Women's Track and Field Nabs Miler and Three Throwers
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period, and the quartet will join the Wolverines beginning with the 2008 season. Signing letters of intent were Danica Haight (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West HS), Allison Liske (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East HS), Emily Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore HS) and Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional HS).
"Coach Takacs has done an outstanding job in recruiting the area of our needs this year," said head coach James Henry, the 2006 NCAA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year. "These throwers are outstanding student athletes and outstanding people. We are excited to have them be part of our track family. Mike (McGuire) continues to bring in top athletes. It will be exciting to see how they will continue to perform for us and mix in with our tradition of outstanding middle- and long-distance athletes."
Haight was the Iowa State Division IV shot put champion in 2005 and '06. She is also a Nike Outdoor Nationals 2006 finalist in the shot put. The Iowa City, Iowa, native has a personal-record of 47-11 in the shot, and 144-3 in the discus.
"Danica is a multi-sport athlete and has great skills in all of them," Takacs said. "She has a rocket arm that I witnessed in a volleyball practice; throwing is natural for her. She has the work ethic to be a success at Michigan. She has high expectations for herself because of her parents; her father is a former professional football player."
Liske is the 2006 Michigan state runner-up in the shot put and is also a finalist for the Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2006.
"Allison has come on to the scene in the last year," said Takacs. "Shes extremely motivated and has a very good high school coach. Her skills in basketball have helped her improve her throwing technique and she will be good in all the throwing events including javelin."
Pendleton is a three-time Ohio state discus champion from 2004, '05 and '06, and is also the state Division III record holder in the event. She was s a two-time Junior Olympic champion from 2005-06. In 2006 the Lindsey, Ohio, native claimed titles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USA Juniors Championship in discus, earning a trip to Beijing with the USA Junior World Championship team. Pendleton, who is the top-ranked prep discus thrower in the nation, has a personal-record of 172-8.
"Emily committed early this year," said Takacs. "She was the catalyst for other athletes to come on board. It helped us recruit the other girls because they want to be in a group that pushes them. She is an outstanding student that comes from a great family. She has a real love of the sport and has learned a lot about it from her coach, who is also her dad. She is a triple threat because she is also good at the shot and the hammer too."
Tauro has won the mile title at the New Jersey Meet of Champions three years in a row from 2004-06. In 2006, Tauro became the only runner to win both the mile and 800-meter title at the NJ Meet of Champions in 18 years. She won titles for the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and 1,500 meters at the Junior U.S. Championships, and earned a trip to Beijing for the Junior World Championships. Tauro has also posted the fifth-fastest mile time in the history of U.S. high school sports, clocking in at 4:39.25.
"Danielle is a very welcome addition to the program," said associate head coach Mike McGuire. "Shes highly accomplished in middle-distance and cross country and will make a significant impact in both our programs. She is very team orientated and we feel this is a great fit for her and were very excited to welcome her to Michigan."
The Wolverines begin the 2007 season Saturday, Jan. 6, with the Michigan Women's Open at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
