Miami Track Shines at Alumni Invitational
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Hurricane track and field standouts from the past and present competed together in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational at Cobb Stadium.
“I thought we had a really good night,” said Miami director of track and field and cross country, Amy Deem. “We were limited in what we were doing because of the ACC Championships early next week, But I thought what we did, we did well. We were aggressive and put ourselves in a much better position that we did coming off Florida Relays heading into ACCs next week.”
Olympic gold medalist Lauryn Williams won the women’s 100m dash with a time of 11.13 seconds. Williams also placed second in the women’s 200m dash with a time of 22.58 seconds. A star with the Hurricanes from 2001-04, Williams was one of several Hurricane alums to shine at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational.
“This is kind of her retirement year,” Deem said. “This might be the last time we see Lauryn Williams on the track. For her to come out and win the 100m and run a really good 200m was great.”
Hurricane alum Dominique Darden won the women’s 400m hurdles in impressive fashion. Darden, who posted a time of 56.98 seconds, finished nearly three seconds ahead of the second place finisher.
Former Hurricane All-American Devon Hill finished second in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 13.80 seconds. Sophomore Christian Cook, who won his heat, placed fifth with a time of 14.18 seconds.
“Dominique Darden continues to come out and Devon too,” Deem said. “It’s always great to see the alumni come out and compete and support everybody. This is always a great meet for us.”
Three Canes that will soon be alumni, seniors Samantha Williams, Elyse Houston and Greg Kaczka, were honored for their contributions to the Hurricane track and field program. Williams won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 41’ 1.5”.
Both the men’s and women’s teams had strong performances in their final home meet of the season.
Miami’s throwers set several personal bests on Saturday. Isaiah Simmons won the men’s discus with a throw of 169’ 1”, setting a new personal best for the talented freshman.
Amber Monroe won the women’s discus throw with a toss of 158’ 4”. Monroe placed sixth in the women’s shot put with a throw of 43’ 5”. The sophomore placed ninth and set a new personal best in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 146’ 5”.
Lea Johnson placed third and set a new personal best in the women’s hammer throw. The sophomore threw her implement 178’.
“I think we are coming around as a team,” Deem said. “The throwers continue to get better. They are doing what they need to do.”
Miami’s runners had success in sprints and distance. Junior Lindsi Arrington placed 11th out of 26 competitors in the women’s 800m run, finishing in 2:15.29.
Sophomore Douglas Dourado placed sixth in the men’s 800m run with a time of 1:57.54. Freshman Bryce McConville also competed in the men’s 800m, posting a time of 2:02.65. McConville finished ninth in the men’s 1500m with a time of 4:17.97. Freshman Bert Irigoyen also competed in the men’s 1500m, posting a time of 4:27.47.
Junior Bassim El-Sabawi finished 12th out of 39 competitors in the men’s 200m dash with a time of 22.06 seconds. Teammates Anthony Wolliston (22.20), Joseph Ryan (22.46), Davin Johnson (22.97) and William Waldon (23.71) also ran in the men’s 200m.
Miami’s women had four student-athletes run in the 200m dash. Alyssa McClure was the top finisher of the group, placing 12th with a time of 24.36 seconds. Jokira Jiles (24.53), Kelsey Balkwill (24.75) and Shannon Wright (24.92) also competed in the women’s 200m.
Sophomore Taylor Votek placed seventh in the women’s 3000m run with a time of 11:16.27, while the Canes had three student-athletes compete in the men’s 3000m run. Junior Luke Fontaine finished fourth with a time of 9:03.74 and freshman Kevin Marsh placed sixth, running a personal-best 9:16.40. Sophomore AJ Ricketts posted a time of 9:38.23.
Miami’s relay teams had success at Cobb Stadium. Junior Alyssa McClure, sophomore Jokira Kiles, junior Jasmyne King and freshman Kelsey Balkwill made up the women’s 4x100m relay team that placed second with a time of 45.05 seconds.
“I’m really pleased with the relay,” Deem said. “We’ve got to be better form a national perspective but I really felt we put ourselves in a good position. I wasn’t sure if we were going to put a 4×100 team on the track and I thought those kids did a tremendous job today.”
The men’s 4x400m relay team of Davin Johnson, Garrett Nygren, Joseph Ryan and Anthony Wolliston placed fifth, with a time of 3:26.27.
The Hurricane jumpers also shined at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational. Freshman John-Patrick Friday placed second in the men’s high jump, clearing a personal-best 6’ 9.75”. Friday also was fifth in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 48’ 6”.
Freshman Timothy Richardson finished second in the men’s long jump with a mark of 23’ 3.25”. Richardson also placed seventh in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 47’ 5.25”.
Junior Richard Tema and sophomore Kadeem Walker also competed in the long jump. Tema posted a mark of 20’ 7.75”, while Walker jumped 20’ 7.25”.
Alexis Wright placed third in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 38’ 3.25”. The freshman also placed seventh in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 14.63 seconds.
Junior Garrett Nygren, who won his heat in the men’s 400m hurdles, placed fourth in the event with a personal-best time of 56.33 seconds.
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