Michigan
Penn Relays
Wolverines Claim Two Relay Titles at Penn Relays
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Philadelphia, Pa. (Franklin Field)
Event: Penn Relays
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., May. 4-5 -- host Len Paddock Invitational
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team competed at the prestigious Penn Relays on Thursday through Saturday (April 26-28) hosted by the University of Pennsylania on Franklin Field. Michigan claimed two relay titles in record-setting fashion and an NCAA regional qualifying standard.
The Wolverines claimed their first relay title of the weekend on Friday (April 26), taking first place in the 4x1,500m relay with a season-best, collegiate-record time of 17:15.62. U-M's time broke a 17-year-old record that was set by Villanova, with a time of 17:18.10. Fifth-year senior co-captain Katie Erdman (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS) ran the first leg with a split time of 4:22.0. Sophomore Geena Gall (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) and graduate/senior Anna Willard (Greenwood, Maine/Telstar Regional HS) ran the second and third legs, respectively. Gall ran a split of 4:21.4, while Willard ran the fastest time -- a 4:13.9. Junior Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey HS) closed the relay with a time of 4:18.3.
On Saturday, the Maize and Blue claimed the 4x800m relay with a season-best, collegiate-record time of 8:18.78. The Wolverines shattered a 23-year record set by Tennessee with a time of 8:20.22. Gall ran the first leg, clocking in at 2:06.5. Edwards ran the second leg with a split of 2:05.7. Willard and Erdman ran the third and anchor legs, respectively; Willard posted a split of 2:04.0, and Erdman crossed the line with the fastest split time -- a 2:02.6.
Fifth-year senior co-captain Rebecca Walter (Beverly Hills, Mich./Groves HS) earned the Wolverines' lone NCAA regional qualifying standard with a sixth-place finish in her first 5,000m run of the season, posting a season-best time of 16:27.22.
Senior/junior Laura Glynn (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison HS) earned the Maize and Blue's top finish, taking third-place in the 3,000m run with a career-best time of 9:38.90. Freshman Eileen Creutz (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) crossed the finish line with a career-record time of 9:59.37, taking 17th place.
Fifth-year senior co-captain Arianne Field (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett HS) made her season debut in the 3,000m steeplechase, taking sixth place with a season best of 10:58.93.
Junior/sophomore Natasha Luppov (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) ran the first 10,000m race for U-M and the first of her career, taking 11th place with a career-best time of 35:41.39.
Senior/junior Bridgette Maynard (Clawson, Mich./Bishop Foley HS) represented the Wolverines in the field events, taking top-15 places in the discus and hammer throw. Maynard placed 11th in the discus (146-11 1/2) and 13th in the hammer (168-9 1/2).
The Wolverines return to Ann Arbor to host their only outdoor home meet of the season, the Len Paddock Invitational, Friday and Saturday (May 4-5).
Event Winners/U-M Finishes
Thursday, April 26
Distance Medley Relay
1. Oral Roberts 11:30.38
5. MICHIGAN 11:42.67
(Jennie Biewald, Chanelle Campbell,
Eileen Creutz, Laura Glynn)
3,000-meter Run
1. Keri Bland, West Virginia 9:34.00
3. Laura Glynn, U-M 9:38.90
17. Eileen Creutz, U-M 9:59.37
-- Jennifer Biewald, U-M DNS
3,000-meter Steeplechase
1. Megan Brandeland, Princeton 10:41.16#
6. Arianne Field, U-M 10:58.93
5,000-meter Run
1. Aine Hoban, Providence 16:07.01#
6. Rebecca Walter, U-M 16:27.22#
10,000-meter Run
1. Renee Gunning, Phila/Puma 33:53.27@
11. Natasha Luppov, U-M 35:41.39
Hammer Throw
1. Kimery Hern, Georgia Tech 187-5 1/4 (57.13)#
13. Bridgette Maynard, U-M 168-9 1/2 (51.45)
Shot Put
1. Sylvia Galarza, Rutgers 49-2 1/4 (14.99)#
21. Bridgette Maynard, U-M 37-8 1/2 (11.49)
Discus Throw
1. Samantha Musil, Ga. Tech 157-10 1/4 (48.11m)#
11. Bridgette Maynard, U-M 146-11 1/2 (44.79m)
Friday, April 27
4x1,500-meter Relay
1. MICHIGAN 17:15.62!
(Katie Erdman, Geena Gall,
Anna Willard, Nicole Edwards)
Saturday, April 28
4x800-meter Relay
1. MICHIGAN 8:18.78!
(Geena Gall, Nicole Edwards,
Anna Willard, Katie Erdman)
! Collegiate Record @ NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard # NCAA Regional Qualifying Standard
QUOTES
Michigan Associate Head Coach Mike McGuire
On setting the collegiate 4x1500m relay record ... "Their pre-race preparation had as much to do with getting this as anything. I kind of anticipated what would happen with Anna (Willard) on the third leg. Then I could see when you add up all their individual times it would come to a record. It's a pretty big deal, because this is the Super Bowl of relays."
U-M Fifth-year senior co-captain Katie Erdman
On the 4x1500m record ... "We're ecstatic to set the record. But this is something we've set our eyes on for a long time. We've had our eyes on the prize. To come here, win and set a record is long-term accomplishment."
On Friday's running conditions ... "We were totally prepared for the weather. We worked out the other day when it was windy, then got soaked. We were prepared for anything."
U-M Junior Nicole Edwards
On getting one chance to set the 4x1500m relay record ... "Definitely this was our only chance to break the record. We knew the competition would be good and that would push us through."
On running the last leg of the 4x1500m relay ... "When I got the baton, I heard Anna say, 'All we need is a 4:20.' I knew I was better than that. All I had to do was keep my composure and run hard and everything would fall into place."
Players Mentioned
