Michigan
Michigan Intercollegiate (Day 2)
Wolverines Win Six Events, Michigan Intercollegiate Title
1/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team claimed six event titles to capture its eighth straight Michigan Intercollegiate title in its first scored meet of the 2005 season on Saturday (Jan. 29) at the U-M Indoor Track Building. The host Wolverines topped the six-team field with 145 points, finishing ahead of Eastern Michigan (121), Michigan State (96), Central Michigan (94), Western Michigan (66) and Detroit (4).
Michigan won the first running event of the meet, the distance medley relay, and received individual event wins from senior Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame) in the 200-meter dash, senior Anna Jones (Omaha, Neb./Marian HS) in the 800-meter run, freshman Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey HS) in the mile run, fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo (Freehold, N.J./Howell HS) in the 3,000-meter run, and senior/junior Stephanie Linz (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) in the high jump.
Setting a fast pace on the track, senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele HS) opened for the U-M distance medley relay team and placed a gap of 30 meters on the field with a split of 3:30 for the 1,200-meter leg. Sophomore Kiana Stringfield (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) maintained the Wolverines' advantage with a 400-meter split of 60.5. Junior/sophomore Melissa Dunn (Macomb, Mich./Dakota HS) ran a 2:16 split for the 800-meter leg and continued to open the gap before handing off to fifth-year senior Andrea Parker (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS), who anchored with a 4:59 split to give U-M a final time of 11:47.08. The team dominated the field, lapping three opposing teams and winning by more than 28 seconds.
After claiming the top two spots in the mile over the past two seasons, the U-M distance team completed the clean sweep of the podium behind standout performances by Edwards, freshman Alyson Kohlmeier (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Patrick's HS) and sophomore Jackie Gaydos (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park HS). Edwards moved around Kohlmeier into first place entering the final turn and registered an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:45.98. Kohlmeier also posted a provisional mark, crossing the line just a second behind her teammate with a time of 4:46.90, and Gaydos clocked 4:52.90 in the third-place effort. All three Wolverines achieved personal bests in the event, with Edwards bettering her own Canadian Junior National indoor mile record -- set two weeks ago at the Kentucky Invitational -- and Kohlmeier setting an Ontario indoor junior record.
Gallo led from the gun to win the 3,000 meters with a NCAA provisional time of 9:23.40. Following her to the finish line were teammates senior/junior Chelsea Loomis (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) and sophomore Erin Webster (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS), who also scored points in second and fifth place, respectively. Gallo bettered her personal best in the event -- set at this season's Maize and Blue Intrasquad meet -- by nearly one second.
The middle distance team again displayed its depth at 800 meters as the Wolverines placed four individuals among the top six finishers. Claiming her second win of the season, Jones comfortably defeated the 15-person field in 2:14.22. The Wolverines went 1-4-5-6 in the event, running as a group for a majority of the four-lap race.
Continuing an impressive indoor season, Hauser-Price pulled triple-duty to earn several points for the Wolverines. Hauser-Price captured in the 200-meter dash title, clocking 24.51 for her second individual win of the season. She also placed second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7:53 before anchoring the 4x400-meter relay to a fourth-place performance in 3:54.56.
Linz was again victorious in the high jump, clearing 5-10 for her second win of the season, and was followed by senior Jennifer Williams (Burton, Mich./Atherton HS) in third place and junior Porsha Ellis (Farmington Hills, Mich./Southfield Christinan HS) in seventh at 5-6 and 5-4 1/4, respectively. Williams placed fifth in the pentathlon on Friday night, setting herself up to simulate the back-to-back competition days of the Big Ten Championships.
The U-M throwers had an excellent showing with sophomore Bridgette Maynard (Clawson, Mich./Bishop Foley HS) throwing a personal best of 45-4 1/4 to place third in the shot put and senior Ashley Eckel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) recording a season-best 44-11 3/4 in fourth. The weight throw also showcased solid U-M performances with four among the top seven placers. Eckel claimed runner-up with another personal-best showing (58-3 3/4) while Maynard, senior Tara Kennedy (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven HS) and senior Amy Bicknell (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester HS) placing fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Maize and Blue will travel to South Bend, Ind., next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 4-5) for the annual Meyo Invitational. Competition is slated to being Friday evening at 5 p.m. at Notre Dame's Loftus Sports Center.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
