Alysha Newman Named ACC Performer of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami’s Alysha Newman was selected ACC Performer of the Week following her opening week of outdoor competition.
Newman registered a pole vault mark of 4.50 meters (14-9) at the Hurricane Twilight Invitational that ranks first in the nation and is within sight of the ACC record of 4.58 (15-0.25) that has stood since 2006. She bested her previous school-record mark of 4.41m and hit the Olympic standard to put herself in position to possibly represent Canada in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.
The Ontario native currently ranks fourth in the world in the women’s pole vault. Her efforts were part of a big weekend in field events for the Hurricane women, who also saw Dakota Dailey-Harris post a school record and nation-leading mark of 1.84 meters in the high jump.
Newman earned her second ACC Performer of the Week honor of the 2016 season, winning the award once during the indoor season. She also gives Miami its sixth ACC Performer of the Week honor of 2016 and its second in as many weeks.
Junior Aiyanna Stiverne was named ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week last week after running a then-ACC-leading 200m time of 23.33 seconds. Junior sprinter Shakima Wimbley was a three-time honoree during the indoor season, joining Newman and Stiverne as ACC Peformer of the Week honorees this season.
The Hurricanes are back in action this week at two of the premier track meets in the country, Texas Relays and Florida Relays. The Canes will travel to Austin, Texas, to compete from Wednesday, March 30, through Saturday, April 2, at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Hurricanes athletes will also compete in Gainesville, Fla., from Thursday, March 31, through Saturday, April 2, at Percy Beard Track.
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