Track Finishes Strong at Hurricane Invite
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program finished strong at the 2014 Hurricane Invitational, winning 11 events on the final day of the opening meet of outdoor season.
“It was a very good start for us,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “We’re still training through these meets, but I thought the effort was there. We had a lot of great performances and I think that really starts us off well this outdoor season.”
The women earned six wins on the final day of the Hurricane Invitational, including Jamika Glades’ victory in the 400m hurdles with a time of 59.20 seconds. The sophomore also helped the Hurricanes win the women’s 4x400m relay.
Anthonia Moore, Glades, Taneisha Cordell and Shannon Wright combined to run a 3:40.96 and finish first, while Alaine Tate, Kayann Richards, Lindsi Arrington and Thandi Stewart placed second with a time of 3:44.97 to give Miami’s women the top two spots in the 4x400m relay.
The Hurricanes also took the top four spots in the women’s 800m led by Tate, who won with a time of 2:10.05. Stewart finished second (2:11.06), followed by Arrington (personal-best 2:13.25) and Cordell (2:13.62).
Alyssa McClure opened her outdoor season with a pair of victories, winning the women’s 100m with a time of 11.55 seconds and taking the women’s 200m with a personal-best time of 23.75 seconds.
Amber Monroe won the women’s shot put with a throw of 16.02m that ranks fourth in school history. The junior also placed second in the women’s discus with a throw of 47.78m.
Alexis Wright rounded out the winners for the Hurricane women, finishing first in the triple jump with a mark of 11.77m. The sophomore also placed sixth in the women’s 100m hurdles, finishing with a time of 14.61 seconds.
Miami’s men claimed five wins Saturday, including TeQuille Jackson’s victory in the men’s 110m hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.44 seconds. The sophomore also placed second in the men’s 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 54.61 seconds.
While Jackson opened the season with a solid start, Miami’s throwers were very impressive in their first meet of the outdoor season.
Isaiah Simmons won the men’s discus with a throw of 52.06m, while Gian Ragonesi placed second with a throw of 50.26m that ranked third in school history. The duo also claimed the top two spots on the men’s shot put with Simmons taking first place (17.45m) and Ragonesi finished second (16.32m).
Timothy Richardson won the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.38m. The junior also finished second in the men’s triple jump (14.35m). Sophomore John-Patrick Friday won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 14.48m, while junior Richard Tema finished third (13.98m)
Miami’s 4x400m relay was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s group. Joseph Ryan, Anthony Wolliston, TeQuille Jackson and Bassim El-Sabawi finished second with a time of 3:21.00.
Several other Canes had good performances on Saturday including Anthony Wolliston. The sophomore placed fourth overall in the men’s 400m with a personal-best time of 47.89 that ranks fifth in school history. Johnny Dutch, who trains with Deem at Miami, was the overall winner of the men’s 400m with a time of 47.42 seconds.
Douglas Dourado placed second in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:55.82, He was joined in the top 10 by Connor Adams (sixth) and JaCee Jarnagin (ninth).
Bassim El-Sabawi finished fifth in the men’s 100m dash with a time of 10.63 seconds. The senior also placed fifth in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.31 seconds.
Miami’s Anthonia Moore led a trio of Canes in the women’s 400m, placing second with a personal-best time of 55.64. Shannon Wright placed third (55.91) and Meridith Louisville, who won section 2 of the women’s 400m, finished sixth overall with a time of 58.34 seconds.
“We competed and worked hard, that’s what I was most proud about,” Deem said. “To come out in the first meet like this is good. We’ve got some work to do, but the effort and the attitude is definitely there.”
The Hurricanes are back at home next weekend for the Miami Invitational on March 29. Next weekend’s meet is the second of three meets scheduled for Cobb Stadium. The Hurricane Alumni Invitational, Miami’s final home meet, is scheduled for April 12.
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