@MiamiTrack Women Ranked No. 19 in Outdoors
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami track and field women’s team appeared in the National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), coming in at No. 19.
The Hurricanes received 87.00 points, projecting Miami to finish 19th after finishing 54th a year ago. The USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings are designed to project how teams might finish at the NCAA Championships.
Ranking points do not equate to the team scoring system used at the NCAA Championships. The top-ranked athletes in each event are assigned 30 points (plus bonus points based on how far ahead of the rest of the list they are), and each successively ranked athlete is assigned fewer points. For the preseason and the first three regular-season editions of the rankings, the top 2014 marks by returning athletes will be included to show the potential each team has demonstrated based on past results as athletes round into peak form.
“I am excited to have our team enter the outdoor season in the Top 25,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “I hope this will serve as motivation for our team to continue to work hard to meet our goals during this outdoor season.”
The Hurricanes currently have three individuals ranked in the Top 10 nationally in their respective events. Jamika Glades’ time of 13.59 seconds ranks sixth in the country in the women’s 100m hurdles, while Stefani Kerrison ranks ninth in the same event with her time of 13.63 seconds. Additionally, Miami’s 4x400m relay of Anthonia Moore, Glades, Taneisha Cordell and Amy Taintor rank 10th in the country with a time of 3:42.20.
Miami also brings back several student-athletes who should make a big impact including 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifiers Shakima Wimbley, Lea Johnson, Dakota Dailey-Harris and Alysha Newman.
The Hurricanes opened the 2015 outdoor season last weekend at the Hurricane Invitational, where Glades, Kerrison, Okieme, Johnson, Kelsey Balkwill, Precious Ogunleye, Niara Hill, Alexis Wright and the 4x400m relay posted marks and times that rank among the Top 20 nationally.
The Canes are back in action this weekend at the Florida State Relays. Miami will compete in Tallahassee, Fla., from March 27-28 and will head to the Florida Relays on Apr. 3-4 before returning home for the Hurricane Alumni Invitational on April 10-11.
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 onInstagram.
