@CanesTrack Ranked No. 16 to Lead ACC
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami’s women’s track and field team is the top ranked squad in the Atlantic Coast Conference, coming in at No. 16 in the latest edition of the USTFCCCA National Team Rankings.
The Hurricanes, who moved up one spot from their No. 17 preseason ranking, are the highest ranked of five ACC teams in the USTFCCCA National Team Rankings released Monday. The National Team Computer Rankings are complied by a mathematical formula based on national descending order lists.
“The rankings are nice, but our focus needs to be on improving each practice and executing in competition,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said.
Miami has 10 different marks that contributed to its team score of 54.63 points. Jumper Dakota Dailey-Harris and thrower Tiffany Okieme’s personal-best marks from this season are Miami’s newest marks. Dailey-Harris cleared 1.80m to win the women’s high jump at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet and Okieme’s throw of 16.02m in the shot put placed her second in the event at the Nittany Lion Challenge.
The Canes also have scores factoring in from Shakima Wimbley’s stellar 200m and 400m dashes, Aiyanna Stiverne’s 400m, Ebony Morrison in the 60m hurdles and the Hurricanes’ 4x400m relay. Miami also picks up points from Alysha Newman in the pole vault and Okieme and Precious Ogunleye in the weight throw.
There is a lot to be excited about in Coral Gables as Wimbley has won both of her individual races this season, ranking third in the NCAA in the 200m and fourth in the 400m. Stiverne has been the runner-up to Wimbley at both the Nittany Lion Challenge and the McCravy Memorial Meet and she is 10th in the country in the 400m.
Morrison moved into Miami’s all-time Top 5 when she ran an 8.24 in the 60m hurdles at the McCravy Memorial Meet that ranks eighth in the NCAA this season. Miami’s 4x400m relay of Wimbley, Stiverne, Brittny Ellis and Anthonia Moore currently have the ninth-fastest relay time in the NCAA.
In the field events, Newman is two-for-two in victories in the pole vault and ranks sixth in the country. Dailey-Harris is tied for 11th in the country in the high jump at 1.80m. Okieme ranks fifth in the NCAA in the weight throw with a mark of 20.60m and 22nd in the country in the shot put at 16.02m. Ogunleye, who opened her outdoor season this past weekend at Kentucky, is 16th in the country in the weight throw with a mark of 19.96m.
After competing the previous two weekends, the Hurricanes will spend the week training in preparation for their appearance at the Armory Track Invitational in New York on Feb. 5-6.
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 @CanesTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.
