@MiamiTrack Finishes Strong as 4x400 Advances
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The women’s 4x400m relay closed out the Hurricanes’ strong showing at the 2014 NCAA East Preliminary.
Thandi Stewart, Taneisha Cordell, Shakima Wimbley and Anthonia Moore placed fifth in Heat 1 of the women’s 4x400m relay. Their season-best time of 3:34.24 was the sixth-fastest at the East Preliminary, earning them one of the 12 spots advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Oregon.
“The 4×4 started out well in January and it’s been a struggle to get everybody to run well at the same time,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “To have them all come together at the right time and make the national championship is what we hoped for.”
In total, Miami qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in eight events. In addition to the 4x400m relay, Dakota Dailey-Harris (women’s high jump), Lea Johnson (women’s hammer), Alyssa McClure (women’s 100m), Amber Monroe (women’s discus), Alysha Newman (women’s pole vault), Stewart (women’s 800m) and Wimbley (women’s 400m) will compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
“I think this weekend is going to set us up for the future,” Deem said. “Not even because we are taking nine or 10 females to the national championship, but because we have come so far in a year. I’m really proud of the women and how they came here and competed. There were so many personal bests. That is what this time of year is for. Everybody stepped up and I couldn’t be prouder of them”
The Hurricanes competed in three other events Saturday: the men’s discus, women’s shot put and men’s 4x100m relay.
Gian Piero Ragonesi led Miami’s three throwers on Saturday. The freshman set a new personal-best in the men’s discus with a mark of 55.47m that ranks second in school history. Isaiah Simmons also competed in the men’s discus (51.68m), while Amber Monroe had a throw of 15.89m in the women’s shot put.
“I am really proud of Gian,” Deem said. “He just missed making the final and to have him come in as a freshman and get a big PR is great.”
The men’s 4x100m relay team of Bassim El-Sabawi, Josh Johnson, Anthony Wolliston and TeQuille Jackson combined to finish the race in 42.84 seconds.
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @MiamiHurricanes, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @MiamiTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Miami Hurricanes app for your Droid or iPhone.
