Former Team WAR standout Zakiya Rashid is doing good things at the University of Miami.

Rashid recently wrapped up a sophomore campaign in which she saw herself make big strides. She had personal records in the indoor season and the outdoor season.

During the indoor season, she placed sixth in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put throw. In the outdoor season, she placed third in the discus outdoor at the NCAA meet, which qualified her for NCAA regionals.

An injury during Rashid’s freshman year hampered her, but she rehabbed and came back stronger during her sophomore season. She had set goals to place in all her indoor events and to place in the top three for outdoor discus. Rashid was able to accomplish both of those goals.

Rashid had also hoped to qualify for nationals. She wasn’t able to achieve that this year, but she is already looking forward to next season.

“I know I have next year, so I’m working hard this offseason,” she said. “That’s something I’d really like to achieve, so I’m going to continue to push until I get there.”

Athletes tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves. Most of the time they are used to performing at a certain level, which creates internal pressure. This year, Rashid said she figured out new ways to relax at meets so she could perform her best.

“This year has been much better than my first year,” she said. “I was super nervous my first year. I was able to be much more calm at my meets this season.”

In the indoor season, she finished fifth with a throw of 17.21m in the weight throw and was fifth, with a personal-best mark of 13.98m, in the shot put at the VT Invitational.

Rashid had a sixth-place performance with a personal-best mark of 18.59m in the weight throw, and she led all Hurricanes throwers with a personal-best mark of 14.03m in the women’s shot put at the McCravy Invitational.

At the ACC Indoor Championships meet, Rashid placed fifth in the shot put.

During the outdoor season, Rashid finished fourth in the women’s hammer at the Hurricane Invitational with a personal best throw of 51.50m. She also placed third in the women’s discus at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational with a personal best mark of 50.19m, which ranks fourth in UM history. With a throw of 52.90, she placed second at the Michael Johnson Invitational.

In her time at Nansemond River Rashid was a state champion in the shot put. Sprinting was also one of her strengths, as she was the state runner up in the 100-meter hurdles.