Shakima Wimbley Repeats as ACC Performer of the Week
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Shakima Wimbley was named the ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week for the second consecutive week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Wimbley has had an award-filled Tuesday, as the standout senior was named the National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) earlier in the day.
“Shakima has been training and competing well,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “It’s an honor to be both the National and ACC athlete of the week and I think this will be extra motivation for her going forward this season.”
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native again proved tobe one of the top sprinters in the country with her outstanding performance in a loaded field at the Rod 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. She 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 after learning of her USTFCCCA honor. “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.
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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