@MiamiTrack's 4x400m Closes NCAA Indoors
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The women’s 4x400m relay was the final representative for the University of Miami track and field program at the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships.
Kelsey Balkwill, Taniesha Cordell, Shakima Wimbley and Anthonia Moore combined to run a time of 3:35.48, finishing third in Heat 1 of the women’s 4x400m relay final. The Hurricanes’ finished 10th overall in the women’s 4x400m relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
On Friday, a pair of Miami throwers earned All-America honors on the opening day of the national meet. Lea Johnson closed out her final indoor season earning First Team All-America honors. The senior placed eighth in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 20.78m, scoring a point for the Miami women. Johnson entered the national championships fresh off earning first team All-ACC honors and repeating as the ACC Indoor Champion in the women’s weight throw with a personal-best mark of 21.45m that ranks second all-time in UM history.
“This means a lot,” Johnson said. “I came into this meet with the expectation of becoming a First Team All-American after not making it to the finals last year. I wasn’t having the best day, but I fought through it in order to get into the Top 8 and this just makes me more pumped up for the upcoming outdoor season.”
Tiffany Okieme joined Johnson in the finals of the women’s weight throw, placing ninth with a mark of 20.34m. The junior earned Second Team All-America honors in her first ever Division I national meet, adding to an impressive 2015 indoor season that includes First Team All-ACC accolades and a bronze medal in the weight throw at the 2015 ACC Indoor Championships.
Shakima Wimbley placed third in Heat 2 of the women’s 400m semifinals, but did not advance to Saturday’s final. The sophomore’s time of 52.87 seconds ranked 11th among semifinalists, just missing the Top 8 qualifying spots.
The Hurricanes open the 2015 outdoor season next Friday at Cobb Stadium. Miami will host the Hurricane Invitataional on March 20-21 at Cobb Stadium on the University of Miami campus.
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