Hurricanes Ready for Gainesville's Florida Relays
April 1, 2010
CORAL GABLES – After hosting the Hurricane Invitational two weeks ago, the University of Miami track and field teams are heading to Gainesville, Fla. to compete in the illustrious Florida Relays, April 2-3 at the University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track.
The Florida Relays is one of the biggest meets in the country and will feature schools such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and UCF. In addition, there will be a full contingent of post-collegians that will be competing.
“This week will provide a good test for many of our athletes,” said Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Amy Deem. “This meet will have many of the top teams in the ACC and our region and will give us a preview of what we will face this outdoor season.”
Running events begin Friday at 12:05 p.m., with field events set to get underway at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the relay races start noon, while the field events will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Miami’s talented hurdlers will be in action at 3:45 p.m. on Friday in the 400m hurdles for the 15th-ranked women’s squad. Ti’erra Brown, Tameka Jameson and Takecia Jameson were all nationally ranked during the indoor season and Brown even took home All-America honors with a third place finish in the championship race of the 60m hurdles. Each women will be making their outdoor season debut in the event.
Megan Novinger and Rachel Dupree will both be competing in the high jump. Novinger, now in her junior season, matched her career-high with a leap of 1.70m (5-07.00) at the Hurricane Invitational. If she is able to improve on that mark, she will guarantee herself at least the third spot in the school record books.
Senior Deandra Doyley will be making her outdoor season-debut in the long jump. During the indoor season, the Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. native advanced all the way to the national finals. She will be joined by Brittney Finch, who claimed All-America honors for the first time this past indoor season.
The duo will be joined by Christina Madry in the triple jump on Saturday afternoon.
At the Hurricane Invitational, Miranda Wilson moved into fourth place in the UM record books, launching the hammer 52.40m (171-11-00). Friday afternoon, she will look to move even farther up the all-time list. Wilson will also compete in the discus prior to the hammer throw.
The ACC Champion in the 60m dash, Ashely Dukes, will be joined by junior Tarika Williams in the 100m dash.
The men’s hurdlers will also be in action, Cory Nelms and Devon Hill – the last two ACC 60m hurdle champions will both compete in the 400m hurdles. Hill will also run in the 110m hurdles earlier on Friday.
The middle distance will be represented by Brian Laskowski and Greg Kaczka in the 800 and 1,500m respectively. Patrick Blackie will be running in the 400m.
Miami’s defensive tackle on the gridiron, Micanor Regis will compete in the shot put Saturday afternoon.
Visit hurricanesports.com for the meet results and recap throughout the weekend. Live results will be available at halfmiletiming.com.
