2015 @MiamiTrack Indoor Preview: Distance
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field team opens its 2015 campaign this weekend and the Hurricanes are ready to embark on another successful season.
The Canes feature a talented roster on both the men’s and women’s sides, sporting one of the deepest and most well-rounded teams in recent history. Over the next four days, HurricaneSports.com will break down @MiamiTrack’s different event groups in advance of the season opening Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday. First up, the men’s and women’s distance runners.
Miami’s women’s team brings back two of the best middle distance runners in program history in seniors Thandi Stewart and Taneisha Cordell.
Stewart holds the school record for the indoor 600 meters, running a 1:31.41, while Cordell ranks seconds in school history in the same event with a time of 1:31.61. Stewart ran the 800m leg for Miami’s record-setting women’s distance medley relay team that posted a UM-best time of 11:35.75. She also was a force in the outdoor season a year ago, reaching the NCAA Championships in the 800m. The UM record holder in the outdoor 800 meters (2:04.06), Stewart was an All-ACC Outdoor performer in the 800m a year ago and also earned All-America honorable mention in the 800m.
Cordell holds the UM record in the 600-yard run with a time of 1:22.67. She also ranks fifth in school history in the indoor 800 meters (2:09.77). The senior was an All-ACC Indoor selection in 2014, helping Miami win gold in the 4x400m relay. Cordell also ranks fifth in Miami history in the outdoor 800 meters (2:05.72). Cordell ran the 800m leg in the second-fastest distance medley relay in UM history (11:40.29).
On the men’s side, Miami will look to a trio of freshmen to step up and replace some of the top distance runners in program history. With the graduation of Sean Pezzulo and Connor Adams, the Canes will have freshmen Sean Grossman, Roberto Marrero and Zach Garland competing in the men’s distance events. Grossman, Marrero and Garland are talented young runners who will look to develop over the course of the season and their careers at Miami.
The 2015 Miami track and field indoor season is scheduled to begin Jan. 17 at the Nittany Lion Challenge in State College, Pa.
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