Track Wraps Up Tiger Paw Invitational
CLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Miami track and field program closed out competition at the Tiger Paw Invitational Saturday.
The Hurricanes had several highlights this weekend, beginning with an impressive performance by redshirt freshman Alfreda Steele on Friday, but Miami also had several solid performances on the final day of action.
Kayla Johnson won Heat 2 and finished third overall in the women’s 800m with a personal-best time of 2:06.54 that ranks fourth all-time in UM history, while Anne den Otter ran a personal-best time of 2:15.96 in Heat 4 of the women’s 800m.
“We need a bunch of our team to take a look at Kayla,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “She’s a freshman and she’s going to have ups-and-downs, but she was very disappointed in her performance last weekend at Michigan and she came back out this week with a vengeance. We need a lot of our team to sit there and take a look at that because that’s what it takes to be a champion. I’m extremely proud of here that she made up her mind that she was going to come out and improve and she did. That sets the tone for what a lot of them need to do going into the conference meet.”
Miami’s quartet of Anna Runia, Johnson, Michelle Atherley and Samantha Gonzalez combined to finish second in Heat 3 and eighth overall in the women’s 4x400m relay with a season-best time of 3:38.35. Symone Mason, Tiara McMinn, Erin Ford and Amy Taintor combined to win Heat 5 of the women’s 4x400m with a time of 3:46.01 and place 13th overall.
Henri Delauze, Myles Valentine, Jaalen Jones and Ibrahim Dodo team up to finish second in Heat 3 and 11th overall in the men’s 4x400m with a time of 3:15.34.
Adam George finished 13th in the men’s 3000m with a personal-best time of 8:41.17 that is the fastest by any Hurricane in that event this season.
Symone Mason was third in Heat 4 of the women’s 200m to lead all Hurricanes with a season-best time of 24.15 seconds.
Kevin Arreaga was the standout for Miami in the field events. The freshman made his UM debut and wasted little time putting his name in the Hurricane record books. Arreaga opened the day with a throw of 18.83m that ranked third in school history. After a foul on his second attempt, his third throw was his best of the day, measuring in at 19.31m and putting him in second place all-time in UM history.
“We’ve been waiting for Kevin and we’re excited for him,” Deem said. “He’s going to continue to grow and get better and better with competition, so for him to do that after starting so late in the indoor season was great. I look for him to be one of our great throwers before it’s over with.”
Zakiya Rashid led Miami’s women in the weight throw, finishing third with a personal-best mark of 19.28m.
“Zakiya came out and put together the best performance of her career in the weight throw,” Deem said. “She is our veteran on the women’s side and it’s great to see her come up with a throw like that just before the conference meet.”
Hasani Knight finished ninth in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 15.18m.
Erika Voyzey led the Hurricanes in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.70m, while Tiara McMinn and Celine Thompson each cleared 1.65m.
Click HERE for meet results of all the action at the Tiger Paw Invitational.
Following this weekend’s action at Clemson, the Canes will prepare for the ACC Indoor Championships on Feb. 23-24.
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