Murielle Ahoure's Record Day Propels Hurricanes
Feb. 14, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas. – The University of Miami’s Murielle Ahoure had a record-breaking day at the Gilliam Indoor Track and Field Stadium, on the campus of Texas A&M. Ahoure won both the 60 and 200-meter titles and did so in style.
Ahoure, who owns the world’s fastest time in the 60-meter dash this year, raced to her fifth automatic qualifying time of the season in the event on Saturday. With a sprint of 7.26 seconds, the senior won the 60-meter final.
But the Bristow, Va. native was not done. In the 200-meter final, Ahoure finished with an astounding automatic time of 23.14 seconds. Not only did she get the victory, but she claimed the Gilliam Track record and moved herself into the World’s top spot for 2009. Ahoure has claimed victory in all five individual events she has participated in this season, and is the No. 1 ranked sprinter in the World in two separate events.
Another Virginia native, sophomore All-American, Ti’erra Brown, improved on yesterday’s preliminary time and was the runner-up in the 60-meter hurdle final with a provisional time of 8.39.
Both Ahoure and Brown ran the first and third legs of the 4×400-relay respectively to a second-place finish. Joined by sophomore Tameka Jameson and Kristy Whyte the women ran to a season-best time of 3:38.46, nearly three seconds better than their previous season-best mark.
Sophomore Megan Novinger earned a point-and-a-half for her Hurricane team with a leap of 1.63m (5-03.75) in the high jump.
Junior Deandra Doyley matched her season-best distance in the triple jump at 12.21m (40-00.75) and was one spot away from earning points for her team.
In the finals of the men’s 60-meter dash, freshman Travis Benjamin crossed the line at 6.91 seconds, just two-hundredths of a second short of scoring.
Cory Nelms did place for the men, with a time of 8.13 in the 60-meter hurdles. Teammate Devon Hill ran at a time of 8.29 in the final heat.
The 4×400 relay team of Patrick Blackie, Brandon Harris, Brian Laskowski and Nelms raced to a season-best time of 3:16.91.
The Hurricanes now have to weeks to prepare for the ACC Championships held at the Rector Field House on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Feb 26-28.
