McMinn, Gonzalez Advance to Finals of NCAA Championships
AUSTIN, Texas – Tiara McMinn and Samantha Gonzalez showed no mercy on the track as the pair advanced to the finals of their respective events at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday night.
McMinn ran a personal-best time of 12.74 seconds in the 100m hurdles to be the first Hurricane to advance to the finals at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Not only did the Miami native record a personal-best time, but also bested Ebony Morrison’s previous program record of 12.76 seconds set in 2016.
“I think I executed the race pretty well, not perfect,” McMinn said. “I was upset I hit the hurdle, but it was a good race. I really want to PR again on Saturday and be a contender for the title.”
McMinn’s time was the third-fastest time in Heat 1 and fifth-fastest overall. The sophomore will compete in Saturday’s final scheduled for 6:12 p.m.
“I was really proud of the way Tiara went out there and went for it,” Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Amy Deem said. “I look forward to seeing her run in the final on Saturday because she’s really running well and the best thing about it is that there’s still room for improvement. Today’s run and the last month has given her a lot of confidence.”
Gonzalez was the second and final Cane to advance to the finals as the senior ran a season-best time of 57.07 in the women’s 400m hurdles. Gonzalez finished second in Heat 1 and registered the sixth-fastest to advance to Saturday’s 6:57 p.m. final.
“I was happy for Sam to come to Texas and be able to make the final in her last collegiate track meet,” Deem said. “She’s had a lot of success on this track and it was great to see run well.”
Miami’s women’s 4×100 relay team finished the season running a season-best time of 43.49 seconds. The team made up of Carolyn Brown, McMinn, Alfreda Steele and Amuru Patterson registered Miami’s third-fastest time in program history and finished 10th overall.
“Being able to put together a 4×100 team in the last part of the season has been tough, but I’m proud of the way they competed at prelims and finish with a season-best time here,” Deem said. “I’m proud of the way they competed, just disappointed they couldn’t make the final.”
Brittny Ellis was the next Cane in competition as the redshirt junior competed in the women’s 400m dash. Ellis ran a time of 53.29 seconds and finished 16th overall. Kayla Johnson was the final individual to compete as the sophomore finished with a time of 2:12.17 in the women’s 800m to finish 22nd overall.
Miami closed out the day in the women’s 4×400 relay, running a time of 3:36.75. The Canes’ relay team combined of Johnson, Gonzalez, Ellis and Symone Mason finished 17th overall.
“I don’t think we were all in on the 4×400 and I think it showed,” Deem said. “We had two kids run really well.”
Senior Michelle Atherley will begin the hunt for her second national title of the season tomorrow in the women’s heptathlon set to begin Friday at 2:30 p.m. in the 100m hurdles. Atherley will finish with the high jump, shot put and 200m dash for the first day of the heptathlon.
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