McMinn and Knight Lead Canes at USATF Junior Championships
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Miami track and field program got off to a strong start at the 2018 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships Saturday.
Symone Mason, Tiara McMinn and Hasani Knight are in the field of competitors on Saturday and Sunday at Hayes Track at the Haugh Complex on the University of Indiana’s campus in Bloomington, Ind. The three Hurricanes will compete against the top junior track and field athletes in the country for a chance to represent the United States at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland on July 10-15.
McMinn finished fourth overall in the women’s 100m hurdles final with a time of 13.12 seconds. She advanced to the final of the women’s 100m hurdles after finishing second in Heat 2 with a time of 13.20 seconds, earning an automatic qualifying spot. The freshman ran the third-fastest time among the 16 first round competitors.
A Miami native, McMinn received USTFCCCA All-America honorable mention after finishing 19thin the women’s 100m hurdles semifinals at the NCAA Championships with a time of 13.31 seconds. McMinn was the bronze medalist in the women’s 100m hurdles at the ACC Outdoor Championships and anchored Miami’s ACC champion 4x100m relay team as they posted the second-fastest time in school history. She was named First Team All-ACC in both events and qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary in both the 100m hurdles and the women’s 4x100m relay.
Mason earned a spot in Sunday’s women’s 400m final after an impressive showing in the first round on Saturday. The freshman won Heat 1 with a time of 52.33 seconds, posting the second-fastest first round time in the field of 22 athletes. Mason will race again Sunday at 3:15 p.m. ET in the 400m final.
The Miami native earned Second Team All-America honors as a member of Miami’s 4x400m relay and was named ACC Women’s Track MVP at the 2018 ACC Outdoor Championships after winninggold medals in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m.
Knight posted a collegiate-best mark of 15.54m to finish second in the men’s triple jump. Knight opened competition with a foul before posting a mark of 15.52m on his second attempt. After a foul on his third jump, he opened the finals with a mark of 15.54m that was his best of the day.
A native of Virginia, Knight had a strong indoor season for the Canes, posting the fourth-best triple jump mark in school history and earning ACC Performer of the Week honors for his mark of 15.26m at the season-opening UAB Invitational. He finished 11thin the triple jump at both the ACC Indoor Championships and ACC Outdoor Championships.
The 2018 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships will be broadcasted LIVE on USATF.TV, while fans can also follow the meet via live results.
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