Shakima Wimbley Named USTFCCCA South Region Track Athlete of the Year
EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Miami’s Shakima Wimbley was named the 2017 South Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Wimbley, who was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year in the South Region for the 2017 indoor season, completes a sweep of regional awards this year. It is the second time in her career that she was named the South Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season, after also winning the award as a sophomore in 2015.
“To receive any award is always an honor, but being considered the best athlete of the year for your region is even better,” Wimbley said. “I worked really hard this season and now I am being rewarded for it. I’m just very grateful.”
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wimbley rewrote the record books at Miami and in the ACC. The superstar closed her ACC career with eight 200m titles, seven 400m titles, three 4x100m titles and five 4x400m titles. She also has six school records, four ACC records and six ACC Championship records.
Wimbley was outstanding at the 2017 ACC Outdoor Championships, winning the 200 meters, the 400 meters, the 4×100 relay and the 4×400 relay and earning ACC Women’s Track MVP honors for the second straight year.
Her NCAA-leading 400-meter time of 50.40 seconds earned her the 2017 ACC gold medal and broke ACC, ACC Championship and school records. That time also makes Wimbley the eighth-best performer in the 400 meters all-time. During the indoor campaign, Wimbley captured the 400-meter NCAA title with a time of 51.07 seconds that is the fastest indoor 400m time in the world this year.
The senior standout made history on the final day of the 2017 ACC Outdoor Championships, becoming the first athlete in ACC history to win eight conference titles in the 200m. Wimbley secured her fourth consecutive ACC outdoor title and eighth overall conference championship in the women’s 200m final with a time of 22.54 seconds.
She helped the women’s 4x100m relay team of Carolyn Brown, Wimbley, Aiyanna Stiverne and Kristina Knott defend Miami’s ACC title in the event, setting conference, ACC Championship and school records with a time of 43.36 seconds. Wimbley also anchored Miami’s 4x400m relay team to a gold medal, teaming with Anna Runia, Stiverne and Brittny Ellis to run an ACC Championship record time of 3:29.99.
“I am very proud of her,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. There are a lot of great athletes in our region and for her to be selected by the coaches as the best athlete in our region is a great honor and a great reward for all the work she has put in this year.”
Wimbley’s collegiate career will come to a close at the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships this week in Eugene, Ore. The senior is scheduled to compete in the 400 meters, 4×100 meter relay and 4×400 meter relay.
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