Michelle Atherley Places Sixth in NCAA Pentathlon
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami’s Michelle Atherley finished sixth in the women’s pentathlon at the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Atherley’s season-best score of 4,257 points earned her a top-eight finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second straight year as a Hurricane. The junior opened competition finishing fourth in the women’s pentathlon 60m hurdles with a time of 8.34 seconds. She followed that performance with a mark of 1.72m in the high jump and finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 12.38m. Atherley posted a mark of 5.73m in the long jump and concluded the day with a fourth-place finish in the 800m, running a time of 2:16.47.
“I came into this national meet with a very different mind set than the past two years,” Atherley said. “Coming off of an injury, I have spent this indoor season kind of running and jumping my way into shape and into competition mode. So I knew that this indoor nationals would be a challenge, but I also knew that it was an opportunity for me to go out and get some good marks. I went into every event focusing on the specific things me and Coach [Rob] Jarvis have been working on and I have to say looking back I am happy with my performance overall. I think I needed a meet like this against some great competition to get a consistent meet under my belt. Of course there is always lots to improve on in the multi but it wasn’t a bad day. I’m most proud of my high jump. Its been probably the toughest event to get back into because I switched the side of my approach. Jumping off of my opposite leg is kind of like writing cursive with your non-dominant hand. But today I was able to get into a groove I have been looking for all season. Again I think this was a consistent meet and that gives me a confidence boost going into outdoors. I am so very thankful for my coaches. They have stuck by my side and pushed me to get to this meet. Going in 10th and coming out sixth is a testament to how great of coaches they are and it’s just a plus that they are amazing people. I am excited to get back with my team and into outdoor season.”
Atherley was one of 16 competitors in action in the women’s pentathlon. The junior entered the meet with the 10th-best pentathlon score this season, set at the 2018 ACC Indoor Championships. Atherley’s score of 4,159 points earned her a silver medal at the conference meet and cemented her spot in the field at the NCAA Championships.
“Michelle competed extremely well today,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “She left everything out there today and finished with a season-best.”
A year ago, Atherley was the ACC women’s pentathlon champion and finished fourth in the women’s pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a school record and personal-best score of 4,310 points.
The championships will be held Friday and Saturday in College Station, Texas, and will be hosted by Texas A&M at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
ESPN3 will stream the meet live starting at 6:30 p.m. ET Friday and starting at 5 p.m. ET Saturday. A re-air of the championship will take place starting at 7 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN2.
Meet results can be followed by clicking here.
For more information regarding the Division I indoor track and field championships, log on to NCAA.com.
Following the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Hurricanes will open their outdoor schedule with the Hurricane Invitational on March 16-17. To view the complete Miami Track and Field schedule for the 2018 season, click here.
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.
