@MiamiTrack Shines at LSU Invitational

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of Miami track and field program had a strong showing at the 2015 LSU Invitational.

The Canes had success on the track and in the field events this weekend in Baton Rouge, competing in their final meet before the 2015 ACC Outdoor Championships.

“I thought it was a much better effort as a group,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “I feel much better about where we are and where we are going in about 10 days to Tallahassee for ACCs.”

The Hurricanes had two women finish in the top three of the 100m hurdles. Kayann Richards placed second with a time of 13.79 seconds, while Jamika Glades was third with a time of 13.86 seconds. On the men’s side, Christian Cook placed sixth in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.12 seconds.

Christian Cook won the men’s 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 52.08 seconds. Kelsey Balkwill finished second in the women’s 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 57.96 seconds, while Glades placed fourth with a time of 58.21 seconds.

Taneisha Cordell finished fourth in women’s 800m with a personal-best time of 2:05.00 that ranks third in UM history. On the men’s side, Douglas Dourado ran a personal-best time of 1:52.24 to finish fourth in Section 2 and 13^th overall the men’s 800m.

Shakima Wimbley placed third in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.23 seconds, while Henri Delauze finished ninth in the men’s 200m with a time of 21.46 seconds and Josh Johnson placed 12^th in the men’s 200m with a personal-best time of 21.56 seconds.

Delauze also placed seventh in the men’s 400m with a time of 46.97 seconds that ranks fourth in UM history, while Johnson finished 10^th in the men’s 100m with a personal-best time of 10.82 seconds.

Sean Grossman finished third in the men’s 5000m with a time of 15:29.15, while Gabrielle Hesslau ran a personal-best time of 4:41.12 in the women’s 1500m.

The women’s 4x100m relay of Lateisha Philson, Shakima Wimbley, Trishelle Leacock and Kelsey Balkwill combined to place fifth with a time of 45.16 seconds.

In the field events, several Canes posted their top marks of the 2015 outdoor season.

Dakota Dailey-Harris won the women’s high jump with a season-best mark of 1.76m, while Amy Taintor placed fifth with a mark of 1.61m. On the men’s side, Bailey Vitatoe finished fourth in the high jump with a season-best mark of 2.04m.

John-Patrick Friday finished fifth in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.26m and fifth in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 15.01m. Niara Hill finished seventh in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 11.35m.

Miami’s throwers also had a great day in Baton Rouge, led by junior Precious Ogunleye’s three Top 5 finishes.

Ogunleye placed second overall in the women’s discus with a mark of 50.81m. On the men’s side, Gian Piero Ragonesi placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 54.64m, while Daniel Polinski finished ninth with a mark of 45.74m.

Tiffany Okieme placed second in the women’s shot put with a season-best throw of 15.90m, while Ogunleye finished fifth with a personal-best mark of 14.77m.

Ogunleye was also Miami’s top finisher in the women’s hammer, placing second with a throw of 59.04m. Lea Johsnon placed fourth with a throw of 57.88m, while Okieme finished sixth with a mark of 53.33m. Carlos Mangum placed sixth in the men’s hammer with a mark of 61.78m.

Daniel Polinski finished second in the men’s shot put with a personal-best throw of 17.03m that ranks fourth in UM history, while Gian Piero Ragonesi finished fourth with a throw of 16.84m.

Following this weekend’s trip to Baton Rouge, the Hurricanes will focus on preparing for the ACC Outdoor Championships on May 14-16. The stakes only get higher after the conference meet as Miami will head to the NCAA East Preliminary and the NCAA Championships to close out a stellar 2015 outdoor season.

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