Michigan
Len Paddock Invitational
U-M's Willard Highlights Len Paddock Invitational
5/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team jumped to a good start, claiming three first-place finishes and two NCAA regional qualifying standards on Friday (May 4) as it hosted the first of two days of the Len Paddock Invitational on Ferry Field.
Graduate/senior Anna Willard (Greenwood, Maine/Telstar Regional HS) claimed first place in the 1,500m run with a personal-best, NCAA regional qualifying time of 4:15.99 -- 6.05 seconds short of the U-M record. Former Wolverine Lindsey Gallo paced the race for the first-two laps, with Willard trailing directly in her footsteps. Heading into the third lap, Willard took the lead as Gallo dropped out of the race. Willard then increased her lead over the pack by 100m as the group headed into the bell lap. Willard closed the race with a 125m lead, beating out the field by 21.42 seconds. Freshman Eileen Creutz (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) finished in third place with a time of 4:40.48, while fifth-year senior co-captain Arianne Field (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett HS) came in fourth with a career-best of 4:41.57. Junior/sophomore Claire Otwell (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City HS) rounded out the top-five with a fifth-place season-best time of 4:41.64.
In the 400m hurdles, sophomore Katie LaValley (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS) took first place with an NCAA regional qualifying time of 1:00.60. LaValley took the lead in the first 50m of the race and never looked back to close the race with a 3.96 second lead. Senior/junior Kiana Stringfield (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) came in second place, clocking in at 1:04.56.
In the field events, sophomore Casey Taylor (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic HS) was the lone Wolverine in the triple jump with a first-place mark of 38-2.
Junior/sophomore Jennifer Mehl (Novi, Mich./Novi HS) led the Maize and Blue contingent in the pole vault, tying for second-place with a clearance of 11-11 3/4 to match her personal best set earlier in the season. Fifth-year senior co-captain Kristin Pearson (Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba HS) came in fourth place, clearing 11-5 3/4, while sophomore/freshman Lisa Sonntag (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central HS) cleared a personal-best 10-11 3/4 for sixth place.
In the throws, sophomore co-captain Bettie Wade (Northville, Mich./Farmington HS) took second place in the javelin throw with a career-best of 102-3. Junior/sophomore Samantha Smith (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon HS) and sophomore/freshman Anna Wilson (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS) placed third and fourth, respectively, in the javelin. Smith posted a career-record of 101-3, while Wilson earned a distance of 90-5.
Senior/junior Bridgette Maynard (Clawson, Mich./Bishop Foley HS) took third place in the hammer throw with a distance of 165-0. Former Wolverine April Philips finished in first with a toss of 201-3 -- a distance that would have beat her U-M record of 199-3, set in 2004.
The Wolverines conclude the Len Paddock Invitational Saturday (May 5) on Ferry Field. The final day of competition starts at 10 a.m. with the discus.
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
