Hurricanes Open 2009 Season at UK Invitational

Jan. 15, 2009

CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami track and field team, with a No. 20 ranking on the women’s side, begins its 2009 season this weekend when it travels to Lexington, Ky. to take part in the UK Invitational at E.J. Nutter Fieldhouse.

The event begins Friday at 5 p.m. with field events and will continue Saturday with the remaining field events at 10:30 a.m. and the running events at 12:30 p.m.

Participating men’s teams will be: Alabama, Auburn, Eastern Kentucky, No. 4 Florida, No. 20 Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, No. 11 Kentucky, No. 9 Louisville, Middle Tennessee State, Ole Miss, No. 16 South Carolina, Tennessee and Western Kentucky. For the women, Auburn, Eastern Kentucky, No. 13 Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, No. 22 Kentucky, No. 25 Louisville, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, No. 16 South Carolina, No. 4 Tennessee, UCF, Vanderbilt, and Western Kentucky.

“We had a good fall and two weeks of preparation for this meet,” said Director of Track and Field Amy Deem. “We are excited to see what we can accomplish as well as to see what we can improve on going forward.”

Miami will travel a squad of 30 student-athletes, 16 for the women and 14 for the men. The women will be competing in 10 different events while the men are scheduled for nine. Nine men and five women will be making their Hurricane debuts, including heralded transfers Mikese Morse (men’s long jump) and Murielle Ahoure (women’s 60m dash).

All-ACC competitors Elan Daviglus (high jump) and Cory Nelms (400m dash) will look to lead the men, while All-Americans Ti’erra Brown (60m hurdles) and Ena Leufroy (800m run) and the 2008 ACC Performer of the Year Kristy Whyte (60m dash) will head up the women’s team.

A total of 11 freshmen will be making their collegiate debut in the Bluegrass State.

Live results will be available at www.ukathletics.com throughout the meet.