Ahoure Leads Hurricanes into Final Day of NCAA Regionals
May 29, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior Murielle Ahoure led the 22nd-ranked women’s track and field team into the second day of the NCAA East Regional, with three impressive performances at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
Ahoure ran the second-fastest time in school history in the preliminary heat of the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.14 seconds, trailing only Hurricane great Lauryn Williams (10.97). The top-time of all the preliminary times also stands as the best time ever in an East Regional and is an Irwin Belk Track record.
Ahoure was just as impressive in the 200-meters dash, as she raced to the UM’s third fastest-time ever in the event at 22.92 seconds. The Bristow, Va. native heads to the finals on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the fastest preliminary time. She will be joined be teammate Kristy Whyte who ran the third-best prelim time at 23.66 seconds.
“I am extremely proud of Murielle,” said Director of Track and Field Amy Deem. “For her to break the regional record is an impressive feat.”
Sophomores Ti’erra Brown and Tameka Jameson won their individual heats in the 400-meter hurdles and both will run in Saturday’s final at 6:40 p.m. Brown ran the fastest time of the prelims with a time of 57.83 seconds and Tameka Jameson had the second-best time at 57.95. Takecia Jameson will not join her teammates in the finals as she came in with a time of 1:00.57 just 1.55 seconds off the final qualifying time.
“Murielle had a great day, but I don’t want to take away from what the other girls did today, added Deem. “Meka, Ti’erra and Kristy deserve praise as well. They all performed extremely well.”
With a time of 44.50, the women’s 4×100 relay team of Tara Thomas, Kristy Whyte, Nene Kamate, and Ahoure raced to the third-best time of the preliminary round. As one of the top eight teams, Miami will race in the final tomorrow at 5 p.m. To advance to the NCAA National Championship the Hurricane team will have to place in the top three in the finals.
Juniors Deandra Doyley and Mikese Morse participated in the long jump for the women and men respectively Friday afternoon. Both failed to place in the top five, which would have allowed them to participate in the NCAA Championships in two weeks.Doyley leapt 6.21m (20-04.50), her second-best mark of the season. Morse reached a distance of 6.96m (22-10.00). Both student-athletes will compete in the triple jump tomorrow.
“Mikese was disappointed that he didn’t perform well,” said Deem. “But he an opportunity to redeem himself tomorrow in the triple jump.”
Freshman Brittni Finch also competed in the long jump, recording a mark of 5.78m (18-11.75), the third best by a freshman in the region.
The women’s 4×400 team will run Saturday at 8:05 p.m. Deem will choose between Ahoure, Whyte, Brown, Nene Kamate and Tameka and Takecia Jameson to represent UM in the event.
“We have put ourselves in a good position and everyone is confident heading into tomorrow,” said Deem. “Most of the pressure in the regionals is in Day One. We just have to perform like we know we can.”
Below is the schedule of events for the Saturday’s NCAA East Region Championship:
Saturday, May 30, 2009Field Events11:00 a.m. Javelin (W) Trials and Finals11:00 a.m. Hammer (M) Trials and Finals1:00 p.m. Triple Jump (W) Trials and Finals3:00 p.m. Shot Put (W) Trials and Finals3:00 p.m. Pole Vault (M) Trials and Finals5:00 p.m. High Jump (W) Trials and Finals5:00 p.m. Discus (M) Trials and Finals5:00 p.m. Triple Jump (M) Trials and Finals
Track Events5:00 p.m. 4×100 (W) Finals5:10 p.m. 4×100 (M) Finals5:20 p.m. 1500m (W) Finals5:30 p.m. 1500m (M) Finals5:45 p.m. 100m Hurdles (W) Finals5:55 p.m. 110m Hurdles (M) Finals6:05 p.m. 100m (W) Finals6:10 p.m. 100m (M) Finals6:15 p.m. 400m (W) Finals6:20 p.m. 400m (M) Finals6:25 p.m. 800m (W) Finals6:30 p.m. 800m (M) Finals6:40 p.m. 400m Hurdles (W) Finals6:50 p.m. 400m Hurdles (M) Finals7:00 p.m. 200m (W) Finals7:05 p.m. 200m (M) Finals7:15 p.m. 3000m Steeplechase (W) Finals7:40 p.m. 3000m Steeplechase (M) Finals8:05 p.m. 4×400 (W) Finals8:20 p.m. 4×400 (M) Finals
