@CanesTrack Closes Strong at ACC Outdoors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program had a strong showing at the 2016 ACC Outdoor Championships.
The Hurricanes won six individual ACC titles, had the women place in the top three for the third consecutive year and saw the men score the most points as a team since joining the conference.
“I’m very proud of all our athletes,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “I thought they came and competed hard, giving great effort all weekend. Florida State had a heck of a meet on the women’s side and you can’t take anything away from them.”
Miami’s women entered Championship Sunday in ninth place with 15 points, but a huge day on the track led by 2016 ACC Women’s Track MVP Shakima Wimbley helped the Hurricanes finish the day in second place with 88 points.
“We had a really solid meet. There were very few areas where we didn’t do pretty much what we were supposed to do. You’re disappointed because you always want to win, but I’m extremely proud of the team. The girls handled themselves really well and we had a lot of great performances.”
The women’s 4x100m won gold as the quartet of Wimbley, Carolyn Brown, Aiyanna Stiverne and Ebony Morrison combined to run a school-record time of 43.63 seconds.
Wimbley won the women’s 400m title with a time of 50.90 seconds that ranks third in the NCAA. The junior edged out Notre Dame’s Margaret Bamgbose at the line to defend her ACC outdoor 400m title. Stiverne also medaled for the Hurricanes, finishing third with a personal-best time of 52.08 seconds that ranks fourth in UM history. Destiny Washington placed eighth with a time of 54.44 seconds.
Wimbley continued her outstanding performance with a gold medal-winning performance in the 200m. The junior crossed the finish line in a season-best 22.56 seconds to win her third consecutive ACC outdoor 200m title. Stiverne earned her second bronze medal of the day, finishing third with a personal-best time of 23.22 seconds.
“The good thing to see about Shakima is she is still hungry,” Deem said. “She hasn’t had the races that she wanted coming into the ACC meet and she was questioning if she was still fast and if she was fit. Today showed her that when her mind is right and she is focused and believes in herself, she can do great things. She’s got to carry that into the championship season.”
Wimbley anchored Miami’s 4x400m relay to victory as the Hurricanes turned in a season-best time of 3:30.61 to set a meet record. The junior teamed with Washington, Stiverne and freshman Brittny Ellis to win the conference title.
“Aiyanna had a great meet,” Deem said. “It’s tough sometimes because Shakima gets a lot of the attention, but she was great. She had a personal-best in both the 200m and 400m and played a big role in both relays. I thought she ran a heck of a second leg in the 4×4. It’s exciting to see her have the confidence to run the way she did.”
Morrison added a bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles final. The junior led a tri of Hurricanes as she finished third with a time of 13.03 seconds. Jamika Glades was seventh with a time of 13.49 seconds and Stefani Kerrison was eighth with a time of 13.56 seconds. Glades also scored in the 400m hurdles final, finishing fourth with a season-best time of 58.78 seconds.
Miami also saw two women contribute points from the field events to their team score on the final day of competition.
Precious Ogunleye scored Miami’s first points on Championship Sunday, finishing fourth in the women’s discus with a season-best throw of 47.37m.
Alexis Wright added a point in the women’s triple jump, finishing eighth with a personal-best mark of 12.36m.
The Hurricane men closed out the 2016 ACC Outdoor Championships with a historic performance, finishing eighth with 58 points. Miami’s men made program history, earning its best finish and scoring the most team points since joining the ACC in 2005.
Miami’s men’s 4x100m finish fourth as Isaiah Taylor, TeQuille Jackson, Jaalen Jones and Breon Mullings combined to run a season-best time of 40.51 seconds.
Henri Delauze finished fourth in the men’s 400m final with a personal-best time of 46.43 seconds that ranks third in UM history.
Jaalen Jones also scored in the sprints, finishing sixth in the men’s 200m final with a time of 21.20 seconds.
The men’s 4x400m relay team of Mullings, Delauze, Jones and Joseph Ryan combined to finish fourth with a season-best time of 3:09.03 that ranks fifth in school history.
John-Patrick Friday wrapped up his final ACC Outdoor Championships with a sixth-place finish in the men’s triple jump. The senior, who posted a mark of 15.69m, scored for the Hurricanes in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Gian Piero Ragonesi scored for the Hurricane men in the discus, finishing fourth with a throw of 55.83m. The junior also scored for the Canes in the shot put, finishing fourth on Saturday.
“I’m proud of Henri, Jaalen, JP and our throwers,” Deem said. “The throwers continue to do well. Gian had a good weekend in the throws and JP scored in all three jumps. I am very excited about our men’s program, especially with what we have coming in. We have a lot of strong, dynamic young people in our men’s program and I think the future is bright.”
Following this weekend’s conference meet, qualifying Canes will advance to the NCAA East Preliminary on May 26-28 to try and earn a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships (June 8-11).
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 @CanesTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.
