Men's 4x100 Relay Shines at Hurricane Alumni Invitational
April 10, 2010
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami track and field teams saw numerous personal records fall in the first Annual Hurricane Alumni Invitational on Saturday at Cobb Stadium.
“I was very pleased with the performances today,” said Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Amy Deem. “We have set ourselves up well for next weekend’s ACC Championships.”
The men’s 4×100 relay made history in its first competition of the outdoor season. Cory Nelms, DeMarcus VanDyke, Travis Benjamin and Brandon McGee raced to a time of 40.15 seconds. The time was the fastest by a Miami relay team since the 1998 season and is the third fastest time in school history.
“They have been working hard and were very focused during the indoor season – setting a to have a great outdoor season. They stepped up today and I think that we could be a very good relay team as the season continues,” said Deem.
VanDyke was the third collegiate runner to cross the line in the 100m dash at 10.74 seconds. McGee finished in 10.88 seconds.
If not for a 2.2 meter per second wind reading, Ti’erra Brown would have set a new school record in the 100m hurdles. None the less, her time of 12.83 seconds ranks second in the nation this year. Takecia Jameson placed seventh in 13.73 seconds.
“There has been a long tradition of great hurdlers here at Miami and for Ti’erra to have that kind of performance is a testament to her abilities and speaks volumes about her future,” added Deem.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Devon Hill improved his career-best time, crossing the finish line in 13.88 seconds and moving into third in school history. Nelms also ran in the event, finishing fifth in 14.31 seconds. The duo also finished fourth and fifth in the 400m hurdles with times of 52.46 and 52.59 respectively.
“Our men’s and women’s hurdlers have been performing well all year and today’s performances were excellent from both Ti’erra and Devon,” said Deem.
Yet again, Megan Novinger reached a new personal-best in the high jump. The junior, who just last weekend leapt 1.75m (5-09.00) at the Florida Relays for her then career-best mark, reached 1.77 (5-9.75) on Saturday. The height registers as the third-best mark in school history.
Miranda Wilson had a successful day in three events on Saturday, winning the shot put with a toss of 13.75m (45-01.50), placing second in the discus at 44.60m (146-04.00) and placing fourth in the hammer throw – hitting a mark of 50.96m (167-02.00). Her effort in the shot put was a new personal-best.
Patrick Blackie’s time 0f 48.51 seconds in the 400m dash was the best from any Hurricane on the season and moved him into fifth place in the school’s record book.
Micanor Regis was the top collegiate competitor in the shot put as he crushed his previous personal-best with a mark of 14.40m (47-03.00).
Jason Johnson leapt to a second place finish in the long jump, with a mark of 7.11m (23-04.00) a strong tailwind prevented him from recording a career-best mark.
Tameka Jameson crossed the finish line 23.63 seconds in the 200m dash, the fourth collegiate runner to do so. Whyte finished close behind in 23.79 seconds and Tarika Williams finished in 23.91 seconds.
Deandra Doyley and Brittni Finch placed one-two in the long jump with marks of 6.12m (20-01.00) and 6.06m (19-10.75). Doyley’s fellow senior, Christina Madry reached a mark of 5.77m (18-11.25).
Finch also reached a season-best mark in the triple jump, leaping 11.56m (37.11.25).
In her first attempt in the 100m dash this season, senior Kristy Whyte finished with a time of 11.63 seconds. Tarika Willaims and Charlene Fuller had times of 11.85 and 11.89 seconds respectively.
Janet Price set a personal-best in the 800m run with a time of 2:10.49, beating her previous best time by more than two seconds.
Lauren Phipps and Allison Higbee each reached 3.15m (10-04.00) in the pole vault. The mark matched Phipps personal-best and was a new one for Higbee.
The Hurricanes travel to Clemson, S.C. for the ACC Championships, April 15-16.
