Personal-Bests Fall at National Invitational
Jan. 30, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Several members of the University of Miami men’s and women’s track and field team enjoyed career performances at Penn State’s National Invitational.
Senior Deandra Doyley and sophomore Brittni Finch finished one-two in the long jump. Both women reached new personal-best marks on the day with Doyley improving her provisional mark of 6.26m (20-06.50). Finch reached a distance of 6.03m (19-09.50). So far this season, Doyley – a native of Lauderdale, Lakes, Fla. has won the long jump in all three meets that she has participated in this season.
Ashley Dukes had an outstanding day in the 60m dash as she hit a career-best and provisional qualifying time of 7.33 seconds in the semifinal heat. Tara Thomas, advanced through and participated in the final heat, finishing fifth with a time of 7.49 seconds. Former UM All-American and current volunteer assistant coach Murielle Ahoure finished third overall in the event with a time of 7.31 seconds.
Junior All-American Ti’erra Brown competed in the 60m hurdles and narrowly missed an automatic qualifying time in the event as she crossed the finish line in 8.16 seconds, good for the fourth-fastest time in school history – improving her provisional time on the season.
Miranda Wilson hit her second-best mark of the season in the weight throw, hitting a distance of 17.33m (56-10.25), placing eighth in a field of 27.
Sophomore Devon Hill made history for the men’s team as he broke the school record in winning the 60m hurdles. His finish of 7.79 seconds also was good enough for a NCAA provisional qualifying time. Senior Cory Nelms ran a personal-best time at 7.92 seconds, finishing fifth. Nelms time in the semifinal heat was a provisional qualifying time at 7.85 seconds.
All three of the men that advanced to the final of the 60m dash hail from the Hurricanes football team. Travis Benjamin ran a team-best time of 6.78 seconds in the semifinal. Lamar Miller ran a 6.83 in the semis as well. DeMarcus Van Dyke finished fourth in the final with a time of 6.87 seconds.
Field events begin Saturday at 11 a.m. with the women’s high jump, featuring Megan Novinger and Rachel Dupree. Also at 11 a.m. is the shot put with Wilson looking to improve on her season-best time of 13.03m (42-09.00).
Brown, accepted an invitation to compete in the 400m dash. Takecia Jameson will also compete in the 200m dash invitational, while Tameka Jameson also accepted an invitation – as she will be running in the untraditional 500m dash.
Megan Novinger and Rachel Dupree are both tied for third place all time in the indoor high jump at Miami and each will be looking to improve on their mark of 1.70m (5-07.00). Wilson will also be competing in the shot put.
The women’s 4×400 relay team will compete against Georgetown, Penn State Tennessee and Virginia Tech after accepting a bid to perform in the invitational.
Brandon Harris will run in the 400m dash and Micanor Regis, a defensive tackle on the gridiron will also compete in the shot put.
Visit hurricanesports.com for the meet results and recap throughout the weekend. Live results will be available at gopsusports.com.
