Webster, Kohlmeier Punch Tickets to Nationals in 5K

Friday, May 26

Knoxville, Tenn.

Michigan

NCAA Mideast Regional

5/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team finished the first day of competition at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in fifth place with 14 points Friday (May 26) at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.

The Maize and Blue was led by the distance group, as junior Erin Webster (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) and sophomore Alyson Kohlmeier (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Patrick's) scored 14 points in the 5,000m run and earned automatic advancement to the NCAA Championships by placing in the top five. Webster was the first Wolverine to cross the finish line, with a second-place time of 16:25.48, while Kohlmeier came in at third place, clocking in at 16:27.12.

The Wolverines also posted two times that qualified for the finals in the middle-distance. In the 800m run, freshman Geena Gall (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) finished in first place (2:08.68) in the third heat to automatically qualified for the finals. Sophomore Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey) automatically qualified for the 1,500m run final as she took first place in her heat with a time of 4:25.24.

In the long jump freshman Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich./Farmington) finished 14th with a personal-best jump of 19-6 3/4.

Freshman Tiffany Ofili (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) fell shy of qualifying for the 100m hurdles finals as she posted a time of 13.44, which was good for third in her heat and 0.12 seconds shy of the last qualifying time.

The Wolverines will compete in the final day of the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on Saturday (May 27) at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.

Top 10 Teams (After Day 1)

 1. Notre Dame 19 2. Alabama 18 3. Akron 16 Purdue 16 5. MICHIGAN 14 6. Louisiana State 13.5 7. Western Illinois 11 8. Mississippi 10.5 9. Southern Illinois 10 Southern 10

Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 1)

100-meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Josanne Lucas, Auburn 13.23Q 3. Tiffany Ofili, U-M 13.44 400-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 1. Markita James, Auburn 56.25Q! 18. Katie LaValley, U-M 1:01.36 20. Amber Hay, U-M 1:01.54 800-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 3 1. Geena Gall, U-M 2:08.68Q 1,500-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 2 1. Nicole Edwards, U-M 4:25.24Q 8. Theresa Feldkamp, U-M 4:37.10 5,000-Meter Run (Final) 1. Molly Huddle, Notre Dame 16:24.51* 2. Erin Webster, U-M 16:25.48* 3. Alyson Kohlmeier, U-M 16:27.12* Long Jump (Final) 1. Monica Robinson, Southern 21-0 (6.40m)* 14. Bettie Wade, U-M 19-6 3/4 (5.96m) 27. Casey Taylor, U-M 18-3 (5.56m)  * Qualified for NCAA Championships ! Mideast Regional meet record Qq indicates qualification for finals