Hurdlers Lead Hurricanes in Day One of Florida Relays
April 3, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the first day of competition at the Florida Relays, the University of Miami track and field teams saw three of it’s student-athletes claim regional qualifying times in the 400-meter hurdles at the University of Florida’s James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track.
In her first outdoor event of the season, sophomore Ti’erra Brown was the second competitor and top-collegiate participant to cross the finish line in the 400-meter hurdles with a regional qualifying time of 57.40 seconds. Fellow sophomore Tameka Jameson finished right behind Brown grabbing a regional time of her own at 58.14 seconds.
“I was very pleased with the Ti’erra and Tameka. They both ran great races and were very competitive,” said Director of Track and Field Amy Deem. “I think that the two of them are at a good place this part of the season.”
Cory Nelms, who narrowly missed a qualifying time at the Hurricane Invitational, was able to reach it Friday with a time of 52.30 seconds. Freshman Devon Hill finished with his season-best time of 53.94 seconds.
Nelms also ran in the 110-meter hurdles and was the ninth collegiate runner to complete the race at 14.39 seconds.
In the 800-meter run, senior Patrick O’Donnell ran a season-best time of his own at 1:54.27.
Two Hurricane women ran competitively for the first time since last summer. Four-time All-American and 2008 National Champion Krista Simkins ran in the 100-meter dash and finished with a time of 11.96 seconds. The 2008 ACC Performer of the Year Kristy Whyte ran in the dash as well, finishing as the 10th collegiate participant at 11.86 seconds.
In her first competition since winning two gold medals at the Junior World Championships (400-meter hurdles and 4×400 relay), sophomore Takecia Jameson ran the 400-meter dash in a time of 58.77 seconds. Jameson’s teammate Charmaine Fuller finished with a time of 58.16.
“I know they may not be pleased with their performances, but I think Krista and Tameka are only a couple weeks away from where they want to be,” added Deem.
With the second-best jump for any Hurricane this season, junior Deandra Doyley fell just short of her second regional qualifying mark in the long jump with a fifth-place leap of 5.97m (19-07.00).
The second and final day of the Florida Relays will get underway tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. with field events. The running events are scheduled to begin at noon.
