Burns and Simmons Lead @MiamiTrack in N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of Miami track and field program had many impressive showings on Saturday, but none matched the standout performances by Isaiah Simmons and Artie Burns at the 2014 Don Kirby Elite Invitational.
Simmons shattered his previous school record with a personal-best throw of 18.87m. The sophomore, who placed fifth in the men’s shot put in Albuquerque, broke the record mark of 18.20m he set a week ago at the Doc Hale VT Elite Meet. The throw also ranks Simmons among the top 20 marks in the NCAA during the 2014 indoor season.
“Isaiah has been such a constant for the men’s program,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “He’s a tough competitor and we look for him to continue to throw farther at ACC’s.”
While Simmons broke his indoor school record, Burns also had a big day at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Burns ran a personal-best 7.75 to finish second in his heat in section A of the 60m hurdles.
The time shaved five–hundredths of a second off his previous personal-best, but the standout hurdler was not done yet. Burns placed third in the section A final while improving his personal-best time to 7.68 seconds. Burns’ 60m hurdle time currently ranks fourth nationally and second in UM history.
“Artie is just touching the surface of what he is capable of in the hurdles,” Deem said. “He is getting better each practice and it is showing in the meets.”
On the women’s side, Shakima Wimbley won the women’s 400m dash with a personal-best time of 53.68 seconds. The freshman has won a race in each meet she has participated in this year.
Junior Shannon Wright, who placed 10th in the women’s 400m dash, had the top time in section four of the event: a season-best time of 56.31 seconds.
Senior Alaine Tate also reached the top of the podium, winning the women’s 800m run in a season-best time of 2:07.57.
“Alaine completed very well this weekend,” Deem said. “She led off our DMR last night to a school record and came back today to win the 800. Those are the kind of performances we need to be successful at the ACC Championships.”
Miami’s 4x400m relays each earned a top 10 finish as the women’s quartet of Jamika Glades, Taneisha Cordell, Kelsey Balkwill and Shakima Wimbley placed third with a time of 3:36.94.
The men’s 4x400m relay team placed eighth as Josh Johnson, Anthony Wolliston, Garrett Nygren and Joseph Ryan combined for a season-best time of 3:14.73.
Kayann Richards won the second heat of section B in the women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 8.52 seconds. Richards advanced to the section B 60m hurdles final, where she placed fourth with a time of 8.61 seconds.
Alysha Newman and Alexis Wright reached the section C finals in the women’s 60m hurdles. Newman would place third in the final with a time of 8.73 seconds, while Wright finished eighth with a time of 8.99 seconds. Newman also placed seventh in the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.11m.
Phillip Dorsett placed sixth in the 60m dash section B final with a time of 6.87 seconds, while Bassim El-Sabawi finished seventh in the section C final with a time of 7.04 seconds. On the women’s side, Jasmyne King finished seventh in the 60m dash section C final with a time of 7.80 seconds.
Junior Amber Monroe finished seventh in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.35m, while senior Lindsi Arrington placed seventh in the women’s mile with a time of 5:09.62.
Sophomore hurdler TeQuille Jackson placed seventh in the men’s 60m hurdles section B final with a time of 8.13 seconds.
“All in all, we had some impressive performances this weekend,” Deem said. “But we need more consistent performances from everyone to be the team we can be at the conference championships.”
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