@MiamiTrack Women Enter Top 25
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami track and field women’s team entered the Top 25 in the latest edition of the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, coming in at No. 23 in a poll released Monday.
All preseason times and marks are removed from the formula in the fourth week of the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings. All rankings are now based solely on 2015 times and marks, allowing the Hurricanes to crack the Top 25 for the first time in 2015 just before they head to the ACC Indoor Championships.
“We are very focused this week on sharpening up and making final preparations for the ACC Championships next week,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “Breaking into the Top 25 is a positive that we can continue to build on as a team.”
The Hurricane Women feature several times and marks that rank among the Top 25 in their respective event area. The top 16 declared student-athletes in individual events will be accepted into the NCAA Indoor Championships, while the top 12 relays will earn a spot in the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Shakima Wimbley ranks fourth in the women’s 400m with a time of 51.82 seconds and 14th in the women’s 200m (23.35), while Miami’s best 4x400m relay time of 3:34.88 currently ranks ninth in the country.
In the field events, the Canes have Lea Johnson and Tiffany Okieme currently inside the top 16 in the weight throw. Johnson’s mark of 20.98m ranks 11th in the country, while Okieme sits 12th with a throw of 20.79m. Freshman Alexandra Wester is also among the top 25 in the women’s long jump, ranking 20th with a mark of 6.20m.
The Canes also have several times and marks that rank among the top 50 in the country. Kayann Richards (8.36 seconds) and Stefani Kerrison (8.37 seconds), rank 30th and 32nd, respectively, in the 60m hurdles. Dakota Dailey-Harris ranks 37th in the country in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.77m, while Kelsey Balkwill’s time of 54.17 seconds is 47th in the 400m.
Miami is back in action in the final weekend of February, competing at the ACC Indoor Championships in Blacksburg, Va., on Feb. 27-28.
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.
