Jazwinski Uses Last Chance to Lower NCAA Mile Time

Friday, March 1

South Bend, Ind.

Michigan

Alex Wilson Invitational

3/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Only a handful of members from the University of Michigan women's track and field team made the trip to Notre Dame for the two-day, non-scoring Alex Wilson Invitational on Friday and Saturday (March 1-2). In the last chance for tracksters to qualify for next week's NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., Katie Jazwinski (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic HS) took full advantage as she lowered her NCAA provisional time in the mile run to 4:44.40.

Following the example she set at last week's Big Ten Conference Indoor Championships, Jazwinski won the mile run with her second consecutive NCAA provisional mark. Her time of 4:44.40 was the 11th fastest time this season in the NCAA (as of March 1). It also marks her personal-best time, beating her old mark by three seconds (4:47.59). Jazwinski now holds provisional marks in three events this season with times of 4:44.40 in the mile, 9:35.00 in the 3,000 meters (Big Ten Indoor Championships, Feb. 23) and 16:43.09 in the 5,000 meters (Big Ten Indoor Championships, Feb. 24).

In addition to Jazwinski's first-place finish in the mile, Stephanie Hirtle (Salmon Arm, B.C./Salmon Arm HS) placed seventh in the race, posting a personal-best 4:55.14. Hirtle's time beat her old mark of 4:57.67 set at the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships (Jan. 26).

April Phillips (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) posted a pair of provisional throws in both the shot put and weight throw events. Phillips' toss of 51-3 1/2 took second place in the shot put, only 1/4 out of the top spot held by Alexis McCall of Ohio State (51-3 3/4). Phillips finished in third place in the weight throw with her fourth consecutive provisional toss of the season (58-6).

Though the Maize and Blue had three runners in the 800 meters, no one was able to capture an NCAA mark. Ursula Taylor (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg HS) led the Wolverines with a fourth-place finish, crossing the line in 2:10.51. Rachel Sturtz (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City HS) followed Taylor across the line in fifth place with a time of 2:11.10. Theresa Feldkamp (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele HS) came in ninth with a time of 2:12.20.

Michigan will have to wait until Monday (March 4) to see which Wolverines will be participating in the NCAA Indoor Championships next weekend (March 8-9) in Fayetteville, Ark.

Event Winners/U-M Finishers
(Events in which U-M competed only)

Friday Results

Weight Throw 1. Donielle Swany, Kent State 59-10 1/4# (18.24m) 3. April Phillips, U-M 58-6# (17.83m)

Saturday Results

Mile Run 1. Katie Jazwinski, U-M 4:44.40# 7. Stephanie Hirtle, U-M 4:55.14 800-meter Run 1. Amy Teteris, Rice 2:06.11@ 4. Ursula Taylor, U-M 2:10.51 5. Rachel Sturtz, U-M 2:11.20 9. Theresa Feldkamp, U-M 2:12.20 Shot Put 1. Alexis McCall, Ohio State 51-3 3/4# (15.64m) 2. April Phillips, U-M 51-3 1/2# (15.63m) @ NCAA automatic mark # NCAA provisional mark