Miami T&F Finishes Strong at Hurricane Invite
CORALGABLES, Fla. – Miami track and field finishedoff its first outdoor meet of the season with a lot of success.
“I was happy with the effort we showed in our first outdoor meet,”said Amy Deem, Miami’s director of track and field and cross country. “Therewere a lot of good things to build off this weekend.”
The Hurricane men were led by Isaiah Simmons, who had anotherhistoric performance.
One day after setting a school record in the men’s hammer throw witha throw of 168′ 10″, Simmons broke the Miami outdoor shot put mark whilewinning the event at the Hurricane Invitational with a mark of 60′ 4″. Theprevious record was set by Mitch Sammons in 1982 (59″ 11″).
“I am really happy for Isaiah,” Deem said. “It was great to seehim start the outdoor season like he finished his indoor season, really strong.He set records in his first outdoor meet. I am looking forward to a very brightfuture from him.”
Simmons also won the men’s discus with a throw of 166′ 8″. Theredshirt freshman now ranks second in Miami history behind Sammons (175′ 2″).
Phillip Dorsett also performed well in the final day of theHurricane Invitational. The sophomore finished second in the men’s 100m dashwith a time of 10.63, just one tenth of a second behind South Carolina’s ChrisRoyster (10.53).
Senior Greg Kaczka was the high finisher among collegians in themen’s 800m, placing third with a time of 1:54.11. Sophomore Douglas Douradoplaced seventh in the event, finishing in 1:55.26. Both times were personalbests for Kaczka and Dourado.
Freshman Tequille Jackson placed sixth in the men’s 110m hurdleswith a time of 14.57 while teammate Christian Cook posted a time of 15.15seconds. Former Miami track standout Devon Hill finished third in the race witha time of 13.69 seconds.
The men’s 4×100 relay team placed sixth with a time of 42.75seconds. Miami’s men ran two teams in the 4×400 relay, finishing fourth(3:17.04) and 11th (3:29.99).
Miami’s women also had a strong finish at the HurricaneInvitational.
The women’s 4X400m relay team was victorious, finishing in3:40.85.
“I was proud of the 4×400 group,” Deem said. “I thought theycompeted hard. If we want to compete at the national level, we’ve got to get alittle bit better, but I felt like that was a good start for us.”
Freshman Alexis Wright and Jamika Glades each set personalrecords. Wright finished second in the women’s triple jump, clearing 38′ 2″,while Glades placed third in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.95 seconds.
“It’s always good to see someone get a personal record,” Deemsaid. “Jamika Glades tried all last year to break 14 seconds and she did it inher first meet this year. That was great.”
Taneisha Cordell and Lindsi Arrington finished second and third,respectively, in the women’s 800m. Cordell, a sophomore, finished in 2:07.97,while Arrington, a junior, finished in 2:13.42. Freshman Kelly Williamsonplaced 10th in the event, finishing in 2:24.53.
“Very happy with Taneisha’s opening performance in the 800 today,”Deem said. “She is one of our strongest legs in the 4×400, too. I look for herto keep doing good things for us.”
Alyssa McClure placed third in the women’s 100m dash with a timeof 11.7 seconds. Teammate Jokira Jiles finished 10th, posting a timeof 12.08 seconds.
A day after placing sixth in the women’s hammer throw, sophomoreAmber Monroe placed third in the women’s shot put, clearing 43′ 7.75″.
The Hurricane trio of Alaine Tate, Shannon Wright and Jasmyne Kingfinished fifth, sixth and seventh in the women’s 400m dash. Tate posted a timeof 55.74 seconds in her Miami outdoor debut while Wright, (56.41) and King(56.51) finished right behind her. Miami alum Dominque Darden placed secondwith a time of 54.32 seconds.
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