Wimbley Sweeps ACC Freshman of the Year Award
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Shakima Wimbley became the first Hurricane in Miami track and field history to sweep the ACC Freshman of the Year award when the conference announced Friday its 2014 outdoor track and field award winners.
Wimbley, who also won the ACC Freshman of the Year for indoor track and field this year, was one of three student-athletes to complete a sweep of 2014 ACC Track and Field individual honors, joining Florida State’s Dentarius Locke and Duke’s Juliet Bottorff.
“I am very happy and proud,” Wimbley said. “It means a lot to me, especially that I am the first Miami Hurricane to sweep the Freshman of the Year. It just makes me want to work harder and keep going. The sky is the limit.”
Miami’s Wimbley capped off a stellar freshman season that included gold medal performances in the 200-meter dash (23.12) and the 4×100 (45.06). The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., speedster also helped the Hurricanes’ 4×400 relay team to a bronze medal time of 3:35.90 and placed fourth in the 400 meters at 53.02. She qualified for the NCAAs in both the 400 meters and the 4×400.
Wimbley was one of three Hurricanes who earned All-American honors, selected to the second team after she placed fourth in Heat 1 of the women’s 400m semifinal and 14th overall with a time of 52.61 seconds. She was also tabbed All-America honorable mention as a member of Miami’s 4x400m relay team.
“I think she’s had a tremendous freshman year,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “The thing that is positive about Shakima is that even though she has made some mistakes, which all athletes do, she has used them as motivation to get better. That’s what you want in an athlete and I think that is a lot of the reason why she got the award. She’s had tough times and great times, but she has always come back stronger after.”
The freshman sensation was an ACC outdoor champion in the 200m and in the 4x100m relay, earning All-ACC honors for both events.
In addition to her stellar showing at the ACC Outdoor Championships, Wimbley earned ACC Performer of the Week on May 20, her second Performer of the Week Award of 2014. The freshman was the top finisher in a field of 45 athletes competing in the women’s 400m at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Her personal-best time of 51.68 seconds was the fastest time by an ACC athlete this season.
Wimbley was also an All-America second team selection during an indoor season that saw her win the 200m and 4x400m ACC titles.
“I am really looking forward to the summer and next year,” Deem said. “I can’t wait to see how far she can go as an athlete.”
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