Hebron Tops the Nation in the Women’s 400M Hurdles, Hurricanes Gather New Personal Bests and Program Records

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field team completed the first outdoor meet of the 2023 season at Cobb Stadium Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, day one of the event, Erikka Hill placed third in the women’s hammer throw, posting a distance of 58.05m.

Edgar Campré, debuting for the first time in a Miami uniform, also added a new personal best of 44.68 in the men’s discus. 

Moving to the jumpers, Rachel Robertson captured a new personal best of 1.77m in the women’s high jump, placing her first in the invitational. Taylor Wright placed third in the high jump with a height of 1.74m, placing two hurricanes in the top three for the event.

The final events for Friday, the men’s and women’s 3000m, Daphnee Lavassas did was Daphonee Lavassas does best.

That’s breaking records. 

With a time of 9:16.46, a whopping 40 seconds ahead of the second-place runner, Lavassas shatters the program record in the women’s 3000m.

For the men’s 3000m, Austen Cannon took the first place spot with a time of 8:29.17. Justin Rittenhouse followed right behind Cannon with a time of 8:47.49.

Remember when Daphnee broke the women’s 3000m record on Friday? 

Well, she wanted to continue that momentum on Saturday too.

Placing second with a time of 4:22.68, Lavassas shattered the program record in the women’s 1500m, breaking two distance records in back-to-back days.

“To watch Daphnee just get better and better, to watch her develop, these personal bests in the 1500m and 3000m, are just going to lead her to bigger performances in the 5000 and 10000m events later on in the season,” Head Coach Amy Deem says.

The men’s 1500m was also a joy to follow, as Oskars Bambals shattered the program record with a time of 3:50.35 and Austen Cannon’s time of 3:53.91 puts him at number five in program history in the men’s 1500m.

Ashley Moore in the women’s long jump also had some fun, placing first with a distance of 6.19m, a new personal best for her as well.

Hannah Hall and Erikka Hill in the women’s shot put helped the rest of the hurricanes defend Cobb Stadium Saturday as Hall placed first with a distance of 16.61m, and Hill in third with a distance of 15.63m.

Gabriella Grissom helped the team capture another top-three spot at the Hurricane Invitational, placing third in the women’s 400m with a time of 54.56.

Emma Maurel also placed top three in the women’s 800m, locking up the second place spot with a time of 2:09.84.

Robertson continued her energy into Saturday too, placing second in the women’s triple jump with a distance of 12.53.

The men’s sprinters joined the party as Ramy Berberena and Adam Khriss came in first and second, respectively, with times of 53.31 and 53.33.

The women’s 4×400 relay team, comprised of Kennedy Brace, Gabriella Grissom, Sierra Oliveira, and Krystalann Bechard, earned the silver with a time of 3:36.28.

In the middle of all this action, freshman Sanaa Hebron did something truly remarkable in the women’s 400m hurdles that the rest of the country now has its eyes on.

Hebron posted an incredible time of 56.47, placing her first at the invitational…

…And number one in the United States.

“Sanaa is going to excel in the flat 400m and the 400m hurdles as she grows as a young athlete. For her to keep her composure, post a three-second personal best on a windy day, and run the number one time in the country against some tough competition, I am really proud of her. She’s really bought into the training and what’s happening here, I think that her future is extremely bright and is going to continue to grow,” Head Coach Amy Deem says.

Miami ended the Hurricane Invitational with 14 new personal bests, 21 athletes placing in the top three of their events, eight first-place finishes, and three program records shattered.

The hurricanes will stay at home next week at Cobb Stadium for the Collegiate Invitational on March 25, then head to Florida Relays in two weeks, which take place on March 30 through April 1.

To stay up to date with the Miami Hurricanes track and field team, follow @canestrack on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.