Michigan
Michigan Women's Open
Women's Track and Field Hosts Michigan Women's Open
1/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Indoor Track Building)
Event: Michigan Women's Open
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 12 -- Kentucky Invitational (Lexington, Ky.), 9 a.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan womens track and field team began the 2007 season as the host of the inaugural Michigan Women's Open on Saturday (Jan. 6) at the U-M Indoor Track Building. The Wolverines claimed first place in 11 of the 13 events, led by sophomore Tiffany Ofili (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti HS), who closed the day with four first-place finishes.
The Maize and Blue began the day's events winning four of the five field events. Sophomore/freshman Olivia Both (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) finished first in the high jump, clearing a personal-record of 5-4 1/4. Ofili finished at the top in the long jump with a personal-best of 19-11 3/4, while sophomore Casey Taylor (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic HS) took first in the triple jump (38-2). Junior/sophomore Jennifer Mehl (Novi, Mich./Novi HS) cleared 11-5 3/4 on her first try to give her first place, while sophomore/freshman Sarah Conkle (Bellaire, Mich./Bellaire HS) cleared the mark on her second try, setting a new personal-best for second place. Senior Bridgette Maynard (Madison, Mich./Bishop Foley HS) led the Wolverines in the weight throw with a second place toss of 48-3 1/2.
In the long sprints, Ofili took first place in the 200m with a personal-best time of 24.54. Ofili took the lead out of the blocks and never looked back as she beat the pack by 2.03 seconds. Junior Serita Williams (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee HS) took second place in the 400m with a time of 58.72.
Ofili led the way in the 60m dash with a personal-best of 7.59, while crossing the line in 8.38 in the 60m hurdles for first place. Sophomore Joi Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood HS) came in second place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.99.
In the middle-distance, senior Erin Webster (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS) took first place in the mile with a personal-best time of 4:45.68. Former Michigan All-American Lindsey Gallo set the pace with Webster shortly behind for the first two laps. In the third lap, Gallo dropped out of the race as Webster began to separate herself from the pack by more than 60 meters beating out the nearest competition by 10.32 seconds. In her first indoor race as a Wolverine, freshman Jenny Morgan (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) took second with a personal-best time of 4:55.36; junior/sophomore Natasha Luppov (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) finished third with a personal-record of 5:03.47.
Sophomore Geena Gall (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) jumped off to a fast start in the 600m taking the lead 30m into the race. In the final lap, Gall took a 50m lead to close out the race with a personal-best of 1:31.44, 6.05 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Senior/junior Kiana Stringfield (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) came in second with a personal-best time of 1:37.49, topping her previous record by one second.
Fifth-year senior Katie Erdman (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS) was the first runner to cross the finish line in the 800m with a time of 2:08.02. Erdman ran a strong 400m with a 1:01.6, with Gallo setting the pace. Erdman was able to cruise into the finish line with 35m lead after Gallo dropped out of the race. Freshman Jennie Biewald (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS) finished third with a personal-best time of 2:13.65.
Closing out the day's events with the 1600m relays, the Wolverines claimed first place with a time of 3:54.34. Sophomore Katie LaValley (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS) gave the Maize and Blue a good start by jumping out in front of the pack. LaValley passed the baton to Gall who continued the lead, while Erdman and sophomore Amber Hay (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) closed out the race.
The Wolverines travel to Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 12-13).
Players Mentioned
