The University of Miami track and field team began the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships with a series of strong performances on May 14, highlighted by a new school record in the men’s 200-meter race. The event took place at Owsley B. Frazier Cardinal Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
The highlight of the day came when Franks set a new program best in the men’s 200 meters, finishing his preliminary heat in 20.55 seconds and surpassing Davian Clarke’s previous mark of 20.66 set in 1997. Sean Watkins Jr. also advanced to the final by placing eighth with a time of 20.76 seconds.
In other events, Sanaa Hebron won her preliminary round in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.27 seconds, while teammates Morgan Roundtree and Antonia Sanchez Nunez qualified for the final after finishing seventh and eighth respectively.
Miami athletes also scored points in field events: Alva Back placed fourth and Deisiane Teixeira seventh in women’s javelin; Jocelyn Pringle finished fourth with the second-longest hammer throw in program history at 65.03 meters, while Utitofon Sam placed seventh; Tyson Schiele secured an eighth-place finish in men’s javelin.
After one day of decathlon competition, Edgar Campre was third overall with Dominique Hall sitting seventh.
The University of Miami team will continue competing on Friday as action resumes at the ACC Outdoor Championships.
