@CanesTrack Starts Fast at Tiger Paw Invitational
CLEMSON, S.C. – Myles Valentine sprinted past the competition and into the top spot in school history as the University of Miami track and field team opened competition at the Tiger Paw Invitational Friday.
Valentine won the men’s 60m final with a personal-best time of 6.65 seconds. The sophomore sprinter broke the previous school record of 6.70 seconds, set by former Hurricanes track standout and NFL star Travis Benjamin in 2011.
“Myles competed very well today,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “We really felt he was ready to execute a great race and he did.”
While Valentine posted his career-best time, Isaiah Taylor tied his all-time best with a time of 6.77 seconds to finish fifth. Valentine reached the finals with a time of 6.74 seconds in the preliminaries, while Taylor rank 6.79 seconds to earn a spot in the final. Brandon Taylor had a time of 6.84 seconds, just missing the final and finishing ninth overall.
Kristina Knott finished third in the women’s 60m final with a time of 7.40 seconds. The junior earned one of eight spots in the final with a preliminary time of 7.46 seconds.
Shakima Wimbley won the women’s 400m with a time of 51.53 seconds, breaking a facility record of 52.99 seconds set by Georgia Tech’s Ashlee Kidd in 2006. Aiyanna Stiverne finished 10th in the women’s 400m with a time of 54.41 seconds.
“Today’s race was a great race for Shakima in preparation for the NCAA Championships,” Deem said. “She proved to herself that she is ready to run fast in any situation.”
Ebony Morrison led a trio of Hurricanes in the women’s 60m hurdles final, earning the victory with a season-best time of 8.13 seconds. Michelle Atherley finished fifth in 8.35 seconds, while Stefani Kerrison placed seventh with a time of 8.45 seconds. Morrison ran the fastest preliminary time (8.24), while Atherley (8.36) and Kerrison (8.41) were fourth and seventh, respectively.
“Ebony is improving each week and has set herself up well going into the ACC Championships in two weeks,” Deem said.
Anne Den Otter was second in the women’s mile run with a personal-best time of 4:53.71 that ranks second in school history. Gabrielle Hesslau also had a strong performance, finishing eighth with a personal-best time of 4:59.40 that ranks fourth in school history.
The Hurricanes also excelled in the field events with solid performances in the weight throw and long jump.
Carlos Mangum finished fourth in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 21.08m. Karyna Armstrong was eighth in the women’s weight throw with a season-best throw of 17.72m, while Zakiya Rashid placed ninth with a mark of 17.59m.
Stefani Kerrison placed fifth in the women’s long jump with a personal-best mark of 5.99m, while Amy Taintor finished 10th with a personal-best mark of 5.86m.
Saturday’s action opens at 11 a.m., with the women’s shot put and high jump and the men’s triple jump, while the women’s 600m run is set to kick off at noon to open the final day’s running events.
Following this weekend’s trip to Clemson, the Hurricanes will return to South Bend, Ind., for the 2017 ACC Indoor Championships. Miami’s women will look to defend their 2016 ACC team championship, while the men hope to build off their best team score since joining the ACC in 2004-05. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2017 season, click here.
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