Symone Mason Wins Gold with Team USA

TAMPERE, Finland – The University of Miami’s Symone Mason closed out the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships with a gold medal in the 4x400m relay over the weekend. 
 
Mason helped Team USA win the United States’ ninth-straight women’s U20 championship in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:28.74. Mason ran the opening leg of the relay for the U.S. in 50.48 seconds, the fastest split time of the group, and passed the baton to Shae Anderson with a two-step lead at the first exchange. 
 
Anderson handed off to Julie Madubuike who raced around the track and passed the stick to Taylor Manson, who anchored Team USA to victory. The Americans won by more than two seconds over Australia, who finished with a time of 3:28.74 seconds. Jamaica finished close behind in third with a time of 3:31.90 seconds. 
 
The 4x400m relay gold medal was Mason’s first gold medal with Team USA. Mason had previously finished second in the 200m and third in the 100m at the Pan American U20 Championships in 2017. 
 
Mason and Team USA made their way to the 4x400m final after finishing with a time of 3:33.11 that was the fastest time among three qualifying heats. Mason, who was named the 2018 ACC Women’s Outdoor Track MVP, had a split time of 52.00 seconds during the qualifying heats.
 
While Mason wrapped up the weekend with a gold medal, she was one of three Hurricanes in action in Finland for the IAAF World U20 Championships.
Incoming freshman Selina Dantzler was fourth in the women’s shot put, just missing the medal stand with a mark of 16.16m. Fellow incoming freshman Molly Caudery finished ninth overall in the U20 pole vault finals with a mark of 4.10m. 
 
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.