Track Opens Season at UAB Blazer Invite
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program will open its 2018 indoor season at the UAB Blazer Invitational on Jan. 12.
The Hurricanes will kick off the season competing in a talented field highlighted by the No. 9 Alabama men’s team and No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 20 Alabama on the women’s side. Competition will begin at the Birmingham Crossplex Indoor Track at 11 a.m. ET with the women’s 5000m and the men’s high jump.
The Hurricanes have a bevy of gifted and experienced returning student-athletes that are joined by talented newcomers looking to make their mark in orange and green.
The two-time defending ACC indoor champion Miami women enter the 2018 season without former standouts Shakima Wimbley, Ebony Morrison and Aiyanna Stiverne, but the Hurricanes still have lots of talent to lead the way. All-American and ACC champion Michelle Atherley headlines Miami’s returning standouts, while sprinters Kristina Knott and Carolyn Brown, jumper Erika Voyzey, thrower Zakiya Rashid and multis athlete Amy Taintor are also expected to play key roles for the Canes.
Miami also has several outstanding newcomers on the women’s side that can make a major impact in 2018 and beyond. Symone Mason, Kayla Johnson and Tiara McMinn give the Canes a talented new trio on the track, while Debbie Ajagbe should bolster the women’s throws group. Redshirt freshman sprinter Alfreda Steele will also make her UM debut this weekend after missing the 2017 season.
On the men’s side, Miami is led on the track by veteran sprinters Henri Delauze, Myles Valentine and Isaiah Taylor. The trio scored at the 2017 ACC Indoor Championships, with Valentine earning a bronze medal in the 60m, Delauze placing fourth in the 400m and Taylor finishing seventh in the 60m.
Senior Gian Piero Ragonesi returns to action in the throws after redshirting in 2017. The veteran thrower is tied for the school record in the men’s indoor shot put at 18.87m and ranks third in UM history in the weight throw. Freshman Hasani Knight will make his Miami debut in the men’s triple jump.
Click HERE to follow all the action at the UAB Blazer Invitational via live results.
Following this weekend’s action at UAB, the Canes will travel to Lubbock, Texas to compete at the Red Raider Invitational on Jan. 19.
Miami Entries
Men
60m: Myles Valentine, Isaiah Taylor, Brandon Taylor
300m: Breon Mullings, Brandon Taylor, Ibrahim Dodo, Christopher Moree
500m: Henri Delauze, McKinly Brown, Luca Bhalla
One Mile: Nathan Kuck, Sean Grossman, Sean Hagert
3000m: Nathan Kuck, Sean Grossman, Sean Hagert
4x400m: McKinly Brown, Myles Valentine, Henri Delauze, Ibrahim Dodo
Triple Jump: Hasani Knight
Shot Put: Gian Piero Ragonesi
Weight Throw: Michael Holdship
Women
60m: Kristina Knott, Symone Mason, Alfreda Steele
300m: Erin Ford, Isabella Gentil
600m: Kayla Johnson, Anne den Otter
1000m: Anne den Otter
3000m: Maryam Jawid, Anne den Otter
60m HH: Michelle Atherley, Tiara McMinn, Anna Runia, Samantha Gonzalez
4x400m: Symone Mason, Samantha Gonzalez, Tiara McMinn, Anna Runia, Michelle Atherley, Amy Taintor, Kayla Johnson, Erin Ford, Kristina Knott
High Jump: Tiara McMinn, Erika Voyzey, Kyra Maryland, Celine Thompson, Amy Taintor
Triple Jump: Darlene Charles, Niara Hill, Peyton Russell
Shot Put: Debbie Ajagbe, Sherry Lubin, Zakiya Rashid
Weight Throw: Zakiya Rashid, Debbie Ajagbe, Sherry Lubin
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @MiamiHurricanes, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @CanesTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.
