Hurricanes Set to Host Miami Elite Invitational
April 11, 2008
CORAL GABLES – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami is set to host the annual Miami Elite Invitational this Saturday April 12. This is the third and final home meet of the season for the Hurricanes and Cobb Stadium is expected to be full of spectators watching some of the world’s top athletes compete. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Miami Elite is no stranger to witnessing world-class track and field athletes, and this year should be no different. Among the post-collegiate runners in this weekend’s event will be Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas, who finished second at the 2007 World Championships in the 100-meter dash, and Allen Johnson, the U.S. Olympian who won gold in Atlanta in 1996 in the 110-meter hurdles.
With it being the last home meet of the season, it will be the last opportunity for the Miami faithful to see six senior student-athletes perform at home. The list includes one of UM’s most decorated track and field athletes of all-time, Tim Harris. He will be joined by Brett Jones, Roland DaSilva, Alex Paley, Richard Bernard and Casey McGinn.
A week after making running the nation’s top time in the 800-meter run (1:47.73) at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., four-time All-American Harris will again be in action this weekend. He is scheduled to participate in the 800 and 1,500-meter runs. He will be aiming for the school record of 3:54.03 in the 1,500-meters.
Joining Harris in the 800-meters will be Bernard, Patrick O’Donnell and Ryan Woodlee. Bernard ran a season-best time in this event last weekend at the Florida Relays at 1:52.30. Freshman Patrick Blackie is scheduled to make his collegiate debut Saturday, and will get started by joining the veterans in the 800-meters. All five student-athletes are scheduled to take part in one of the two 4×400-meter relay teams. Other Hurricanes running in the 4×400-relay are Cory Nelms, Dasilva, Demarcus VanDyke, Jones and Diego Rosado.
Making their 2008 outdoor debuts Saturday will be Bruce Johnson, Khalil Jones, Shawnbrey McNeil and VanDyke, who come over to the track after completing spring practice with the football team. All with the exception of VanDyke will be running in the 100-meters, with all four taking a leg in the 4×100 relay.
Miami’s duo of Nelms and Les Bradley II will take on the rest of the field in the 400-meter hurdles. Nelms is currently ranked 22nd in the nation in the event with Bradley ranked No. 41. At the Florida Relays Nelms ran a personal-best of 14.02, and will look to improve on the previous week’s time for the third straight meet.
Pole vaulter McGinn is the lone Miami representative in the event and will look to top his season-best mark of 5.85m.
The Miami Elite will start at noon with the field events, while the running events are set to begin at 5 p.m.
Next week, the Hurricanes will head to Atlanta to take on the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the ACC Outdoor Championships, held on the Georgia Tech campus April 17-19.
