Robinson and Rashid Break More Program Records

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Russell Robinson broke his second program record in as many weeks at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational.

The sophomore’s winning mark of 16.03m in the triple jump bested John-Patrick Friday’s five-year program record (15.80m) twice on Saturday. On his second attempt, Robinson recorded a mark of 15.99m and posted the record on his fifth attempt.

Robinson now holds both the outdoor triple and long jump records, a feat he captured in back-to-back weekends on his home track.

Sophomore Kevin Snyder finished third in the event with a mark of 15.00m. On the women’s side, Taylor Wright won the event with her mark of 12.18m.

The field events were dominated by the Canes as Michelle Atherley opened the day with a personal-best throw of 37.61m in the javelin, which improved her previous fourth-best mark in program history.

Junior Selina Dantzler won the women’s shot put with her mark of 15.25m.

The Canes swept the top three spots in the discus, as Zakiya Rashid improved her program record to 57.64m. Rashid broke the record last weekend at 57.19m and still holds the third-best mark in the NCAA. Kristina Rakocevic broke into Miami’s all-time list at No. 5 with her mark of 51.98m, while Dantzler finished third at 48.43m.

Kevin Arreaga opened up his outdoor season winning the men’s hammer with his mark of 68.81m to close out the field events for Miami.

The track was just as successful, as senior Alfreda Steele ran a blazing time of 11.30 in the 100m dash, ranking as the NCAA’s current fourth fastest time.

The 200m saw freshman Blanca Hervas finish fourth with her time of 24.87 seconds, while freshman Jalen Gordon also finished fourth with a time of 22.40 and Xavier Coakley just behind with a time of 22.43.

Senior Kayla Johnson won the women’s 400m dash with her time of 54.33, while freshman Natalie Varela won the women’s 800m with a time of 2:15.65.

The Canes swept the 1500m as Emma Langlois finished with a time of 4:39.09, while Oskars Bambals opened the outdoor season with a time of 4:00.44. Varela finished third on the women’s side at 4:40.66 and Rosalba Cabrera and Morgan Johnson finished with time of 4:45.79 and 4:46.14, respectively.

Colin Wilson posted an eight-second personal best in the 1500m at 4:03.60 and followed up by winning the 3000m with a time of 9:09.03. Thomas Betters finished just behind him at 9:42.35.

Atherley also finished first in the women’s 100m hurdles with the NCAA’s current second-fastest time at 13.14 seconds. Close behind, Lauryn Harris finished second with a time of 13.65.

Freshmen Ramy Berberena and Ryler Gould made their collegiate debuts in the 400m hurdles, running times of 53.63 and 54.68, respectively.

Miami also dominated the relays in which it competed in. The women of Harris, Steele, Jacious Sears and Tiara McMinn won the 4×100 with a time of 44.04. Raheem Chambers, Asa Burke, Coakley and Berberena finished second with their time of 40.79 seconds.

Closing out the day, Miami swept the 4×400 relay as Kennedy Brace, Sierra Oliveira, Johnson and Atherley took first on the women’s side with a time of 3:38.34. The men of Gould, Bambals, Gordon and Solomon Strader posted a winning-time of 3:13.66.

Miami hits the road for its first road outdoor meet at Florida Relays on April 2 and 3.