ACC Names Wimbley Performer of the Year
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami’s Shakima Wimbley was named the 2016 ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Year, the league announced Friday morning.
Wimbley is one of six student-athletes and two head coaches among the ACC’s major awards winners for the 2016 outdoor track and field season. The accolades were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
“It’s an honor,” Wimbley said. I’m just happy I can represent my school well and be recognized for the hard work I put in this year. It’s a great conference with talented, nationally-ranked athletes, including some of my teammates, so it mean’s a lot”
Wimbley earned Most Valuable Women’s Track Performer honors at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, giving her a season sweep following her ACC Indoor Championship MVP in February. The junior took home four gold medals from the ACC Outdoor Championships, including the 200 meters (22.56) and 400 meters (50.90). Wimbley also keyed the Hurricane 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams to first-place finishes, helping the Canes set a school record in the 4x100m (43.63) and an ACC Championship record in the 4x400m (3:30.61).
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native went on to capture the bronze medal in the 400m at the NCAA Championships with a time of 51.96, and then earned a second First Team All-America honor as part of the Miami 4×400 relay team that posted a seventh-place time of 3:32.24. She was also a member of Miami’s 4x100m relay at the NCAA Championships, finishing 12th to earn Second Team All-America honors.
“The ACC is full of great athletes in track and field and it is a tremendous honor for Shakima to win this award,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said.
Prior to her outstanding outdoor campaign, Wimbley helped the Hurricane women win the ACC Indoor Championship. The team title was Miami’s third indoor championship since joining the ACC in 2005 and its first since 2006. Wimbley was the ACC Indoor Champion in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m, contributing 22.5 points to Miami’s team score of 85 points. Following her excellence at the ACC Indoor Championships, Wimbley finished 13th in the 200m at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
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