Weekly Release #7
2/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Upcoming Schedule
Sat-Sun., Feb. 26-27 -- host Big Ten Indoor Championships (U-M Indoor Track Building), 9 a.m./10 a.m.
Fri-Sat., March 4-5 -- at Alex Wilson Invitational (South Bend, Ind.), 7 p.m./10 a.m.
Fri-Sat., March 11-12 -- at NCAA Indoor Championships (Fayateville Ark.), 9 a.m./11 a.m. CST
This Week: Big Ten Indoor Championships
Michigan hosts its first Big Ten Women's Indoor Championships in nine years, beginning Saturday (Feb. 26) and concluding Sunday (Feb. 27). The championships is a scored meet in which the top eight finishers earn points for their teams. At the end of two days of competition a winner is crowned. Penn State is the defending Big Ten indoor champion but Michigan has won two of the last three indoor titles. Doors open at 8 a.m. on Saturday with the 60-meter pentathlon hurdles beginning at 9 a.m. The distance medley relay starts at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday and ends the first day of competition. Doors open at 9 a.m. on Sunday with action resuming at 9 a.m. with the weight throw. The 4x400-meter relay is the final event of the championships, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Michigan Ticket Office and by phone (734-764-0247 or toll-free 866-296-MTIX). Prices for a two-day ticket package are $12 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, college students w/ID and under 18. Daily ticket prices are $7 for adults and $4 for senior citizens, college students w/ID and under 18. No complimentary tickets are permitted for any Big Ten competition. Tickets will be sold on site each day at the northeast entrance to the Track Building.
Michigan last hosted the Big Ten Women's Indoor Championships in 1995, finishing third to champions Wisconsin and runner-up Illinois. Tearza Johnson won the 200-meter dash for the Wolverines, while Monika Black took runner-up in the high jump, Tania Longe took second in the long jump and Karen Harvey finished second in the 800-meter run and the mile run.
Below is a list of Wolverines who rank among the top five in the conference in various events:
60-meter dash: Sierra Hauser-Price (third, 7.45)
600-meter run: Nicole Edwards (fourth, 1:32.03)
800-meter run: Nicole Edwards (first, 2:06.67), Theresa Feldkamp (third, 2:08.19), Lindsey Gallo (fifth, 2:09.82)
Mile run: Lindsey Gallo (first, 4:37.97), Alyson Kohlmeier (second, 4:43.87), Nicole Edwards (third, 4:45.38)
3,000-meter run: Lindsey Gallo (first, 9:14.24), Alyson Kohlmeier (fourth, 9:23.57)
5,000-meter run: Ana Gjesdal (fifth, 16:59.22)
Distance Medley Relay: Michigan (first, 11:05.33)
High Jump: Stephanie Linz (first, 1.84m), Jennifer Williams (third, 1,78m)
Pole Vault: Elizabeth Boyle (fourth, 3.80m)
Pentathlon: Jennifer Williams (fifth, 3,733)
Last Week - Tuning Up at the Harold Silverston Invitational
In the final tune-up before the Big Ten Women's Indoor Championships, Michigan won the 60-, 600- and 800-meter events and the mile while also taking the shot put at the Harold Silverston Invitational at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Fifth-year senior Andrea Parker won the mile, junior/sophomore Arianne Field won the 800-meter, senior Sierra Hauser-Price took the 60-meter dash, fifth-year senior Anna Jones won the 600-meter run and sophomore Bridgette Maynard won the shot put.
NCAA Automatic and Provisional Qualifiers So Far...
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
Lindsey Gallo, mile: 4:37.97 at Meyo Invitational (2/5)
Lindsey Gallo, 3,000m: 9:14.24 at Sykes-Sabok (2/12)
Stephanie Linz, high jump: Cleared 6-0 1/2 at Kentucky Invitational (1/15)
Distance Medley Relay: 11:05.33 at Meyo Invitational (2/4)
PROVISIONAL QUALIFIERS
Nicole Edwards: 800m: 2:06.67 at Sykes-Sabok (2/12)
Nicole Edwards: mile: 4:45.98 Michigan Intercollegiate (1/29)
Alyson Kohlmeier: mile: 4:43.87 Meyo Invitational (2/5)
Alyson Kohlmeier: 3,000m: 9:23.57 at Kentucky Invitational (1/15)
Theresa Feldkamp: 800m: 2:08.19 Meyo Invitational (2/5)
Rebecca Walter: 3,000m: 9:23.15 at Kentucky Invitational (1/15)
Jennifer Williams: Pentathlon: 3,733 points at Sykes-Sabok (2/12)
A Look at the NCAA Indoor Championships ...
Just two more indoor meets take place before the start of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which take place Friday and Saturday (March 11-12) in Fayetteville, Ark. The field for the championships is shaping up. Each event has room for a minimum of 16 athletes with all automatic qualifiers earning a berth. The remainder of the slots go to the best of the provisional qualifiers until all 16 spots are full. Below, a look at Michigan's hopefuls:
800m
Automatic Qualifers to Date: Three (13 provisional berths available)
Provisional Qualifiers to Date: 14
Michigan's Qualifiers to Date: Nicole Edwards (third-best provisional), Theresa Feldkamp (ninth-best provisional).
