NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami women’s track team made its 2014 debut in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I National Team Computer Rankings released Monday.

Based on the final descending order lists at the conclusion of the indoor regular season, the Canes made a huge leap up the rankings. The Hurricanes jumped 37 spots to number 20, the biggest move up of any women’s team. With 37.37 points, Miami entered the Top 25 for the first time since January 6, 2011, when the women were ranked 25^th.

“We had some exciting performance at the ACC Championships which put us back in the rankings,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “But I know I speak for our coaches and student-athletes in saying that we still have more work to do.”

The giant leap into the Top 25 was propelled by several outstanding performances by the Hurricane women at the 2014 ACC Indoor Championships. Miami placed fourth at the conference meet with 62 points, matching the Hurricanes’ best finish since placing fourth in 2008.

Amber Monroe made a huge move up the women’s shot put list. The junior earned the 2014 ACC indoor championship in shot put with a personal-best mark of 17.18m that ranks fifth in the NCAA this year and second in UM history. Monroe’s big throw punched her ticket to the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., on March 14-15.

Alysha Newman’s third place finish in the women’s pole vault at the ACC Indoor Championships set a new school record. The sophomore cleared a personal-best 4.35m that ranks seventh in the nation and secured her spot in the field at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Shakima Wimbley earned a gold medal in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.58 seconds. But the 200m flat track at Clemson University allows for the time to be converted due to track size. Wimbley’s converted time of 23.22 seconds ranks ninth in the country, qualifying her for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The freshman also ranks among the Top 50 in the women’s 400m, sitting at No. 32 with a time of 53.46 seconds.

Like Monroe, Lea Johnson earned an ACC indoor championship in the throws with a huge mark. The junior climbed to the top of the podium in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 20.99m. Johnson, whose mark ranks 12^th in the country, will be joining Monroe, Newman and Wimbley in Albuquerque.

Other Canes who helped Miami move up the USTFCCCA Rankings with strong showings at the ACC Indoor Championships include thrower Precious Ogunleye and jumper Dakota Dailey-Harris.

Ogunleye joined Johnson on the podium in women’s weight throw, taking the bronze medal with a mark of 20.72m that ranks 22^nd in the NCAA. Dailey-Harris ranks 43^rd in the country in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.77m that gave her a sixth-place finish at the ACC Indoor Championships.

Beyond the big performances in Clemson, Miami also has the 19^th-ranked 4x400m relay team in the country. The Canes won the 2014 ACC indoor championship in the 4×400 relay, but Miami’s best time was at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet. Jamika Glades, Taneisha Cordell, Kelsey Balkwill and Wimbley combined to run a 3:35.58 that initially ranked fourth in the country.

The Hurricanes are one of three ACC schools currently ranked in the USTFCCCA Top 25, joining No. 9 Maryland and No. 13 Florida State.

The national team rankings are complied by mathematical formulae based on national descending order lists. The purpose and methodology of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots in the national team race. Rankings points do not equate with NCAA Championships team points. A full description of the rankings can be found here.

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