Murielle Ahoure Wins 200-Meter National Championship
March 13, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Miami `s Murielle Ahoure won the National Title in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor National Championships at Texas A&M’s McFerrin Athletic Center and junior Mikese Morse earned All-American honors in the long jump.
With a time of 22.80 seconds, Ahoure won Miami’s fifth indoor national title and 12th overall. The senior was one one-hundredth of a second away from tying Lauryn Williams’ school record of 22.79 seconds. With her new career-best time, Ahoure once again owns the World’s fastest time this season.
The Bristow, Va. native also ran the fastest time in the preliminary round, crossing the finish line in a then career-best time of 23.02 seconds to advance to the final.
“I am very happy for Murielle,” said director of track and field Amy Deem. “She ran two life-time bests tonight. I’m very proud and I know she is too. She worked very hard and beat a very talented field.”
In her first of three races on the evening, Ahoure advanced to tomorrow’s 60-meter dash final after running the third-fastest time of the preliminary heats. The senior has owned the nation’s best collegiate time in the 60-meters (7.17) since the season’s first event back in January. That time set a new school record, beating Williams’ time of 7.22.
Ahoure, won both the 60 and 200-meter conference title at the ACC Indoor Championships, two weeks ago. She set the meet record with her qualifying run in the 200-meters, with a time of 23.16, only to break it again the next day in the finals at 23.14. For her efforts, Ahoure won the Atlantic Coast Conference Performer of the Year Award.
Earlier this week, Ahoure was named the USTFCCCA South Region Track Athlete of the Year for her efforts on the season.
At last year’s NCAA Indoor National Championships, Krista Simkins won the 400-meter title. Kimberli Barrett won the shot put in 2005 and Gillian Russell won the 55-meter hurdles in 1992 and 1995.
Morse, who earned a spot in the long jump championships with a career-best jump of 7.90m at the ACC Championships two weeks ago, placed fifth at the National Championships with a mark of 7.80m (25-7.25).
The Tampa native becomes only the fourth Hurricane to earn indoor All-American status and eight overall. Morse earned All-American honors last season during the outdoor season in the long jump while at USF.
Nebraska’s Nicholas Gordon won the long jump with a leap of 8.03m (26-4.25).
Last season for Miami, Tim Harris claimed his third indoor All-American honor in the 800-meter run. The only other Hurricane men to earn indoor All-American acclaim are Davian Clark, Caldrequis Lesley and Ronald Thorne.
Ahoure will run in the eight-woman 60-meter final tomorrow at 6 p.m. central time.
“The 60 is her favorite event, she will get her rest and if she sets it up well, she will run a great race,” added Deem on Ahoure preparing for tomorrow’s 60-meter final.
