Murielle Ahoure Breaks Own 100m Regional Record on Way to Nationals
May 30, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The 19th-ranked University of Miami women’s track and field team – led by another record-breaking performance from Murielle Ahoure – will send seven student-athletes in five events to the NCAA Championships on the second and final day of the NCAA East Regional at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
For the second straight day, Ahoure broke the East Regional and track records in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.09 seconds. The time for Ahoure, into the wind, also beats her personal record that she set yesterday (11.14) in the preliminary round and puts in her in second place all-time at Miami in the event. Former Hurricane great Lauryn Williams still holds the school record at 10.97 seconds.
“I’m very pleased with the day our girls had,” said Director of Track and Field Amy Deem. “The East Region was very tough this year and I think it was a good test for out team, heading into nationals.”
Ahoure finds herself with the No. 2 collegiate ranking in the 100-meters heading into the NCAA Championships, behind only Texas’ Alexandria Anderson (11.05). The duo of Ahoure and Kristy Whyte finished 1-2 in the 200-meter dash. Ahoure, the senior out of Bristow, Va. crossed the line at 23.09 seconds and Whyte finished at 23.53. Both women will represent the Hurricanes in the 200-meters in Fayetteville, Ark.
After qualifying for the 400-meter hurdle finals with the top two times of the prelims, Tameka Jameson and Ti’erra Brown will be moving on to nationals with first and third place performances, respectively. Jameson ran her career-best time of 56.65 seconds in the victory, moving into the No. 3 spot in school history. Brown crossed the line with a time of 57.32 seconds.
Anchored by Ahoure, the 4×100 relay team chose the right time to run its fastest time of the season. The top three relays advance to the NCAA Tournament and with the third place time of 44.16 seconds, Miami secured their spot in Arkansas. The first leg was run by Tara Thomas who then passed the baton off to Kristy Whyte. The third leg belonged to Nene Kamate before Ahoure closed it out. Also advancing in the region are Florida State and South Carolina.
“Murielle, Kristy, Tameka, Ti’erra and the 4×100 team were very impressive today. I really thought they came into today with a lot of confidence and it showed.” 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.
Deandra Doyley placed 12th in the triple jump, ending her junior season. However, the Lauderdale Lakes native recorded her career-best mark in the event at 12.56m (41-02.50). For the men, Mikese Morse closed out his junior season and first as a Hurricane with a mark of 15.11m (49-07.00).
The women’s 4×400 relay team was disqualified due to a lane violation late in the evening.
As a team, the No. 19 women put up a total of 51 points in the two-day competition. As a result, the Hurricanes finished behind only Florida State (71) and Penn State (60) for third place in the East Region.
Lauderdale Lakes native Deandra Doyley’s season-high mark in the long jump of 6.35m (20-10.00) was good enough for an at-large selection to nationals. The jump was Doyley’s personal-best and secured a second-place finish at the ACC Championships in Coral Gables in April.
The NCAA Track and Field National Championships will be held on the campus of the University of Arkansas, June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
“We will be home for a whole week and we are going to get a little rest,” added Deem on the preparations for nationals. “We will look to clean-up a few little things, but the girls are strong and fit and they will be ready.”
