@MiamiTrack Finishes Strong at VT Elite Meet
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Miami Track and field program had an excellent showing at the 2015 Virginia Tech Elite Meet.
The Hurricanes set a school record Friday, when Carlos Mangum posted a new personal-best mark of 19.82m in the men’s weight throw. John-Patrick Friday and Lea Johnson also posted impressive marks at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, helping the Canes open another strong weekend.
“I thought we competed with a lot of enthusiasm and were very competitive,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. Lea and JP continue to improve each week and I feel our women’s hurdles are right there and I look for them to make big strides in the next two meets.”
While Friday was a solid start for Miami, Saturday included several standout performances, led by sophomore sensation Shakima Wimbley.
Wimbley won the Doc Hale Invitational women’s 200m in a time of 23.53 seconds. The victory comes a day after the standout sophomore became the Doc Hale Champion in the women’s invitational 400m with a time of 53.48 seconds.
John-Patrick Friday placed fourth in the men’s long jump with a personal-best mark of 7.45m that ranks third in UM history, while freshman Alexandra Wester finished fifth in the women’s long jump with a mark of 6.01m.
Henri Delauze placed fifth in the men’s open 400m dash with a time of 48.57 seconds, while fellow freshman Robert Grant finished seventh with a time of 48.77 seconds. Senior Anthony Wollisotn finished 13th with a time of 49.08 seconds. Jamika Glades placed 10th in the women’s open 400m dash with a time of 56.19 seconds.
Dakota Dailey-Harris was Miami’s first student-athlete to finish competition Saturday, placing fourth overall in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.73m.
Tiffany Okieme placed sixth in the women’s shot put with a throw of 14.83m, while Isaiah Simmons finished 11th in the men’s shot put with a mark of 17.36m.
The Canes closed out their stay in Blacksburg with the 4x400m relays. Miami’s women’s 4x400m relay team of Taneisha Cordell, Jamika Glades, Thandi Stewart and Anthonia Moore placed second in the invitational 4x400m relay with a time of 3:39.14, while the men’s quartet of Joseph Ryan, Robert Grant, Anthony Wolliston and Henri Delauze placed third in the men’s invitational 4x400m relay with a time of 3:14.33.
The Hurricanes are back in action next weekend at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. The two-day meet is set to begin on Feb. 13.
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.
