@MiamiTrack Ready for Tyson Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Miami track and field program will compete against some of the top competition in the country this weekend at the Tyson Invitational.
The Hurricanes will spend the weekend at the Randal Tyson Track Complex in Fayetteville, Ark., the site of the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. Miami will feature talented student-athletes on both the men’s and women’s sides that are looking to post impressive times and marks as they head into the final weeks of the indoor season.
Shakima Wimbley enters the Tyson Invitational fresh off a victory in the 200m and 400m at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite meet a week ago. The sophomore 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.
Senior thrower Lea Johnson also heads to Fayetteville off a win, earning the victory in the women’s weight throw with her season-best mark of 20.98m. Other standouts so far this season include women’s thrower Tiffany Okieme, middle distance runner Taneisha Cordell and hurdler Kayann Richards.
On the men’s side, John-Patrick Friday continues to be a consistent standout. Friday placed fourth at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet in the men’s long jump with a personal-best mark of 7.45m that ranks third in UM history. 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.
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 was excellent last week at the Doc Hale Virginia Tech Elite Meet. The Alabaster, Ala., native placed second in the men’s open 200m with a personal-best time of 21.48 seconds that ranks second in UM history and finished sixth in the men’s 60m final with a personal-best time of 6.88 seconds.
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.
Senior Christian Cook will make his 2015 debut, competing in the 60m hurdles. Cook ranks third in UM history in the men’s indoor 60m hurdles with a time of 7.82 seconds. The veteran hurdler is not the only Cane competing for the first time this weekend.
Freshman David Njoku will make his Miami track and field debut this weekend, competing in the men’s high jump. Njoku, who is also a member of the Hurricane football team, was the 2014 New Ballance Outdoor High Jump Champion. He also won the high jump at both the 2013 and 2014 New Jersey Meet of Champions. A three-time Essex County high jump champion, Njoku comes to Miami with a personal-best of 2.15m.
The Tyson Invitational is set to begin on Friday at 2 p.m. ET, with the women’s mile run and the women’s long jump. Saturday’s action opens at 1 p.m. ET with the women’s 3000-meter run and the women’s triple jump. The Tyson Invitational will be broadcasted on SEC Network+ on Saturday.
Men’s Entries
60m: Jaalen Jones, Josh Johnson
200m: Jaalen Jones, Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Josh Johnson
400m: Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Anthony Wolliston
800m: Joseph Ryan
60m HH: Christian Cook
4x400m: Henri Delauze, Robert Grant, Anthony Wolliston, Jaalen Jones, Josh Johnson, Joseph Ryan
High Jump: David Njoku, Bailey Vitatoe
Long Jump: John-Patrick Friday
Triple Jump: John-Patrick Friday
Shot Put: Gian Piero Ragonesi, Daniel Polinski
Weight Throw: Carlos Mangum
Women’s Entries
60m: Lateisha Philson
400m: Shakima Wimbley, Kelsey Balkwill,Anthonia Moore
800m: Taneisha Cordell
60m HH: Kayann Richards, Jamika Glades, Stefani Kerrison
4x400m: Shakima Wimbley, Kelsey Balkwill, Jamika Glades,Taneisha Cordell, Anthonia Moore
High Jump: Dakota Dailey-Harris
Triple Jump: Alexis Wright, Niara Hill
Shot Put: Tiffany Okieme
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.
