of 1.80m (5-10.75) a season best. She, along with the winner, set the Kentner stadium mark. In the discus Khadija Talley threw 53.10m (174-02) to finish third place. Akera Lathan threw 47.31m (155-02) to finish sixth. Both Andonova and Talley earned all-ACC honors and all three performances were NCAA regional times.
Ransom earned an all-ACC honor in the 100 meter dash, finishing second in the event running 11.68, a NCAA regional time. Simkins joined her in the finals, finishing seventh running 12.16. Pavi’Elle James finished sixth in the 100 meter hurdles, running 13.80 that performance is an NCAA East Regional mark.
Senior Melanie Schultz (Davison, Mich.) ran 4:26.63 in the 1500 meter to claim seventh place. The time is a season best for Schultz and qualifies her to run in the NCAA East Regional.
In the ACC Championships, the Hurricanes totaled five event victories and 12 athletes earned 15 all-ACC nominations.
The Hurricanes scored 154 points in the victory, 42 points ahead of second place Florida State.
ACC Champions – SaturdayCharlette Greggs, 200, 400Dominique Darden, 400 HurdlesTabia Charles, Triple Jump
All-ACC – SaturdayKaitlin Nazario, JavelinDominique Darden, 100, 400 HurdlesCharlette Greggs, 200, 400Ginou Etienne, 400India Ransom, 100Ena Luefroy, 800Tabia Charles, Triple JumpGinou Etienne, Triple JumpViktoria Andonova, High JumpKhadija Talley, Discus
