@CanesTrack Women No. 14 Heading to Nationals
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami women’s track and field team moved up one spot in the USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings, coming in at No. 14 after an impressive showing at the NCAA East Preliminary.
The Hurricanes are the highest-ranked of four ACC teams to appear in the USTFCCCA top 25. Miami has appeared in every edition of the USTFCCCA rankings during the outdoor season, peaking at No. 13 six weeks ago. The Canes also are the highest-ranked ACC women’s team in the USTFCCCA outdoor top 25 for the ninth consecutive week and 10th time this year.
The National Team Computer Rankings are compiled by a mathematical formula based on national descending order lists. Miami has eight different marks that contributed to its team score of 147.09 points.
The Hurricanes have five scoring marks coming from the track, led by 2016 ACC Women’s Track MVP Shakima Wimbley in the 400m. Her ACC gold medal-winning time of 50.90 seconds ranks third in the NCAA. A 2015 First Team All-American, Wimbley posted the top time at the NCAA East Preliminary over the weekend and advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she will compete in the semifinal of the women’s 400m at 9 p.m. ET on June 9.
Wimbley was also a key member of both of Miami’s ACC champion relays, and both relay teams factor into Miami’s team score, as they earned spots in the national meet over the weekend. She teamed with Carolyn Brown, Aiyanna Stiverne and Ebony Morrison to run a school-record time of 43.63 seconds in the women’s 4x100m relay at the ACC Championships, while the quartet advanced to Eugene, Ore., with a time of 43.91 seconds.
Wimbley also anchored Miami’s 4x400m relay to victory at the ACC Championships, teaming with sophomore Destiny Washington, Stiverne and freshman Brittny Ellis to set a meet record with a season-best time of 3:30.61. At the NCAA East Preliminary, freshman Anna Runia ran the opening leg, while Stiverne, Ellis and Wimbley followed to clinch the Hurricanes’ spot at the national meet with a time of 3:33.80.
Miami’s 4x100m relay is ranked ninth in the NCAA, while the 4x400m relay currently sits 13th in the country. The 4x100m relay will compete for a right to advance to the NCAA final at 7:32 p.m. ET on June 9, while the 4x400m relay will race at 10:48 p.m. ET on June 9 for a chance to race in the NCAA final.
Like Wimbley, Stiverne contributes on three of Miami’s scored marks in the latest team score. The junior earned a bronze medal in the 400m with a personal-best time of 52.08 seconds that ranks fourth in UM history and 14th in the NCAA. Stiverne, who ran a time of 52.53 seconds in the quarterfinals at the NCAA East Preliminary, will join Wimbley in the semifinals of the women’s 400m on June 9 at 9 p.m. ET.
Morrison made a big splash at the NCAA East Preliminary, shattering Miami’s school record in the women’s 100m hurdles. The junior posted a time of 12.76 seconds in the quarterfinals of the NCAA East Preliminary that ranks third in the NCAA. Morrison will compete in the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, beginning at 8:32 p.m. ET on June 9.
The Canes also have three scored marks from the field events. ACC pole vault champion Alysha Newman’s school record mark of 4.60m from the Hurricane Alumni Invitational ranks third in the country. Newman is scheduled to compete in the women’s pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships beginning at 8 p.m. ET on June 9.
Fellow senior Dakota Dailey-Harris’ school record of 1.85m in the women’s high jump is fifth in the country. Dailey-Harris, who earned one of 12 spots advancing from the NCAA East Preliminary to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, will compete in the women’s high jump finals at 6 p.m. ET on June 11.
Senior Precious Ogunleye rounds out the scored marks for the Hurricanes. Ogunleye earned a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after posting a season-best throw of 60.02m in the women’s hammer throw at the NCAA East Preliminary. She will compete in the same event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at 5:00 p.m. ET on June 9.
Twelve student-athletes will represent the Hurricanes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., from June 8-11. Miami had women advance to the national meet in the 400m, 100m hurdles, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, pole vault, high jump and hammer throw. The Hurricanes had men qualify for the NCAA Championships in the shot put and triple jump.
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.
