Track Ready for Tiger Paw Invitational
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program will compete at one of the most talent-rich track meets in the country this weekend at the 2018 Tiger Paw Invitational.
The Hurricanes will compete in an invitation-only field that consists of Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi St, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Southern California, Virginia, Virginia Tech and the host Clemson Tigers. There are 16 ranked teams set to compete this weekend, with the eight ranked teams in men’s field led by No. 1 Florida, while the women’s side features eight ranked teams headlined by No. 2 Georgia.
Competition will begin at the Clemson University Indoor Track at 2:30 p.m. ET with the women’s 60m hurdles, the men’s long jump, women’s shot put and women’s pole vault. Saturday’s action kicks off at 11 a.m. with the women’s weight throw, women’s high jump and men’s triple jump, while the running events begin at noon with the women’s 600m.
Reigning ACC Women’s Field Performer of the Week Michelle Atherley will join freshman Tiara McMinn in the 60m hurdles, while Alfreda Steele and Symone Mason are two to watch in the short sprints and freshman Kayla Johnson is a standout to watch in the mid-distance.
The Hurricane women also have several talented competitors in the field events, as throwers Debbie Ajagbe, Sherry Lubin and Zakiya Rashid are set to compete in the shot put and weight throw. Miami also will look to have strong performances by Darlene Charles, Amy Taintor and Erika Voyzey in the jumps.
On the men’s side, the Canes will look for big performances in the short sprints from Myles Valentine, Isaiah Taylor and Brandon Taylor. Henri Delauze and McKinly Brown lead Miami in the distance events, while the Hurricanes have two 4x400m relay teams scheduled to run in Michigan.
Miami has talented men in the field events, as freshman jumper Hasani Knight will look to build off a strong start to his college career and senior Gian Piero Ragonesi leads a gifted group of throwers that also includes Michael Holdship and Kevin Arreaga, the latter whom will make his Miami debut in the weight throw.
Click HERE for live results of all the action at the Tiger Paw Invitational. The complete meet schedule is available HERE.
Following this weekend’s action at Clemson, the Canes will prepare for the ACC Indoor Championships on Feb. 23-24.
Miami Entries
Men
60m: Myles Valentine, Isaiah Taylor, Brandon Taylor
200m: Brandon Taylor, Isaiah Taylor, Christopher Moree
400m: Henri Delauze, McKinly Brown, Luca Bhalla
600m: Henri Delauze, Ibrahim Dodo
3000m: Adam George
5000m: Sean Hagert, Adam George
4x400m: Myles Valentine, Brandon Taylor, Ibrahim Dodo, Breon Mullings, Henri Delauze, Jaalen Jones, Luca Bhalla, Christopher Moree
Triple Jump: Hasani Knight
Shot Put: Gian Piero Ragonesi
Weight Throw: Michael Holdship, Kevin Arreaga, Gian Piero Ragonesi
Women
60m: Symone Mason, Alfreda Steele, Carolyn Brown
200m: Symone Mason, Alfreda Steele, Carolyn Brown
400m: Anna Runia, Erin Ford, Samantha Gonzalez, Kayla Johnson
800m: Kayla Johnson, Anne den Otter
One Mile: Anne den Otter
60m HH: Tiara McMinn, Michelle Atherley
4x400m: Samantha Gonzalez, Tiara McMinn, Anna Runia, Kayla Johnson, Erin Ford, Symone Mason, Michelle Atherley, Amy Taintor, Carolyn Brown
High Jump: Tiara McMinn, Erika Voyzey, Kyra Maryland, Celine Thompson
Long Jump: Amy Taintor, Darlene Charles
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.
