Miami Women’s Track in USTFCCCA Top 15
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Miami women’s track and field team is ranked 15th in the NCAA Division I Women’s National Team Computer Rankings for Indoor Track and Field, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.
The defending ACC indoor champion Hurricanes remained in the top 15 for the fourth straight rankings in 2017. Miami is one of three ACC teams ranked in the top 25, joined by No. 9 Notre Dame (65.44 points) and No. 18 NC State (48.37 points). The Canes, who opened the 2017 season ranked No. 14, peaked at No. 15 during the 2016 indoor season and were ranked in every week of last year’s indoor campaign.
The Hurricanes, who are coming off a strong showing at the Meyo Invitational, have eight marks contributing to their total team score of 50.58, with four marks coming from the 2017 indoor campaign.
Reigning ACC Women’s Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer Shakima Wimbley’s 400m time of 51.28 seconds ranks first in the NCAA. The senior posted the world-leading time at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational. Wimbley’s 200m time from a year ago of 23.08 seconds also factors into Miami’s team score, as it is ninth on the list of eligible times.
In addition to Wimbley’s NCAA-leading and school and meet record-setting 400m time, the Canes have two other 400m times from the McCravy Memorial Invitational that rank among the nation’s best.
Brittny Ellis, who finished fourth in the 400m with a personal-best time of 53.05 seconds, is ranked 17th among eligible women’s 400m times, while Aiyanna Stiverne’s time of 53.39 seconds is 29th.
The Hurricanes’ newest mark comes in the women’s 4x400m relay from the Meyo Invitational. The Miami quartet of Stiverne, Ellis, Michelle Atherley and Wimbley won the event with a time of 3:31.88 that broke meet and facility records, as well as ranked second in school history and is the third-fastest time this season. Miami’s 4x400m relay time currently sits eighth on the list of eligible marks.
In addition to Wimbley’s 200m time from 2016, the Canes have three other times from last season that add to the team’s tally.
Ebony Morrison, who was the 2016 ACC silver medalist in the 60m hurdles, ranks 11th in the event with a time of 8.12 seconds. Kristina Knott ranks 11th in the 60m with a time of 7.28 seconds, while Atherley is 11th in the pentathlon with a score of 4,153 points.
The Canes will travel to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 10-11, which will be their final meet before the 2017 ACC Indoor Championships on Feb. 23-25. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2017 season, click here.
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