@MiamiTrack Opens February at VT Elite
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Miami track and field program opens the final month of the 2015 indoor season at the “Doc” Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet.
After spending the past week training, the Canes travel to Blacksburg to compete in the two-day meet set to begin on Friday at 5 p.m. with the women’s triple jump and women’s mile run. Saturday’s action is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the women’s high jump. The final day’s running events open at 1 p.m. with the women’s 3000m run.
“We are looking forward to competing at the VT Elite Meet this weekend,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “This meet gives u sthe opportunity to compete against quality ACC and SEC teams, as well as compete at the venue of our ACC Championships later this month.”
Miami features several student-athletes who are off to excellent starts in the 2015 season. Sophomore Shakima Wimbley has earned two ACC Women’s Indoor Track Performer of the Week Awards, most recently setting the ACC and UM women’s indoor 400m record with a time of 51.82 seconds at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet.
On the men’s side, John-Patrick Friday has reached new heights in the men’s triple jump. The junior broke the school record in the triple jump at the season opening Nittany Lion Challenge and then improved his record-setting mark at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet, clearing 15.77m.
Other standouts so far this season include women’s throwers Lea Johnson and Tiffany Okieme, middle distance runners Thandi Stewart and Taneisha Cordell, and hurdler Kayann Richards.
Freshmen Henri Delauze and Jaalen Jones have made an immediate impact for Miami’s men. Delauze has already set the indoor school record in the 600m and moved into the top three in UM history in the 400m, while Jones opened his Miami career with a victory in the 60m dash at the Nittany Lion Challenge. Other men with strong performances this year include throwers Carlos Mangum and Gian Piero Ragonesi, sprinters Anthony Wolliston and Joseph Ryan and the men’s 4x400m relay team of Ryan, Wollison, Delauze and Robert Grant.
“We have had some very solid performances thus far and I am expecting more of that this weekend,” Deem said.
Two Canes will make their season-debut at this weekend’s “Doc” Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet. Isaiah Simmons will compete in the shot put for the first time in 2015, preparing to defend his back-to-back ACC indoor titles in the event. Walter Tucker will make his Miami track debut, competing in the 60m hurdles. Tucker, who is a running back on Miami’s football team, was a state champion hurdler in high school.
Following the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, Miami will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete at the Tyson Invitational on Feb.13-14.
Men’s Entries
60m: Jaalen Jones, Josh Johnson, Tracy Howard
200m: Jaalen Jones, Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Josh Johnson, Ibrahim Dodo
400m: Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Anthony Wolliston, Josh Johnson, Ibrahim Dodo
800m: Joseph Ryan
1 Mile: Sean Grossman
3000m: Sean Grossman
60m HH: Walter Tucker, Bailey Vitatoe
4x400m: Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Anthony Wolliston, Jaalen Jones, Josh Johnson, Joseph Ryan, Ibrahim Dodo, Zack Garland
High Jump: Bailey Vitatoe
Long Jump: John-Patrick Friday
Triple Jump: John-Patrick Friday
Shot Put: Isaiah Simmons, Gian Piero Ragonesi, Daniel Polinski
Weight Throw: Carlos Mangum, Gian Piero Ragonesi
Women’s Entries
60m: Jokira Jiles, Lateisha Philson, Alexandra Wester
200m: Shakima Wimbley, Kelsey Balkwill, Jokira Jiles, Anthonia Moore
400m: Shakima Wimbley, Kelsey Balkwill,Jamika Glades
800m: Taneisha Cordell, Thandi Stewart, Morgan McClure
60m HH: Kayann Richards, Jamika Glades, Stefani Kerrison, Lateisha Philson, Alexis Wright
4x400m: Taneisha Cordell, Thandi Stewart, Anthonia Moore, Morgan McClure
High Jump: Dakota Dailey-Harris, Alexandra Wester
Long Jump: Stefani Kerrison, Alexandra Wester
Triple Jump: Alexis Wright, Niara Hill
Shot Put: Tiffany Okieme, Stefani Kerrison
Weight Throw: Lea Johnson, Tiffany Okieme
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.
