Track & Field / February 20, 2013

T&F Ready for ACC Indoor Championships

BLACKSBURG, VA. — After a solid performance in theVirginia Tech Elite Meet two weeks ago, the University of Miami track and fieldprogram returns to Rector Field House at Virginia Tech for the 2013 ACC IndoorChampionships.

Competitionis scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 21 with the women’spentathlon and men’s heptathlon. The men’slong jump starts Friday’s field events at 12:30 p.m., while the women’s milerun at 2 p.m. starts the day’s running events. The third day of the ACC IndoorChampionships is all about the finals, with men’s and women’s athletescompeting for championships and a spot in the awards ceremony at 4 p.m.Saturday afternoon.

Severalmembers of the Miami women’s track and field team are expected to have a strongshowing this weekend. Senior All-American Samantha Williams, who isrepresenting the Canes in both the triple jump and long jump, is coming off a 42′ 0.75″ triple jumpthat earned her a second place finish in the VT Elite Meet. Williams alsoplaced fifth in the long jump at VT two weeks ago.

JokiraJiles, Taneisha Cordell, Alaine Tate and Shannon Wright are poised for a strong4x400m performance this weekend. The relay team placed third at the VT EliteMeet with a time of 3:43.379. Cordell and Tate are also competing in thewomen’s 800m this weekend.

The men’steam will be led by thrower Isaiah Simmons. The redshirt freshman is Miami’sindoor shot put record holder, shattering Vince Wilfork’s nearly 12-year-oldmark with a throw of 17.87m at the Kentucky Invitational. Since then, he brokehis own record at the Auburn Invitational (18.17m) and his throw of 17.88m atthe New Mexico Classic earned him his first career victory in the shot put.

LukeFontaine, Christian Cook, Douglas Dourado and Greg Kaczka will try to repeattheir success this weekend in the distance medley relay. Two weeks ago, thequartet set a Miami record, posting a time of 10:02.83.

SophomoreSean Pezzulo, who finished fourth in his last 5000m competition, will try toimprove on his time of 15:05:20. Junior Bassim El-Sabawi will try to post another top five finish in themen’s 200m. El-Sabawi finished fifth at the VT Elite Meet with a time of 22.31seconds.

TheRector Field House is regarded as a premier location for track competition, asit holds a 200-meter, Mondo-surfaced, banked track. The facility is consistently rated as one ofthe fastest tracks in the U.S. and attracts some of the top track athletes inthe world.

For allthe latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitterfeed, @HurricaneSports, or “Like Us” on Facebook atfacebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @MiamiTrack on Twitter for specific news on UMtrack and field and cross country.

Women’s Entries:

60m
Jamika Glades
Alyssa McClure
Elyse Houston

200m
Alyssa McClure
Jokira Jiles

400m
Jamika Glades
Shannon Wright
Jasmyne King

800m
Alaine Tate
Taneisha Cordell

4x400m
Taneisha Cordell
Jokira Jiles
Alaine Tate
Shannon Wright
Jamika Glades

Mile Run
Lindsi Arrington

Long Jump
Nicole Cummings
Elyse Houston
Samantha Williams

Triple Jump
Alexis Wright
Samantha Williams

High Jump
Dakota Dailey Harris

Weight Throw
Amber Monroe

Shot Put
Amber Monroe