@CanesTrack Sets Records on Day 1 at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Miami track and field team had a record-setting day to open competition at the Meyo Invitational on Friday.
The Hurricanes broke three records on the first day of action at Loftus Sports Center on the University of Notre Dame campus.
“I’m pleased with how the day went, “ Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “Going in, we are really trying to set ourselves up to have a great ACC Championships here in a couple of weeks. I thought we did really well and had some really good performances today. Each week, we are trying to get better and we accomplished that today.”
Shakima Wimbley won the women’s 200m with a Meyo Invitational meet record time of 23.19 seconds, smashing the previous meet best time of 23.51 seconds set by Georgia Tech’s Ashlee Kidd in 2006. Brittny Ellis won Heat 9 and was fourth overall with a personal-best time of 23.93 seconds. Aiyanna Stiverne was eighth with a time of 24.43 seconds and Carolyn Brown was 10th overall and won Heat 13 with an indoor-best time of 24.47 seconds.
“We needed to get some qualifying marks in the 200m and we did that,” Deem said. “ I was really pleased with Shakima and Brittny. They’ve never run a 200 on an oversized track, so those were big marks for us there.”
In addition to Wimbley’s record-setting run in the 200m, the Hurricanes broke the school record in both the men’s and women’s 5000m.
Gabrielle Hesslau smashed her own school record in the women’s 5000m, finishing 13th overall with a time of 16:51.38. The senior’s previous best time of 17:22.61 was set at the 2016 ACC Indoor Championships.
“Gabby is having a great season in the distance,” Deem said. “It’s exciting to see everything coming together for her.”
Sean Grossman also set a school record in the men’s 5000m, posting a personal-best time of 14:41.46. The junior placed sixth in section 1 and was 20th overall while breaking Jon Scheiner’s UM record time of 14:52.13 from Feb. 27, 2007.
The success on the track also included the 60m hurdles and 60m dash, as Miami had seven student-athletes move on to the semifinals of those events.
Michelle Atherley led a trio of Hurricanes that advanced in the women’s 60m hurdles, winning Heat 10 with a time of 8.37 seconds. Ebony Morrison and Stefani Kerrison also moved on to the semifinals with wins in Heat 4 and 5, respectively, running times of 8.44 seconds.
The Canes had three sprinters post the fastest preliminary times in the men’s 60m. Myles Valentine led the way with a 6.75-second sprint to win Heat 8, while Isaiah Taylor and Brandon Taylor won Heat 1 and 3, respectively, with times of 6.79 seconds. Carolyn Brown advanced to the women’s 60m semifinals after finishing second in Heat 7 of the preliminaries with a season-best time of 7.56 seconds.
Amy Taintor posted a top 10 finish in the women’s 600m, running a personal-best time of 1:34.23 to place second in Heat 2 and ninth overall. Taintor’s time moves her into fourth place in school history.
Miami also had standouts in the field events as Carlos Mangum was the runner-up in the men’s weight throw, posting a season-best mark of 21.22m, while Zakiya Rashid finished fifth in the women’s weight throw with a personal-best mark of 18.60m.
“I’m really excited for Carlos,” Deem said. “He’s getting close to really getting a big throw. He has been one of the most consistent athletes on the team this season. We are excited for him to really get one out there. It’s nice to see him continue to move up on the national list and continue to be consistent.”
Saturday’s events begin with the semi-final of the women’s 60m hurdles at 9:45 a.m., while the women’s triple jump and shot put kick off the field events at 10:30 a.m.
Following this weekend’s trip to Notre Dame, the Hurricanes will travel to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 10-11. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2017 season, click here.
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