June 25, 2009

OXFORD, Ohio -- Women's track and field freshmen Samantha Gable and Rachael Clay will represent Miami this weekend at the USA Track and Field Junior National Championship in Eugene, Ore.

Gable qualified during the RedHawks' outdoor season in both the shot put and hammer competitions, which take place at noon and 2:45 p.m. (PDT) on Friday. Clay will run in the 400 meter preliminary at 1:45 (PDT) on Saturday.

"We're proud to be sending our young Miami athletes to a national competition," Head Coach Rita Arndt-Molis said. "Certainly it speaks to the quality of athletes that come to Miami and also to the coaching staff's ability to develop that talent. I believe this experience will give both Sam and Rachel a leg-up on the competition in next year's season. It will give them an opportunity to not only grow their perspective, but additional confidence to race and compete with anyone."

Gable posted a season-best of 48.17 meters (exactly 158 feet) in the hammer throw at the South Florida Quad, while tossing the shot put 13.49 meters (44-feet, 3¼-inches) at the Billy Hayes Invitational (05/08/09). She also had five other marks in the Miami top 10 this year.

Clay ran six of the Miami's top 10 times in the 400 meters this season, including a team-season-best 55.77 in the preliminary round of the Mid-American Conference Championship. She finished seventh in the final.

"It is a clear testament to the Miami Administration and their support for our program that we are able to send our athletes to Oregon," Arndt-Molis added. ". Brad Bates (Athletic Director) and Jennie Gilbert (Senior Woman Administrator)understand that in order to build a competitive program, we have to give our athletes opportunities to compete among the nation's elite."

Miami fans can track the progress of Gable and Clay by visiting the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals website.