Three Hurricanes Advance at NCAA Championships
June 11, 2008
DES MOINES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Iowa– The No. 14 University of Miami’s women’s track and field team opened the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships with success at the first day of competition DrakeUniversity’s Drake Stadium.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Freshmen sensations Ti’erra Brown and Takecia Jameson both advanced to the semi-final round in the 400-meter hurdles. Of the five preliminary heats, the top two finishers plus the next six best times move on to Thursday’s 5:45 semi-final round.
Brown ran a 57.98, finishing second in the fifth preliminary heat, while Jameson won the second heat with her third-best time of the season at 58.39.
The Southeast Region Field Performer of the Year Khadija Talley advanced to Friday’s final round in the discus with a qualifying mark of 51.39m (168-07) on Wednesday. Of the 29 competitors in the discus, only 12 move on to the final. Talley’s mark was the eighth-best of day.
Coach Amy Deem said of the women that advanced, “I am very proud of both Takecia and Ti’erra as well as Khadija. They did what they had to do to move on and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens tomorrow.”
Talley will be participating in the qualifying round of her second national championship event tomorrow as she will compete in the shot put at 7:15 p.m.
Junior Viktoria Andonova failed to qualify for the high jump final, as she leapt to her third-best height of the season at 1.74m (5-08.50).
The 4×100 relay team of Tara Thomas, Kristy Whyte, Charlene Fuller and Krista Simkins also will not be advancing as they finished 18th with a time of 45.54.
Also in action tomorrow for the women will be the 4×400 relay team of Ena Leufroy, Tameka and Takecia Jameson and Kristy Whyte. Their start time is scheduled for 7:40 p.m.
All start times are Central Standard Time.
