Michigan
Akron Quad
Michigan Captures First at Akron Quad
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Event: Akron Quad
U-M Team Finish: 1st of 4 (173.5 points)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 17 -- at Big Ten/SEC Challenge (Bloomington, Ind.)
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team won the Akron Quad for the second straight season on Friday night (Jan. 9) to open the 2009 indoor season, winning 9-of-14 events at the Stile Athletics Field House. The Wolverines' 173.5 points bested host and second-place Akron's 136.5 points.
Senior Tiffany Ofili(Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) won three events and senior Geena Gall(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) won two events, while senior Casey Taylor(Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) hit an NCAA provisional mark in her triple jump win and sophomore Allison Liske (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) met the NCAA provisional mark in her win in the shot put with a score of 50-0 1/2. U-M also claimed first in the 4x400-meter relay with a mark of 3:55.30.
Ofili's first event victory came in the 60-meter dash as she bettered the field with a time of 7.59 seconds, three one-hundredths of a second ahead of Latalia Jones of Akron. Ofili then claimed the top spot in the 200-meter dash, besting the field in a time of 24.25, 0.65 seconds ahead of second-place Cambrya Jones of Pittsburgh. Ofili then finished her impressive evening with a victory in the long jump with a top mark of 19-11 in her second jump. Ofili's first-place jump was 3/4 of an inch further than Taylor's 19-10 1/4 second-place effort, also occurring in her second leap.
Taylor took top honors in the triple jump with a leap of 41-9 1/4, bettering the NCAA provisional standard. Taylor's top effort came on her third and final jump, but each of her three leaps bettered the other 11 competitors in the triple-jump field.
Gall's first event victory came in the mile run as she took the top spot in 4:57.23, nearly two seconds better than second-place Larisa Arcip of Akron. Gall also claimed victory in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:11.70. Senior teammate Katie LaValley(Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central) was second in 2:15.25.
Senior/junior Shana Vinson(Detroit, Mich./Mumford) also earned an event victory with a win in the 400-meter dash. Vinson crossed the line first with a time of 58.14, two-tenths of a second ahead of Buffalo's Jackie Burns.
Michigan will return to action next Saturday (Jan. 17) when it travels to the Big Ten/SEC Challenge hosted by Indiana University at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse in Bloomington, Ind.
Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 173.5 2. Akron 136.5 3. Pittsburgh 108.5 4. Buffalo 86.5
Event Winners/U-M Finishers
One Mile Run 1. Geena Gall, U-M 4:57.23 3. Jennifer Morgan, U-M 5:04.37 7. Alice Lehman, U-M 5:15.54 10. Kourtney Moody, U-M 5:25.08 12. Amanda McKenzie, U-M 5:27.67 15. Melany Mioduszewski, U-M 5:47.84
60-Meter Hurdles 1. Myciah Clemons, Pittsburgh 8.56 2. Julian Purvis, U-M 8.59 3. Bettie Wade, U-M 8.74 12. Tofumni Akeredolu, U-M 9.71
400-Meter Dash 1. Shana Vinson, U-M 58.14 7. Jennifer McCoy, U-M 1:01.17
60-Meter Dash 1. Tiffany Ofili, U-M 7.59 5. Casey Taylor, U-M 7.78 14. Teleicia Rose, U-M 8.04 15. Julian Purvis, U-M 8.06 16. Tofumni Akeredolu, U-M 8.08
800-Meter Run 1. Geena Gall, U-M 2:11.70 2. Katie LaValley, U-M 2:15.25 4. Meshawn Graham, U-M 2:20.31 6. Brittani Williams, U-M 2:21.72 7. Sierra Tate, U-M 2:21.74 8. Alexandria Williams, U-M 2:21.85 16. Kourtney Moody, U-M 2:28.74
200-Meter Dash 1. Tiffany Ofili, U-M 24.25 4. Casey Taylor, U-M 25.18 11. Jennifer Neville, U-M 26.23 12. Julian Purvis, U-M 26.31 13. Teleicia Rose, U-M 26.91
3,000-Meter Run 1. Kim Lorentz, Akron 9:50.47 2. Danielle Tauro, U-M 9:55.95 3. Kelly Sampson, U-M 9:57.59 5. Katie Williams, U-M 10:02.51 6. Kaitlyn Peale, U-M 10:13.53 7. Mary Grace Pellegrini, U-M 10:21.81 11. Alison Nesbitt, U-M 10:50.06
4x400-Meter Relay 1. Michigan 'A' 3:55.30 5. Michigan 'B' 4:09.18
High Jump 1. Alina Bocicor, Akron 5-6 (1.68m) 2. Christina Soloman, U-M 5-6 (1.68m) 4. Olivia Both, U-M 5-3 3/4 (1.62m) 8. Brittany Petty, U-M 5-1 3/4 (1.57m) 10. Tofumni Akereolu, U-M 5-1 3/4 (1.57m)
Pole Vault 1. Carrie Kayes, Akron 12-11 1/2 (3.95m) 4. Abbey Breidenstein, U-M 11-5 3/4 (3.50m) 5. Jennifer Mehl, U-M 10-11 3/4 (3.35m) 7. Sarah Conkle, U-M 10-6 (3.20m) Carly Schiffer, U-M 10-6 (3.20m) 12. Sara Olds, U-M 10-0 (3.05m) 14. Andrea Marcos, U-M 10-0 (3.05m)
Long Jump 1. Tiffany Ofili, U-M 19-11 (6.07m) 2. Casey Taylor, U-M 19-10 1/4 (6.05m)
Triple Jump 1. Casey Taylor, U-M 41-9 1/4 (12.73m) #
Shot Put 1. Allison Liske, U-M 50-0 1/2 (15.25m) # 3. Emily Pendleton, U-M 48-3 1/4 (14.71m) 8. Bettie Wade, U-M 40-1 1/2 (12.23m)
Weight Throw 1. Stevi Large, Akron 66-8 3/4 (20.34m) 4. Emily Pendleton, U-M 51-5 1/2 (15.68m) 7. Ashley Greer, U-M 48-6 3/4 (14.80m) 8. Melissa Gurchinoff, U-M 47-11 1/4 (14.61m)
# NCAA provisional qualifying standard
Q U O T E S
Michigan Assistant Coach Anne Takacs-Grieb
On the performance of the team... "I think it was a really good starting point for the team. Some people did really well in their signature events and other did well in non-signature events, but everyone had a shining moment tonight. It's a good starting point, but the girls know that there is more expected of them so they are not going to pat themselves on the back right now."
On Allison Liske's NCAA provisional mark in the shot put... "My goal for her was to have that by our first home meet (Jan. 24). The fact that it happened today was her goal. I would say that she is a little bit ahead of schedule, and that is a good thing for us. That means there is a lot more in the tank."
Contact: Jeremy Reid (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
