@MiamiTrack Has 10 Graduate from The U
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Ten members of the Hurricanes track and field/cross country program will participate in the University of Miami Commencement ceremonies this weekend.
Two men and eight women from Miami’s track and field/cross country program will walk across the stage and accept their diplomas as part of the Spring Commencement exercises from May 7-9 at the BankUnited Center.
Kelsey Balkwill has been a key contributor for the women’s program, helping the 4x400m relay win gold at the 2014 ACC Indoor Championships. Balkwill is a two-time All-ACC Performer, earning second team honors in 2015 in the indoor 400m. She has represented the Hurricanes at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2015 and competed at the NCAA East Preliminary in 2013.
Christian Cook has been a standout hurdler for the Hurricanes, claiming the ACC Indoor Championships this year in the 60m hurdles. A 2015 First Team All-ACC performer, Cook ranks third in UM history in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.79 seconds. He has also competed for Miami on the 4×1400 and 4x400m relays.
Taneisha Cordell was a member of Miami’s ACC Indoor Champion 4x400m relay in 2014 and also was on the 4x400m relay that earned outdoor All-America honorable mention at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Cordell holds the UM indoor 600-yard record and ranks second on the UM all-time indoor list in the 600m and fifth in the 800m. She was also a member of the second-best indoor DMR in school history. Cordell also ranks fifth in UM history in the outdoor 800m and helped turn in the second-fastest sprint medley relay in school history.
Ally Finical competed for the Hurricanes in both cross country and track and field. She ran in five races for Miami during the 2013 cross country season, including the ACC Championships. Finical also competed in 1500m during the outdoor track and field season.
Jokira Jiles ran sprints and relays for the Canes, helping Miami place second in the 4x100m and third in the 4x400m at the 2012 ACC Outdoor Championships. Jiles also helped the women’s 4x400m relay place third at the ACC Outdoor Championships in 2013 and is a member of the fifth-fastest sprint medley relay in UM history.
Lea Johnson is one of the most decorated throwers in Miami history, winning the ACC title in the weight throw in 2014 and 2015 and claiming the ACC title in the hammer in 2014. Johnson was a first team Indoor All-American in the weight throw in 2015 and earned second team All-America in the weight throw and hammer in 2014. She is a three-time All-ACC performer and also has been named All-ACC Academic four times. Johnson ranks second in UM history in both the weight throw and the hammer throw.
Julia Koch was a member of both the cross country and track and field programs at Miami. She represented the Hurricanes at multiple ACC Cross Country Championships and competed in the 1500, 3000 and 5000m in outdoor track and field.
Kayann Richards ran sprints and hurdles for the Canes and helped Miami win a gold medal at the 2014 ACC Outdoor Championships in the 4x100m dash. Richards earned 2014 All-ACC Outdoor honors in the 4x100m dash and competed in the 100m hurdles at the 2014 NCAA East Preliminary.
AJ Rickets has competed for both Miami’s cross country and track and field programs. A distance runner, Ricketts was the top Miami finisher at the USF Invitational in his senior cross country season. He also represented the Canes at the ACC Cross Country Championships three times and competed at two NCAA Regional Cross Country Championships.
Shannon Wright ran sprints for the Hurricanes, helping set a school record in the women’s DMR at the 2014 ACC Indoor Championships. Wright was also a member of 4×400 relay team that finished third at the 2013 ACC Indoor Championships and helped the Canes place second in the 4x100m relay and third in the 4x400m relay at the 2012 ACC Outdoor Championships.
Following graduation, 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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