2006 TFW at Big Ten Outdoors -- Notes & Quotes
5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
N O T E S
The Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships will be aired via tape delay on CSTV on Monday, May 22, at 9 p.m. EDT.
Senior/junior Rebecca Walter (5,000m) and sophomore Nicole Edwards (1,500m) each earned All-Big Ten first team honors for the first time in her career, while junior Erin Webster (5,000m) earned All-Big Ten second team honors for the first time in her career.
Freshman Tiffany Ofili set a new Michigan outdoor record in the 100m hurdles as she posted a time of 13.37 to break Robin Landfair's 2003 record time of 13.42.
Freshman Geena Gall set a new Michigan outdoor and Big Ten meet record in the 800m run as she posted 2:02.73. The previous school record was set by Lindsey Gallo in 2004 (2:03.80) and the previous Big Ten meet mark was set by Wisconsin's Amy Wickus in 1994 (2:03.85).
The Michigan distance trio has swept both the 2006 Big Ten indoor and outdoor 5,000m with Rebecca Walter, Erin Webster and Alyson Kohlmeier capturing the top three spots, respectively, at the outdoor meet. The order of finish at the indoor meet was Kohlmeier, Webster and Walter.
Michigan won five individual titles (100m hurdles, 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m), giving them a total of 55 Big Ten outdoor individual titles.
Michigan's point total of 134.67 is the highest point total since 2004 (148). Michigan's second-place finish is also the highest finish since 2004 (1st).
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach James Henry
On the weekend's performances ... "This is a team of two extremes: one is that we have some very good veterans, and the other is that we didn't know what we were getting from the freshmen, and we got it all over the board. We got some outstanding performances by some freshmen and then others didn't pull out what we expected. But overall, I think this is the best second-place performance we had since I've been coaching. We had a very good day on our second day and a great day on our third day, it just wasn't good enough. Minnesota was very deserving of the win; they came out balanced and they just earned the victory."
On what the team takes from the meet ... "We qualified a few more people (for regionals), bettered some times, and it was exciting to see the kids perform well, and I think we brought away some confidence."
Michigan Associate Head Coach Mike McGuire
On how the distance group is so consistent ... "I think we hit it pretty good indoors, but I think this could very well be the very best we've ran collectively at a championship meet, given the fact that you have (Alyson) Kohlmeier and (Erin) Webster exploring new territory in running the 10K. The distance runners have been working all year together, and it's just fitting that were able to showcase their hard work together on race day, and I'm proud of all of them. In the middle distance, Geena's (Gall) race was fantastic, Nicole (Edwards) had a good 1,500. They're both Big Ten champions and I'm proud of both of them. Arianne (Field) had a great steeple. She continues to improve and I think she has a shot at going to the NCAA meet. Even with our other runners under the radar screen, such as Claire Otwell, who just missed qualifying, will be on the radar next year. I'm just really proud of all of them and their hard work."
On whether or not the weather has a major role on the races ... "The weather wasn't really an issue for us; it really wasn't windy so we were able to hammer down. Of course the conditions weren't ideal, but I think they were more of a distraction for the skill event people, the throwers, jumpers, events like that."
U-M Freshman Tiffany Ofili
On expectations heading into the race ... "I really didn't know what to expect. This season has been kind of up and down for me, I just came in wanting to do my best, and I did. I'm happy with everything."
On what's going through her mind during the race ... "My start, my start, my start. I knew that if I got a good start, I would have a good race, because that's what carries me."
On why she's been able to succeed in the big meets ... "We have great coaches, and the practices we do every day work on different aspects of the race and that helps us put everything together to get better each time."
On how it feels to contribute to the team with big points as a freshman ... "It makes me feel really good, it's exciting, and it just makes me want to be a part of this team even more."
Players Mentioned
