Michigan
Jack Harvey Invitational
Walter, Gallo, Hauser-Price Strong at Jack Harvey Invite
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Jack Harvey Invitational
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 14 -- Kentucky Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team had a strong overall performance through all events Saturday (Jan. 8) at the Jack Harvey Invitational, highlighted by outstanding performances in the middle-distance events as well as solid showings in the throws and high jump.
In the mile, junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter (Beverly Hills, Mich./Groves) paced the field the entire way, finishing first with a personal-best 4:51.54. The time was just 3.94 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard and comes in Walter's first indoor meet since the 2003 season. Taking second was senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele), who clocked in at 4:54.18, two and a half seconds off her personal best.
There was no doubt in the 800-meter run as fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo (Freehold, N.J./Howell) picked up where she left off in the 2004 season, pulling away from the pack with each lap to cross the line in 2:11.72. Freshmen Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey) and Alyson Kohlmeier (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Patrick's) battled for second place until the final lap when, with three-quarters of a lap remaining, Edwards pulled ahead to finish in 2:13.75 in her collegiate debut. Kohlmeier crossed the line 1.65 seconds later with a time of 2:15.40.
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame) competed in her first career indoor meet and her first 400-meter event, claiming the title in a time of 57.57 ahead of second-place junior Shavonne Maclin (University Heights, Iowa/Beaumont), who clocked in at 57.88.
In the high jump, senior/junior Stephanie Linz (Okemos, Mich./Okemos) returned to action after a year's hiatus to claim first with a clearance of 5-8, while senior Jennifer Williams (Burton, Mich./Atherton) took second with a height of 5-6.
In the throwing events, senior Ashley Eckel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) took second in the weight throw with a distance of 54-11 1/4 feet, while sophomore Bridgette Maynard (Madison, Mich./Bishop Foley) claimed first in the shot put with a 44-4 best. Eckel claimed second in the shot with a distance of 43-8 3/4.
In the 600-meter run, fifth-year senior Anna Jones (Omaha, Neb./Marian) and sophomore/freshman Laura Glynn (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) finished one-two just 0.23 seconds apart, clocking in at 1:36.69 and 1:36.92, respectively.
Sophomore Chanelle Campbell (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock) won the 200-meter dash, crossing in 26.07 ahead of a pair of runners from Eastern Michigan.
Amana Haines of Siena Heights set a U-M Indoor Track Building facility record by clearing 12-11 1/2 in the pole vault.
The Wolverines travel to Lexington, Ky., to compete in the Kentucky Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 14-15).
Q U O T E S
Head Coach James Henry
On Michigan's season opener ... "I am pleased with our start. The first step is very important and we took it with confidence. We had a solid team showing today and I took notice at a number of impressive performances. We're off and running."
On Michigan's standout performances ... "I think Rebecca Walter, Lindsey Gallo, Sierra Hauser-Price and Stephanie Linz were some of the athletes who had good meets today. Walter ran a fast time and Gallo's time got faster and faster after each lap in the 800-meter. Sierra was running in her first indoor meet and in the 400-meter for the very first time, while Stephanie took a year off and showed today that she's ready to compete."
On next week's Kentucky Invitational ... "It will be a very different experience for many of our athletes. We haven't gone to Kentucky in a while and we will be competing against unfamiliar schools and against a number of NCAA qualifiers. We will see if we can step up to the next level."
Assistant Coach Anne Takacs-Grieb
On the performance of the throwers ... "We had a consistent meet and I saw the desire to bust out today. The holiday break broke our rhythm a bit, but once we get back into it we'll have some nice performances. We did well today and we're highly motivated this season."
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price
On her first indoor meet and first 400-meter competition ... "I think I did very well in my first 400-meter race. I run the 100 and 200-meter in the outdoor season, so this is something new for me. I am looking to improve this year and stay healthy during the indoor season so I can prepare for the outdoor schedule."
Senior/Junior Stephanie Linz
On returning to high jumping after a year off ... "It felt good to be back. I thought I'd be nervous but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated. I didn't do as well as I wanted to. I'm really not happy with my performance, but I'll work to improve and get better every week."
Junior/Sophomore Rebecca Walter
On her first indoor meet since 2003 ... "I felt good out there, and I think that once we are completely healthy our distance team will be even more impressive. We've trained hard since cross country season and I'm pleased with my performance today."
Players Mentioned