Mile
Automatic Qualifers to Date: Two (14 provisional berths available)
Provisional Qualifiers to Date: 22
Michigan's Qualifiers to Date: Lindsey Gallo (automatic), Alyson Kohlmeier (10th-best provisional).
Just Out of Contention: Nicole Edwards (16th-best provisional).
3,000m
Automatic Qualifers to Date: Four (12 provisional berths available)
Provisional Qualifiers to Date: 36
Michigan's Qualifiers to Date: Lindsey Gallo (automatic)
Just Out of Contention: Alyson Kohlmeier (17th-best provisional).
High Jump
Automatic Qualifers to Date: Six (10 provisional berths available)
Provisional Qualifiers to Date: 23
Michigan's Qualifiers to Date: Stephanie Linz (automatic)
Pentathlon
Automatic Qualifers to Date: Four (12 provisional berths available)
Provisional Qualifiers to Date: 32
Just Out of Contention: Jennifer Williams (27th-best provisional).
Distance Medley Relay
Michigan has automatically qualified
Trackwire 25
Michigan drops two spots into a tie for No. 8 in the Trackwire 25 with 22 points, remaining the highest ranked Big Ten school on the list. Stanford is No. 1, while LSU and Miami are tied for No. 2. The Wolverines are tied for No. 8 with Texas and South Carolina.
Dandy Dozen
Michigan's distance medley relay team remains tops in the nation.
Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo still holds first place in the mile.
Freshman Alyson Kohlmeier remains No. 8 in the mile.
Freshman Nicole Edwards is No. 8 in the 800-meter run.
Senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp remains No. 9 in the 800-meter run.
Senior/junior Stephanie Linz dropped from No. 6 to No. 12 in the high jump.
DMR Team Sets Notre Dame Indoor Record With Second-Fastest Time
Michigan's distance medley relay team ran the second-fastest time in school history at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 5), shattering the Loftus Center Indoor Track record and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championship with a time of 11:05.33. The combo of freshman Nicole Edwards, senior Sierra-Hauser Price, senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp and fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo ran the best time in over six years, clocking in just behind the 1998 national champion Wolverines who led the nation with a time of 11:03.28.
Gallo's Weekend - Two Autos, School Record and Big Ten Weekly Award
Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo was named U-M's third Big Ten Athlete of the Week after recording an automatic qualifying time in the mile (and breaking the school record) and helping Michigan auto-qualify in the DMR in the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 4-5).
Oh Canada - Thanks for the Freshmen!
Freshmen Canadians Nicole Edwards and Alyson Kohlmeier have combined for four NCAA provisional-qualifying times this season, with Edwards setting provisional times in the 800-meter run and the mile, while Kohlmeier provisionally qualified for the mile and the 3,000-meter run. Edwards is also a member of Michigan's NCAA automatic-qualifying distance medley relay team, running the 1,200-meter leg.
Michigan Dominates the Mile
Michigan has set three NCAA provisional qualifying times in the mile this season and boasts the top three Big Ten milers this season. Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo clocked in with an automatic-qualifying time of 4:37.97 at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 5), the fastest mile in the nation this year. Freshman Alyson Kohlmeier ran a career-best 4:43.87 at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 5) for her second provisional time of the season. Freshman Nicole Edwards won the mile in the Michigan Intercollegiate (Jan. 29) and had a provisional-qualifying time of 4:45.98.
800-Meter Supremacy
Michigan boasts the Big Ten's top two 800-meter athletes, led by freshman Nicole Edwards and senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp. Edwards ran a provisional-qualifying time (2:06.67) at the Sykes-Sabok Challenge (Feb. 12), while Feldkamp provisionally qualified with a time of 2:08.19 at the Meyo (Feb. 4-5).
Michigan has claimed the last two 800-meter Big Ten titles (Theresa Feldkamp in 2004 and Rachel Sturtz in 2003).
Hauser-Price Leads Michigan in the 60- and 200-meter dash
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price has run Michigan's fastest 60- and 200-meter times this year, breaking Michigan's 60-meter dash record by 0.01 seconds. Her 60-meter dash time is the third fastest in the conference this season. Her 200-meter dash time has improved every week of the season and her slowest 60-meter dash time this season was 7.54 seconds. Hauser-Price also contributed to Michigan's outstanding DMR performance at the Meyo Invitational, running the 400-meter leg.
It's a Dunn Deal - Career-Bests at the Meyo Invitational
The Dunn twins - juniors Melissa Dunn and Monica Dunn - had career-bests in the 800-meter run at the Meyo Invitational (Feb. 5), clocking in at 2:14.36 and 2:15.10 for 27th and 29th place, in separate heats. Melissa has Michigan's fifth-best time in the 800-meter run this season, while Monica has U-M's sixth-best time.
