Stephenson, Bickett Collect NCAA All-America Honors

Friday, June 11

Austin, Texas

Michigan

NCAA Outdoor Championships (Day 3)

6/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

AUSTIN, Texas -- Graduate/senior Lindsey Stephenson (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg HS) of the University of Michigan women's track and field team claimed ninth place in the javelin final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Friday (June 11) at the University of Texas' Myers Track Stadium. Stephenson was the Wolverines' only finalist on the third day of competition at the national championships.

Stephenson is Michigan's first NCAA All-American in the women's javelin throw.

Stephenson, a javelin specialist who graduated from Columbia in 2003, advanced into the nine-competitor final with the ninth-best throw of 153-10. Despite improving her mark with a pitch of 158-11 on her second throw in the finals, she was unable to improve her placing.

Though she was not on the awards podium, Stephenson became the first Wolverine to earn NCAA All-America status in the event. Former Michigan standout Debbie Williams (1979-82) earned All-America status in the javelin in 1982, but she did so when the Wolverines were competing in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

Throwing in the third flight of the discus competition, senior quad-captain Melissa Bickett (Akron, Ohio/Revere HS) recorded a best throw of 173-9 on her first attempt, claiming the 11th-longest throw in the qualifying round and narrowly failing to make the event final. Bickett's mark was less than two inches out of the ninth and last qualifying position. However, Bickett did earn her second consecutive All-America honor in the event as she finished as one of the top eight Americans.

Continuing on the infield, sophomore Elizabeth Boyle (Northbrook, Ill./New Trier HS) was the first vaulter on the run way in her NCAA debut and cleared the opening height of 12-3 1/4. That would be her only height clearance, however, as the sophomore failed to clear the second height and finished 22nd overall.

In the only race of the evening for Michigan runners, senior quad-captain Vera Simms (Mililani, Hawaii/Mililani HS) placed seven in the first heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.38. In her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships the two-time Big Ten Conference champion in the event placed 22nd overall.

Senior/junior Lindsey Gallo (Freehold, N.J./Howell HS) looks to become the first Wolverine to earn All-America status in the 1,500-meter run since 1986 when she steps to the starting line of the event final Saturday evening (June 12) at 6:50 p.m. CDT.

Top 10 Teams (After Day 3)

 1. Nebraska 38 2. Louisiana State 31 3. UCLA 29 4. Texas 21 5. Georgia 18 6. Texas A&M 17 Miami (Fla.) 17 8. Washington 13 9. Stanford 11 10. Arizona State 10 Arkansas 10

Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day 3)

400-meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Raaisin McIntosh, Texas 55.39Q 7. Vera Simms, U-M 59.38 Discus (Final) 1. Becky Breisch, Nebraska 204-5 (62.31m) 11. Melissa Bickett, U-M 173-9 (52.95m) Javelin (Final) 1. Katy Doyle, Texas A&M 185-7 (56.57m) 9. Lindsey Stephenson, U-M 158-11 (48.45m) Pole Vault (Final) 1. Chelsea Johnson, UCLA 14-1 1/4 (4.30m) 22. Elizabeth Boyle, U-M 12-3 1/2 (3.75m) Q indicates qualification for finals

Previous Results: Day 1 | Day 2

Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423