@MiamiTrack Wins Six ACC Individual Titles
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program had an impressive showing at the 2014 ACC Outdoor Championships.
The Canes had six individual champions, set three school records, earned the men’s Field MVP award and had multiple noteworthy performances in their three-day stay in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Both Miami’s women and men had an outstanding list of accomplishments that included the women’s highest finish since 2008 and the most points scored by the men since joining the ACC in 2004.
“We competed very hard, had so many personal-bests, ACC Champions and the Field MVP,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said at the conclusion of the meet. “I think our kids really fed off each other and it was exciting. As a coach, one of the best track meets that I’ve been around for a while.”
Heading into the final day of competition, the women’s team sat in sixth place with 26 points. But the Hurricane women earned 68 points on Day 3 of the conference meet, climbing the standings to finish third with 94 points. It was Miami’s highest finish on the women’s side since they placed second in 2008 and its best score since they put up 84 points in 2010.
A big final day that included four victories helped Miami’s women make a major move in the standings.
Alyssa McClure (100m), Shakima Wimbley (200m), Jamika Glades (400m hurdles) and Miami’s 4x100m relay of Kayann Richards, McClure, Jasmyne King and Wimbley each earned gold medals, while helping propel the women’s team to a Top 3 finish.
Miami’s women closed strong, but Lea Johnson set the bar high when she won the women’s hammer throw on Day 1 of the three-day meet. The junior dethroned two-time defending ACC hammer champion, Virginia Tech’s Annjulie Vester, with a personal-best mark of 61.37m.
While the women proved themselves as one of the top teams in the ACC, the men continued to raise the bar on their rapidly improving team. Miami’s men finished the meet with 44 points, their best score at the ACC Outdoor Championships in program history.
Isaiah Simmons, who defended his outdoor shot put title and placed second in the discus, earned Field MVP honors for the second consecutive year. The sophomore set a new school record en route to winning his second straight ACC outdoor shot put title, posting a personal-best mark of 18.91m.
Overall, the Canes had 10 student-athletes earn All-ACC honors in 13 events. After a successful showing against their conference foes, Deem believes her program will continue to rise up the conference and national rankings.
“I think they got a taste of what it takes to be successful,” Deem said. “I think they realize that we are getting back where we need to be. Once you can taste that and see it, it drives you to get there.”
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