Track & Field to Participate in Tom Jones Memorial Classic
Jan. 25, 2008
CORAL GABLES –
The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Miami track and field teams will travel upstate to Gainesville, where they will take part in the University of Florida’s Tom Jones Memorial Classic at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
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The meet kicks off at 11 a.m. with the field events followed by the first events on the track at 2 p.m.
This will be the first meet of the indoor season for the men while the women are coming of an impressive showing at the Illinois Women’s Invitational where they finished 1.5 points behind the first place host, Illinois.
The Hurricanes will be joined at the Tom Jones Memorial by fellow ACC member FloridaState and SEC schools Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina.
Two UM women hit provisional marks last week at the Illinois Invitational. Senior Khadija Talley reached 15.51 meters in the shot put and 19.28 meters in the weight throw, while in the high jump, junior Viktoria Andonova lept 1.78 meters. Talley will be in action Saturday looking to earn automatic qualifying marks.
The “Orange” 4X400 relay team of will be led by anchor and All-American Krista Simkins. She will be joined by sophomore Kristy Whyte and freshmen stand-outs Ti’erra Brown and Tameka Jameson.
Last week Brown won her debut in the 60-meter hurdles and will look to repeat that form in the 55-meter version at Florida. Brown will also be making her debut in the 200 meters.
Freshman Charlene Fuller scored in 60-meter dash in her collegiate debut, she will compete this week in the 55 meters as well as a member of the “Green” Miami 4X400 relay team. Joining fuller in the 4X400 will be UF transfer Nene Kamate, All-American Ena Leufroy and Takecia Jameson.
Freshmen Tak. Jameson, who will also compete in three other events (200m, 55m HH), and Tara Thomas (55m, LJ) will try to improve on their impressive results from a week ago.
Sophomore Deandra Doyley will be making her season debut this weekend. Last season’s ACC scorer will participate in tree events, the 55-meter hurdles, and the long and triple jumps.
This will be the season-opener for the men’s team, who is led by the three-time All-American Senior, Tim Harris.
Harris will be running in the 4X400 relay, joined by sophomore Corey Nelms, junior Patrick O’Donnell and fellow senior Richard Bernard.
Nelms, an ACC Indoor scorer a year ago will also be running in the 200 meters and the 55-meter high hurdles.
Stand-out senior Roland DaSilva (55m, PV, LJ) will look to grab some points for the Hurricanes in all three events.
All-ACC performer Casey McGinn, Miami’s junior pole vault specialist will try to best his career-high of 4.82 meters.
Anticipated collegiate debuts will made by freshman Patrick Blackie (800m) and Diego Rosado (HJ, LJ).
After competing in the Tom Jones Memorial Classic this weekend, both teams will travel to the ACC Challenge held this year in Blacksburg, Va. The first day of competition will begin Feb. 8 and conclude the following day.
