@MiamiTrack Travels to Atlanta for GT Invite
ATLANTA – The University of Miami track and field program is ready for its final meet of the 2014 regular season, the Georgia Tech Invitational.
The Hurricanes have 20 student-athletes, eight men and 12 women, set to compete this weekend at the George C. Griffin Track on the Georgia Tech campus. The two-day meet will serve as Miami’s final competition before the NCAA East Preliminary on May 29-31.
“We’re excited about this weekend and getting one more competition in,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “Everyone has been training hard. We’ve had a break from school since finals and before summer school and I am really impressed with their focus and commitment. They seem to be mentally and physically in the right place for this weekend. Hopefully we have some good results this weekend that will be confidence builders going into the first round of NCAAs.”
There are several student-athletes who will be looking to have a strong performance as they prepare for the NCAA East Preliminary. Deem hopes freshman Shakima Wimbley is one sprinter who will benefit from a big weekend.
“I’d like to see Shakima get some confidence,” Deem said. “She’s been struggling a little bit in the 400. Training-wise, she is great and looks really ready to run well. I think she’s in a better place than she was when she ran her personal-best at Florida Relays. She runs on confidence so if she is feeling good going into Jacksonville in two weeks then that will be a positive.”
“I’d also like to see Alyssa McClure have a good weekend,” Deem said. “She’s been working really hard and I know there is a good 100 in there and I’d love to see that come out this week.”
Miami’s throwers are also primed for a big weekend. Women’s throwers Amber Monroe and Lea Johnson will get their final throws in before they head to Jacksonville, while men’s throwers Gian Piero Ragonesi and Carlos Mangum will look to post marks that will qualify them for the postseason.
“I am looking for some good things from the throws group,” Deem said. “I’d like to see Amber get a good discus throw in because I know that is something she has really been working on. And Gian and Carlos have been getting better all year. I’d like to see them get some big throws this weekend so their seasons can continue on. That would be huge for them as freshmen.”
Deem also mentioned Alysha Newman as a student-athlete who could make some noise this weekend in the pole vault. Overall, Miami’s director of track and field wants to see all of her student-athletes have a strong showing as they prepare for the NCAA meet.
“I’d like to see everyone get some confidence so they can focus and not have doubts going into Jacksonville,” Deem said. “We want them really confident and focused on fine tuning going into the first round.”
The Georgia Tech Invitational is scheduled to begin at noon Friday with the men’s hammer, while running action is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the women’s 100m hurdles. Saturday’s action is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the women’s high jump, while the women’s 4x100m relay will be the first running event of the day beginning at 1 p.m. Fans can follow all the action through the meet results page.
Men’s Entries
100m: Bassim El-Sabawi
200m: Bassim El-Sabawi, Josh Johnson, Anthony Wolliston
400m: Anthony Wolliston
110m HH: TeQuille Jackson
4x100m Relay: Bassim El-Sabawi, Josh Johnson, TeQuille Jackson, Anthony Wolliston
Long Jump: John-Patrick Friday, Timothy Richardson
Triple Jump: John-Patrick Friday, Timothy Richardson
Shot Put: Gian Piero Ragonesi
Discus: Gian Piero Ragonesi
Hammer: Carlos Mangum
Women’s Entries
100m: Alyssa McClure
200m: Shakima Wimbley
400m: Anthonia Moore, Shakima Wimbley
800m: Taneisha Cordell, Thandi Stewart, Alaine Tate
100m HH: Alysha Newman, Kayann Richards
400m IH: Jamika Glades
4x400m Relay: Taneisha Cordell, Jamika Glades, Anthonia Moore, Kayann Richards, Thandi Stewart, Alaine Tate
High Jump: Dakota Dailey-Harris
Pole Vault: Alysha Newman
Shot Put: Amber Monroe
Discus: Amber Monroe
Hammer: Lea Johnson
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