Track Opens Competition Tiger Paw Invitational
CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Miami track and field program opened competition at the Tiger Paw Invitational on Friday.
The Hurricanes were among a talent-rich field of teams in action at the Clemson University Indoor Track that featured 16 ranked teams. Several Canes stepped up and turned in strong performances against elite competition.
“It was good to see our kids go out and compete,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “Some of the best teams in the country are here. We’re young, but I am seeing them go out there and compete every weekend and that’s what I like to see. They are giving great effort and I think we have put ourselves in a position in a lot of events to go into ACCs in two weeks here with a lot of confidence. We’ve just got to come back tomorrow and finish it up and go home healthy and get ready to come back in two weeks.”
Alfreda Steele proved she could run with the best sprinters in the country on Friday, finishing seventh in the women’s 60m final with a personal-best time of 7.33 seconds that ranks fifth in UM history. The redshirt freshman improved with every race on Friday, rising to the occasion every time the starter’s pistol fired.
“It was huge,” Deem said. “That final could be very close to an NCAA final, so for her to get in there was big. She knows she can do better and I think she will. That was really the first time she had to stick her nose in with some of the top kids in the country and that was great to see. I think it’s going to really set her up to run even better in the next few weeks.”
Steele’s path to the finals began when she finished second in Heat 1 of the women’s 60m preliminaries with a time of 7.37 seconds, running the seventh-fastest preliminary time of the day and earning a spot in the semis. Steele then placed second in Semifinal 2 of the women’s 60m with a time of 7.35 seconds to move on to the final.
Freshman Kayla Johnson led the Canes in the women’s 400m, winning Heat 10 and finishing seventh overall with a time of 54.20 seconds that is the fastest by any Hurricane this season. Samantha Gonzalez won Heat 7 and placed eighth overall with a collegiate-best time of 54.24 seconds and Anna Runia was second in Heat 8 and finished 16th overall with a collegiate-best time of 55.12 seconds.
“I was very impressed,” Deem said. “That’s the most competitive and savvy race I’ve seen Samantha run since she’s been in college. She moved when she was supposed to move and she ran with confidence. I was really pleased with the way she and Kayla ran. Kayla just went for it from the start. I think Kayla wasn’t happy with the way she performed last weekend and to see her just come out and go for it this weekend is what you want to see, especially in your young kids.”
Tiara McMinn finished fifth in Semifinal 2 of the women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 8.38 seconds, while Michelle Atherley placed seventh in Semifinal 1 of the women’s 60m hurdles with a season-best time of 8.43 seconds.
McMinn and Atherley each advanced to the semis after running two of the top 16 times during preliminaries. McMinn finished third in Heat 4 with a time of 8.42 seconds, while Atherley was third in Heat 2 with a time of 8.45 seconds.
Three Canes reached the men’s 60m semifinals, with Myles Valentine leading the way with a time of 6.75 seconds to place 14th overall and fifth in Semifinal 1. Brandon Taylor turned in a time of 6.88 seconds in the semis, while Isaiah Taylor finished in 6.91 seconds.
Brandon Taylor was third in Heat 6 of the men’s 60m preliminaries with a time of 6.86 seconds, while Isaiah Taylor finished fifth in Heat 4 with a time of 6.92 seconds.
Anne den Otter won Heat 2 of the women’s mile and finished fifth overall with a time of 4:55.78, while Sean Hagert finished 10th in the men’s 5000m with a personal-best time of 15:03.04.
Gian Piero Ragonesi finished ninth in the men’s shot put with a mark of 18.29m, while Zakiya Rashid was the top Cane in the women’s shot put, finishing fourth in Flight 1 and 12th overall with a mark of 13.69m.
“I can’t complain about the effort,” Deem said. It’s been consistent throughout the indoor season. I think you can work with that and you’re going to keep improving.”
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.
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.
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