Three Individuals, 4x100 Relay Advance at NCAA Regionals
May 30, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– The 24th-ranked University of Miami women’s track and field team saw three student-athletes and the 4×100 relay move one step closer to East Regional Championships, as Krista Simkins, Ti’erra Brown and Takecia Jameson advanced to tomorrow’s finals, with impressive preliminary runs at Mike Long Track on the campus of FloridaStateUniversity.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The four-time All-American, Simkins, won her preliminary heat in the 400-meters, guaranteeing herself a trip to the final heat, which will be run tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. Her time of 53.11 was her second-best of the season and fourth-fastest of the preliminary heats. Tameka Jameson’s time of 54.74 was good for an 18th-place finish.
“I am extremely pleased with how Krista performed today, especially after not running in a while,” said head coach Amy Deem.
Freshmen Brown and Takecia Jameson each won their preliminary heats and ran the second and third best overall times in the 400-meter hurdles, respectively. Jameson’s time of 57.72 was her best time of the season, while Brown ran a 57.64, the third-fastest time of her season. Both hurdlers will run in the finals on Saturday, which are set to start at 5:40 p.m.
Deem added, “Ti’erra and `Kecia really stepped up, they earned it today.” However, as a team, I am a little disappointed. I thought we could have performed a little better, overall.”
The 4×100 relay team of Tara Thomas, Kristy Whyte Charlene Fuller and Krista Simkins finished third in their preliminary heat with a time of 44.96, but advanced to tomorrow’s final, finishing with a top-eight time overall.
Whyte came up short in her bid to advance in the 200-meter dash as she finished 18th with a time of 24.14 seconds.
Two Hurricanes, Senior Khadija Talley and freshman Miranda Wilson took part in the discus throw, but neither finished within the top nine, ending their seasons in the event. Tally placed 11th with a throw of 47.53m while Wilson’s mark of 44.59 was good for 19th place.
Senior Kaitlin Nazario closed out her collegiate career with a 14th-place finish in the javelin, with a mark of 42.92m.
Deandra Doyley’s leap of 5.94m was her third best mark of the season, but just short of the top-eight, as she finished in 10th place.
Junior All-American Ena Leufroy finished 26th in the preliminary heat of the 800-meter run, with a time of 2:12.33.
The Hurricanes will start competition tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. with the hammer throw.