Back-to-Back Big Ten Weekly Awards
Michigan has dominated the Big Ten Conference's weekly awards this season, winning the first two laurels of the season with record-breaking performances. Junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter won the intial Big Ten Athlete of the Week award with a personal best 4:51.54 in the mile, just 3.94 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. The next week, senior/junior Stephanie Linz automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship with a clearance of 6-0 1/2 at the Kentucky Invitational, a personal best.
All-American Returns to the Fold - Qualifies for NCAA Indoors
After a year at Oakland University, 2003 All-American high jumper senior/junior Stephanie Linz returned to action after a year's hiatus and promptly recorded an NCAA automatic qualifying standard in the high jump in her first road meet. She cleared 6-0 1/2 at the Kentucky Invitational to finish second to 2004 U.S. Olympian Chaunte Howard, who also cleared 6-0 1/2. Linz was an All-American at Michigan in 2003 before transferring to Oakland University where she played volleyball for the Grizzlies.
Pentathletes Kick Off Season
Senior Jennifer Williams and junior Beth Vinckier competed in the pentathlon for the first time all season at the Michigan Intercollegiate, placing fifth and sixth respectively. Williams set four career highs, including new bests in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump, shot put and total points, while Vinckier set new career highs across the board in five events as well as putting up a new personal-best point total.
Hauser-Price - From the Hardwood to the 400-Meter
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price competed in her first career indoor meet and her first 400-meter event at the Jack Harvey Invitational, claiming the title in a time of 57.57. She followed it up with a fifth-place finish at the Kentucky Invitational, clocking in at 56.54 and shaving 1.03 seconds off her time from the Jack Harvey. Hauser-Price competed with the Michigan women's basketball team the last three seasons, averaging 26 minutes, 3.5 points and recording 37 steals last season. Hauser-Price has typically competed in the 100 and 200-meter dash in the outdoor season.
4x800-Meter Relay Team Sets Kentucky Indoor Record
Michigan's 4x800-meter relay team set a Nutter Field House indoor record at the Kentucky Invitational clocking in at 8:47.75, shattering the previous record by 6.01 seconds (set by Auburn University in 2003.) Sophomore/freshman Laura Glynn, freshman Nicole Edwards, senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp and fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo finished nearly 26 seconds faster than the second-place Clemson Tigers.
Captains of the Ship
Head coach James Henry selected four captains to lead the 2005 Wolverines. Fifth-year seniors Lindsey Gallo and Lynn Gasparella, senior Keri Kirk and junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter will serve as co-captains for Michigan in 2005.
Record Breaking Intrasquad
Michigan held its Maize and Blue Co-Ed Intrasquad on Dec. 11 and 12, shattering five intrasquad records in a preseason tune-up. The women's Maize squad took 12 of 14 events to help the Maize squad capture a 660-550 victory. Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo broke two intrasquad records en route to victories in the 1,200 and 3,000-meter events. Gallo shaved five seconds off the previous best in the 1,200-meter and lapped the 13-person field in the 3,000-meter to better the previous high water mark by 18 seconds, clocking in at 9:41.02.
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price led an 11-person field in the 200-meter dash to set a new intrasquad record with a time of 25:05, 0.53 seconds faster than the old record. Senior/junior Stephanie Linz won the high jump with a clearance of 5-10 3/4, adding a full three inches to the previous high. Junior Elizabeth Boyle bettered her own intrasquad record with a mark of 12-0 1/2, more than a foot higher than the previous best.
Returning Champions
Michigan returns four Big Ten champions from last year's indoor and outdoor teams. Junior Katie Erdman returns after winning the 600-meter in the indoor season, joining senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp, the 800-meter indoor champion. Outdoor returning champions include junior pole vaulter Elizabeth Boyle and double Big Ten champion fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo who is the defending 800 and 1,500-meter champion.
Five of Six or Eight of Ten - Dominating Either Way in the Big Ten
With Michigan's 2004 Big Ten Outdoor championship, the Wolverines have captured the last three outdoor conference titles and two of the last three indoor championships, taking second in 2004. If cross country titles are added to Michigan's totals, the Wolverines' 2002, '03 and '04 cross country titles would give Michigan eight of the last 10 Big Ten cross country and track and field titles.
Recordholders Return
Six Wolverines, holding eight school records, return for the 2005 season. Junior Katie Erdman holds school records in the indoor 600 and 800-meter and was a member of Michigan's record-breaking 4x800-meter outdoor relay team. Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo returns with two records in her holster - the outdoor 800 and 1,500-meter - while also holding a chunk of the 4x800-meter outdoor relay record.
Junior Elizabeth Boyle returns with both the indoor and outdoor pole vaulting records, while fifth-year senior Andrea Parker returns with Michigan's 3,000-meter steeplechase record. Fifth-year senior Anna Jones and senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp are the other half of Michigan's 4x800-meter outdoor relay team.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
