@MiamiTrack Shines at Nittany Lion Challenge
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Miami track and field program had an excellent showing in its first meet of the 2015 indoor season.
The Hurricanes compiled eight victories, set multiple school records and a meet record, and had several personal-best performances while at the 2015 Nittany Lion Challenge.
“Today was a great team effort,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “They competed with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. I told them after the meet that if we continue working hard and believe in what are doing, we will be a very good team at the end of the season.”
Miami had a strong day in the sprints, hurdles and relays, earning six victories on the day.
Freshman Jaalen Jones claimed a victory in the men’s 60m with a time of 6.89 seconds, while sophomore Josh Johnson placed fifth with a time of 6.91 seconds. Both Jones and Johnson were heat winners in the 60m preliminaries, posting time of 7.00 seconds and 6.98 seconds, respectively.
“I’m proud of our men today,” Deem said. “We competed hard it was great to see Jaalen win in his first collegiate meet.”
Sophomore Shakima Wimbley won in the women’s 200 meters with a personal-best time of 23.35 seconds that ranks fourth on Miami’s all-time indoor list. Junior Kelsey Balkwill also excelled, placing third in the women’s 200m with a time of 24.41 seconds.
The Canes finished 1-2 in the women’s 600m run with senior Taneisha Cordell earning the win with a time of 1:31.47 and fellow senior Thandi Stewart placing second with a time of 1:32.48.
On the men’s side, three Canes bested the UM school record in the 600m (1:22.96), previously held by Patrick Blackie (1/23/10). Freshman Henri Delauze finished third overall in the men’s 600m run with a new school record time of 1:21.26, while junior Joseph Ryan and freshman Zack Garland also broke the old school record by running 1:21.34 and 1:22.85, respectively.
Sophomore Anthonia Moore and senior Anthony Wolliston each earned fourth-place finishes in the 400m, Moore posted a time of 56.42 seconds on the women’s side, while Wolliston finished in 48.75 seconds on the men’s side.
The Canes had three women qualify for the 60m hurdles final. Kayann Richards earned a victory with a time of 8.42 seconds, while freshmen Stefani Kerrison and Alexandra Wester finished third (8.47) and fifth (8.65), respectively.
Miami also earned victories in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays. The women’s 4×400 relay team of Balkwill, Cordell, Stewart and Wimbley set a new meet record with a time of 3:35.93, while the men’s 4×4 relay team of Robert Grant, Delauze, Ryan and Wolliston won in a time of 3:14.53.
“I am extremely pleased with the women’s 4×400,” Deem said. “Penn State has a strong tradition in that relay and to break the meet record is a real confidence booster for our team.”
The Hurricane jumpers had a productive start to their season, led by junior Dakota Dailey-Harris winning the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.73m
Junior John-Patrick Friday was the runner-up in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.10m. Friday also posted a new personal-best in the men’s triple jump, clearing 15.47m to place third overall and set a new school record.
Wester was the runner-up in the women’s long jump with a mark of 6.20m. Junior Alexis Wright placed fourth in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 11.74m, while freshman Niara Hill finished fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 11.71m.
Miami’s throwers also opened the 2015 indoor season with a strong showing. The Hurricane women placed 1-2 in the weight throw as junior Tiffany Okieme won with a throw of 20.30m and senior Lea Johnson placed second with a mark of 20.28m. Okieme‘s throw moves her into fifth place on Miami’s all-time list for the weight throw, but she also excelled in the shot put with a mark of 14.60m that put her second in the field at the Nittany Lion Challenge.
“Lea continues to have big throws and with the addition of Tiffany, I am looking forward to big things from them,” Deem said.
On the men’s side, sophomore Carlos Mangum finished second in the men’s weight throw with a new school record throw of 18.97m. Sophomore Gian Piero Ragonsi was the runner-up in the men’s shot put with a throw of 16.60m, while redshirt freshman Daniel Polinski debuted with a fifth-place finish in the men’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 15.98m.
Freshman Sean Grossman had a solid showing in the distance events, running a personal-best time of 4:25.66 in the men’s mile.
Miami is back in action next weekend at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet, competing on Jan. 23-24 in Lexington, Ky.
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.
