March 28, 2008

CORAL GABLES - The University of Miami track and field teams will host their second consecutive event this Saturday with the Hurricane Challenge at Cobb Stadium.

The meet kicks off with the field events at 12 p.m. followed by the first events on the track at 4 p.m.

The squads are coming off a successful opener to the outdoor season as a total of 12 student-athletes and a relay team posted qualifying marks for the NCAA East Regional Championships at the Hurricane Invitational, last weekend.

The Hurricane Challenge will be Miami's first look to compete against national top-25 teams this outdoor season.  The women, coming into the weekend with a No. 25 ranking according to the USTFCCCA, will face 13^th-ranked Tennessee and No. 15 Florida.  Florida's men's team will also be in Coral Gables with a No.4 ranking.

Making her 2008 outdoor debut Saturday will be NCAA Indoor National Champion Krista Simkins.  The two-time All-American is scheduled to appear in two events, the 4x100-relay and the 200-meters, the event where she took home the National Title just two weeks ago at the Indoor Nationals in Fayetteville, Ark.

Last week, three freshmen dominated the 400-meter hurdles for the women.  Ti'erra Brown, Takecia Jameson and Tameka Jameson took the first three spots in the event respectively.  Brown (58.43) and Takecia Jameson (58.45) finished neck and neck and earned themselves the nation's top to rankings.  Tameka Jameson's time of 59.65 ranks her sixth nationally.

Joining Brown and Takecia Jameson in the 100-meter hurdles will be Deandra Doyley.  The sophomore won the long jump last at last week's Hurricane Invite and placed second with a personal-best in the triple jump, with a mark of 12.28m.  She will again be competing in both events.

The men will have two nationally ranked student-athletes in action as well.  Cory Nelms and Les Bradley II are ranked Nos. 9 and 16 respectively for their performances last week in the 110-meter hurdles.  Nelms is slated to compete in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400 relay.

The fifth-ranked women's 200-meter sprinter will participate in multiple events on Saturday.  Sophomore Kristy Whyte will again run in the 200-meters but will also run in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Last week's champion in the javelin, senior Kaitlin Nazario will be looking to improve on her No. 38 national ranking.  The women's javelin is set to begin at noon.

All-ACC performer Roland DaSilva is making his 2008 outdoor debut, with an appearance in the 4x400 relay.  After winning the pole vault, with a mark of 4.85-meters, senior Casey McGinn will be looking to make it two straight winning performances.

Miami's all-time record-holder in the women's discus throw will be making her outdoor debut this weekend, participating in both the discus and the shot put.

Next week the track and field teams will be on the road as they travel to Gainesville to take part in the Florida Relays, before returning home to host the Miami Elite Invitational Saturday, April 12 at Cobb Stadium.