Miami Track Ready for Florida Relays
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program is set for their first road trip of the outdoor season.
The Canes kicked off their outdoor schedule with a pair of home meets, the Hurricane Invitational and Miami Invitational. Following a week off, the Hurricanes will travel to Gainesville, Fla. to compete in the Florida Relays. The Florida Relays are held at Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium on the University of Florida campus.
“We’ve had great practices and two great home meets coming off the NCAA indoor championship meet,” said Miami’s director of track & field and cross country, Amy Deem. “I’m happy where we are. I’m excited for this weekend. It’s going to be great competition so I think we’re ready to go and ready to see where we are going against some of the nation’s best teams.”
Miami’s women will look to build on their early success this outdoor season. Freshman Jamika Glades, who set personal bests in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles at the Miami Invitational, will look to improve on her times in each event this weekend. Glades won both events at the Miami Invitational, finishing the 100m hurdles in 13.83 seconds and the 400m hurdles in 58.95 seconds.
“She got a lot of confidence out of the last race,” Deem said of Glades. “She got two personal bests, so she’s excited about what she can do. She’s a Fort Lauderdale kid so for her Florida Relays is good but she’s really looking forward to ACCs and seeing what she can do.”
Senior Samantha Williams is looking to excel at her final Florida Relays. The All-American will compete in both the long jump and triple jump this weekend. Sophomore throwers Amber Monroe and Lea Johnson will also look to make a name for themselves. Monroe will compete in the shot put and discus, while Johnson will participate in the hammer throw.
On the men’s side, Isaiah Simmons will look to continue his impressive outdoor debut season. The redshirt freshman has already set new school records in the shot put (60’ 4”) and hammer throw (168’ 10”). Simmons will not throw hammer in Gainesville, focusing on the shot put and discus.
Miami will have several talented runners competing at the Florida Relays this weekend. Hurdler Christian Cook will run in both the 110m high hurdles and the 400m intermediate hurdles. Cook won the 400m hurdles at the Miami Invitational with a time of 55.96 seconds.
Phillip Dorsett will step away from the football field to run in the 100m dash. The sophomore will also compete in the long jump with teammates John-Patrick Friday, Innocent Jacob and Tim Richardson.
“We’re just still looking for improvement,” Deem said of the jumpers. “This weekend and next weekend are just kind of final tune up for ACCs. They’re getting better and they’re approaches are getting better. They’re getting more confident in what they’re doing so hopefully that will show in the next couple weeks in competition.”
Senior Greg Kaczka will try to shine in several distance events. Kaczka, who is slated to run in the 1500m, earned his first career win at the Miami Invitational, finishing the men’s 800m in 1:54.31.
Women’s Entries
100m
Alyssa McClure
100m HH
Jamika Glades
Alexis Wright
400m
Kelsey Balkwill
Jokira Jiles
Jasmyne King
Shannon Wright
400m IH
Jamika Glades
800m
Taneisha Cordell
Alaine Tate
1500m
Lindsi Arrington
4x400m
Taneisha Cordell
Jamika Glades
Alaine Tate
Shannon Wright
1600m SMR
Alyssa McClure
Kelsey Balkwill
Taneisha Cordell
Jokira Jiles
Alaine Tate
Shot put
Amber Monroe
Discus
Amber Monroe
Hammer
Lea Johnson
Triple Jump
Samantha Williams
Long Jump
Samantha Williams
High Jump
Dakota Dailey-Harris
Men’s Entries
100m
Phillip Dorsett
Bassim El-Sabawi
110m HH
Christian Cook
Tequille Jackson
400m
Anthony Wolliston
400m IH
Christian Cook
Tequille Jackson
800m
Douglas Dourado
1500m
Luke Fontaine
Greg Kaczka
1600m SMR
Bassim El-Sabawi
Tequille Jackson
Greg Kaczka
Joseph Ryan
4000m DMR
Douglas Dourado
Luke Fontaine
Greg Kaczka
Joseph Ryan
5000m
Sean Pezzulo
Shot Put
Isaiah Simmons
Discus
Isaiah Simmons
Long Jump
Phillip Dorsett
John-Patrick Friday
Innocent Jacob
Timothy Richardson
Triple Jump
John-Patrick Friday
Timothy Richardson
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