Michigan
Drake Relays
Ofili Wins 100-meter Hurdles at Drake Relays
4/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Des Moines, Iowa (Drake Stadium)
Event: Drake Relays (Day 3)
U-M Team Standing: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., May 1-2 -- at Jesse Owens Classic (Columbus, Ohio), 2 p.m./11 a.m.; Saturday, May 2 -- at Payton Jordan Classic (Palo Alto, Calif.)
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Senior co-captain Tiffany Ofili(Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) of the No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team was victorious in the invitational 100-meter hurdles at the 100th Drake Relays on Saturday (April 25) at Drake Stadium. Ofili was one of a trio of Wolverines to claim titles at the Drake Relays as sophomore Emily Pendleton (Lindsay, Ohio/Woodmore) took the discus title and senior/junior Christina Solomon(Belleville, Mich./Belleville) won the high jump during competition on Friday (April 24).
Competing against seven professional runners, including 2008 U.S. Olympian Lolo Jones and former world champion Perdita Felicien, Ofili was first across the line in a time of 12.82 seconds, the third-fastest time in the world this year, three one-hundredths ahead of Yvette Lewis, the 2007 NCAA 100-meter hurdles champion.
Pendleton claimed top honors in the discus with a throw of 179-3 (54.64m). Pendleton's winning effort came in her second of six throws during the competition. Her season-best mark bettered second-place Sara Ackman of South Dakota State (171-3, 52.19m).
Meanwhile, Solomon was victorious in the high jump, leading a trio of Wolverines posting top-10 finishes in the event. Solomon cleared 5-11 1/4 (1.81m) on her first attempt to earn the victory over Rachel Gehret of Louisville. Senior co-captain Bettie Wade(Northville, Mich./Farmington) took third, clearing 5-8 3/4 (1.75m), and senior/junior Olivia Both(Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) finished in a tie for ninth with a best jump of 5-5 (1.65m).
In the 400-meter hurdles, senior Amber Hay (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) took second in the 22-runner field with a time of 59.02 seconds. Hay was locked in a battle for first in the third and final heat with Deserea Brown of Illinois, but Brown took first in 58.68 to just edge Hay in the 1-2 Big Ten sweep.
Senior co-captain Casey Taylor(Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic), who qualified for Saturday's final with a time of 12.18 in the prelims on Thursday (April 23), took sixth in the 100-meter dash. Taylor, the only Big Ten runner in the eight-woman final field, took sixth in 11.93. Brittany Henderson of Minnesota State won the 100 meters in 11.72. Taylor also claimed sixth in Saturday's triple jump with a top leap of 40-2 1/4 (12.25m). Seidre Forde of Louisville won the triple jump with a best mark of 41-7 (12.67m).
In the relays, the U-M quartet of freshman Meshawn Graham(Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher), sophomore Jennifer Neville(Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child), Hay and senior/junior Shana Vinson(Detroit, Mich./Mumford) claimed sixth in the 4x400-meter relay final on Saturday. The Maize and Blue foursome clocked in with a time of 3:41.54; Texas earned top honors in 3:35.08. Neville, Vinson and Graham also combined with Taylor on Friday (April 24) to take sixth place in the 4x200-meter relay. The Wolverines finished in a time of 1:37.64, while first-place Louisiana Tech posted a time of 1:35.02.
The Wolverines return to action next Friday (May 1) when they compete in the first day of the two-day Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Competition begins at 2 p.m. U-M will also compete on Saturday (May 2) at the Payton Jordan Classic in Palo Alto, Calif.
Event Winners/U-M Finishes
DAY THREE (SATURDAY, APRIL 25)
Hammer Throw, University Division 1. Krishna Lee, Missouri 187-11 (57.28m) 17. Emily Pendleton, U-M 153-5 (46.77m) 18. Melissa Gurchinoff, U-M 153-0 (46.64m) 21. Ashley Greer, U-M 136-6 (41.60m) 400-meter hurdles, University Division 1. Deserea Brown, Illinois 58.68 2. Amber Hay, U-M 59.02 # 100-meter dash, University Division (Finals) 1. Brittany Henderson, Minnesota State 11.72 6. Casey Taylor, U-M 11.93 100-meter hurdles, Special Invitational 1. Tiffany Ofili, U-M 12.82 # 2. Yvette Lewis, unattached 12.85 Triple Jump, University Division 1. Seidre Forde, Louisville 41-7 (12.67m) 6. Casey Taylor, U-M 40-2 1/4 (12.25m) 4x400-meter relay, University Division (Finals) 1. Texas 3:35.08 6. Michigan 3:41.54 # (Meshawn Graham, Jennifer Neville, Amber Hay, Shana Vinson)
DAY TWO (FRIDAY, APRIL 24)
100-meter hurdles, University Division Prelims 1. Kim Laing, Alabama 13.80 9. Julian Purvis, U-M 14.49 Shot Put, University Division 1. LeVania Henserson, Kent State 51-3 3/4 (15.64m) 19. Danica Haight, U-M 45-6 1/4 (13.87m) 100-meter dash, University Division prelims 1. Griffin Matthew, Stanford 12.01 7. Casey Taylor, U-M 12.18q High Jump, University Division 1. Christina Solomon, U-M 5-11 1/4 (1.81m) # 3. Bettie Wade, U-M 5-8 3/4 (1.75m) # 9. Olivia Both, U-M 5-5 (1.65m) Discus, University Division 1. Emily Pendleton, U-M 179-3 (54.64m) # 2. Sara Ackman, South Dakota State 171-3 (52.19m) 4x400-meter relay, University Division (Prelims) 1. Texas 3:36.76q 8. Michigan 3:41.24q # (Meshawn Graham, Jennifer Neville, Amber Hay, Shana Vinson)
4x200-meter relay, University Division 1. Louisiana Tech 1:35.02 6. Michigan 1:37.64 (Jennifer Neville, Shana Vinson, Meshawn Graham, Casey Taylor)
# - denotes NCAA regional qualifying mark q - denotes qualified for event finals
Q U O T E S
U-M Senior Tiffany Ofili
On winning the 100-meter hurdles invitational... "I'm excited. I'm happy with the win. It hopefully is going to give me some momentum for the rest of my season so I can just finish up my college career to the best of my ability.''
Contact: Jeremy Reid (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
