NEW ORLEANS – Shakima Wimbley was named the National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) after a record-setting performance at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational.
The senior again proved tobe one of the top sprinters in the country with her outstanding performance in a loaded field at the McCravy Memorial Invitational. Wimbley blistered an NCAA-leading 51.28 over 400 meters, beating Southern Cal’s Kendall Ellis to the line by 24 tenths of a second.
Wimbley is the world leader in the women’s indoor 400m this season, breaking her own school and ACC records in the process. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native also broke the meet record, previously held by former University of Texas star Kendall Baisden (51.81). Wimbley is the first Hurricane in program history to receive the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award.
“I’m speechless,” Wimbley said. “This nation has some of the best track and field athletes the world has to offer. Though the season is just starting, all the hard work and determination I put in this preseason is showing. I’m truly grateful and honored to receive this award.”
That time by Wimbley is the 14th fastest all-conditions mark in collegiate history indoors. Just a week ago, she ran the fifth-fastest time in collegiate history over 300 meters (36.72).
While Wimbley’s 400m race was her top performance, she also played a key role in helped the Hurricanes run one of their best 4x400m relays in school history. The standout ran the anchor leg on Miami’s 4x400m relay team at Nutter Field House on the University of Kentucky campus, helping the Hurricanes finish third with a time of 3:33.43 that ranks third in the country and fifth all-time in UM history.
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 8 collegiate outdoor track & field athletes (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions and the NJCAA).
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
The Canes are back in action at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame on Feb. 3-4, which will give them an opportunity to compete at the site of the 2017 ACC Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 23-25. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2017 season, click here.
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