Stephenson Leads Trio of U-M Throwers at Penn Relays

Thursday, April 22

Philadelphia, Pa.

Michigan

Penn Relays (Day 1)

4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team sent three throwers to the prestigious Penn Relays today (Thursday, April 22), led by graduate/senior Lindsey Stephenson (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg HS) in the javelin throw.

Stephenson receives her award at the Penn Relays.

Stephenson marked a season-best 154-10 for third place in the championship section of the javelin throw. The Michigan thrower bettered her previous season best by nine inches as her old mark stood at 154-1 set the Florida Relays (March 27). Both throws are farther than the NCAA regional qualifying standard of 139-10.

U-M's other two competitors were senior quad-captain Melissa Bickett (Akron, Ohio/Revere HS) and senior/junior Ashley Eckel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS). Both Bickett and Eckel threw in the championships section of the hammer throw, with Bickett placing ninth with an NCAA regional qualifying 175-9 and Eckel finishing 10th with a mark of 172-5.

Eckel also participated in the shot put and finished 10th with a heave of 45-4 1/4.

Michigan has two other squads representing the Maize and Blue this weekend, with athletes competing at the Drake Relays and the Hillsdale "Gina" Relays. Both meets run Thursday through Saturday (April 22-24).

Event Winners/U-M Finishes

Shot Put 1. Lindsay Neuberger, Wake Forest 49-6 1/2# (15.10m) 10. Ashley Eckel, U-M 45-4 1/4# (13.82m) Hammer Throw (Championship) 1. Candice Scott, Florida 229-1# (69.84m) 9. Melissa Bickett, U-M 175-9# (53.56m) 10. Ashley Eckel, U-M 172-5 (52.56m) Javelin Throw (University/Open) 1. Brooke Freeburgh, Providence 158-11# (48.45m) 3. Lindsey Stephenson, U-M 154-10# (47.21m)

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423