Hurricanes Look to Return to Top of ACC at Indoor Conference Championships
Feb. 28, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 26th-ranked University of Miami women’s track and field team will try to win their third Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championship in four years this weekend. The `Canes will be tested in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Eddie Smith Field House/Belk Track, as they will have to outperform three ranked ACC schools, in No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 13 Florida State and No. 11 Virginia Tech.
Krista Simkins has been Miami’s most impressive performer this indoor season. She is the top-ranked ACC runner in both the 200 and 400 meter dashes as well as being a member of the conference’s top 4×400-meter relay. Simkins will run in trials for the two dashes on Friday for an opportunity to qualify for the finals on Saturday. The Junior All-American currently holds the fourth-fastest time in the nation in the 400m (52.86) and is ranked 16th in the 200m.
Joining Simkins on the ACC’s top and nation’s 10th-best 4×400 relay team will be three freshmen. Sisters Takecia and Tameka Jameson and Ti’erra Brown. Not only will the quartet be looking for an ACC Championship on Saturday but they will also be looking to improve on their provisional time of 3:37.83.
Brown will also compete in the 60-meter hurdles where she is ranked 16th in the nation, however she is holds the top time of any freshman at 8.31. Brown will also compete in the 60-meter dash.
The other All-American will also be looking to become a conference champion. Junior Ena Leufroy holds the third-best ACC time at 2:09.90.
Senior Khadija Talley brings her nationally-ranked talent to the weight throw (10th) and shot put (24th). Her mark in the weight throw of 20.22m is tops in the conference and she will open the ACC Championships on Thursday at noon with that event.
Also, starting competition on Thursday will be sophomore Deandra Doyley who will be participating in the pentathlon.
Victoria Andonova, currently 18th in the nation and second in the ACC in the high jump, will look to pick up her second ACC Indoor title this weekend.
Action begins on Thursday with the women’s weight throw at noon and the combined events at 1:30 p.m. Friday begins with the long jump at noon and the third and final day will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. with the shot put.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
