Throwers Anchor Wolverines at PSU Northeast Challenge

Saturday, January 16

State College, Pa.

Noon

Michigan

PSU Northeast Challenge

Throwers Anchor Wolverines at PSU Northeast Challenge

1/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

Jan. 16, 2010

• Notes & Quotes

Site: College Park, Pa. (Ashenfelter III Track)
Event: PSU Northeast Challenge
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Jan. 22-23 -- host Simmons-Harvey Invitational (U-M Indoor Track Building), 6 p.m./9 a.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Pa. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team picked up three victories at the PSU Northeast Challenge on Saturday (Jan. 17), winning the 20-pound weight throw, shot put and 4x800-meter relay at the Ashenfelter III Track.

The Wolverines swept the top three spots in the 20-pound weight throw, led by Ashley Greer's (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) first-place throw of 17.30 meters (56-09.25). Sisters Erin Pendleton (Lindsay, Ohio/Woodmore) and Emily Pendleton (Lindsay, Ohio/Woodmore) took second and third, with Erin throwing 17.28 meters (56-08.50) for runner-up and Emily recording a third-place throw of 17.05 meters (55-11.25).

Allison Liske (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) picked up Michigan's second individual victory of the afternoon, winning the shot put with a throw of 15.31 meters (50-02.75), hitting an NCAA provisional mark in her win.

U-M had its other victory of the day in the 4x800-meter relay, stopping the clock in 8:47.95. The quartet of Jenny Morgan (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston), Rebecca Addison (Spring Lake, Mich./Grand Haven), Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) and Jillian Smith (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) combined to win by almost a second over runner-up Georgetown.

The Maize and Blue added two runner-up finishes, coming in the 800-meter run and long jump. Tauro took second-place honors in the 800 (2:10.49), while Tofunmi Akeredolu (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) placed second in the long jump, jumping 5.73m (18-09.75).

The Wolverines will host their first indoor event of the 2010 season next weekend (Fri-Sat., Jan. 22-23), the Simmons-Harvey Invitational. Field events will take place Friday at 6 p.m., while the running events will be held Saturday, beginning at noon from the U-M Indoor Track Building

Event Winners/U-M Finishers

Mile Run 1. Caitlin Lane, Penn State           4:52.44 4. Lindsey Gakenheimer, U-M           4:57.49 5. Jenny Morgan, U-M                  4:57.8913. Kaitlyn Patterson, U-M             5:09.81
500-meter Dash 1. Jessica Weyman, Cornell            1:13.31 
400-meter Dash 1. Fawn Dorr, Penn State                53.32 7. Shana Vinson, U-M                    56.11 8. Jennifer Neville, U-M                56.34   
60-meter Hurdles 1. Tiffany Ofili, adidas                 8.32 3. Julian Purvis, U-M                    8.53 7. Teleicia Rose, U-M                    8.93   
60-meter Dash 1. Natasha Hastings, Nike                7.46 6. Alisha Cole, U-M                      7.72   
800-meter Run 1. Emily Infeld, Georgetown           2:08.89 2. Danielle Tauro, U-M              2:10.49 4. Rebecca Addison, U-M               2:11.38 7. Alexandria Williams, U-M           2:17.0019. Morgan Bailey, U-M                 2:26.48   
600-meter Run 1. Shana Cox, adidas                  1:28.15 3. Jillian Smith, U-M                 1:30.97 9. Meg Bellino, U-M                   1:35.5610. Brittani Williams, U-M             1:35.6012. Jami Hill, U-M                     1:36.61   
1,000-meter Run 1. Nicole Edwards, Unattached         2:42.31   
200-meter Dash 1. Natasha Hastings, Nike               23.90 8. Shana Vinson, U-M                    24.8517. Alisha Cole, U-M                     25.2521. Charlotte Cahill, U-M                25.5524. Ada Unachukwu, U-M                   25.75   
3,000-meter Run 1. Katie McGregor, Unattached         9:16.04 3. Kaitlyn Peale, U-M                 9:47.80 6. Rachel Severin, U-M                9:56.90   
Distance Medley Relay 1. Georgetown                        11:46.68   
4x800-meter Relay 1. Michigan                           8:47.95   (Jenny Morgan, Rebecca Addison,    Danielle Tauro, Jillian Smith)   
4x400-meter Relay 1. Penn State                         3:39.13 4. MICHIGAN                           3:42.78   (Alisha Cole, Jennifer Neville,    Alexandria Williams, Shana Vinson)   
20-pound Weight Throw 1. Ashley Greer, U-M                    17.30m  (56-09.25) 2. Erin Pendleton, U-M                  17.28m  (56-08.50) 3. Emily Pendleton, U-M                 17.05m  (55-11.25)   
Long Jump 1. Bianca Fung, Penn State               5.76m  (18-10.75) 2. Tofunmi Akeredolu, U-M                5.73m  (18-09.75)   
Pole Vault 1. Caitlin Fairbairn, Penn State         3.80m  (12-05.50) 5. Carly Schiffer, U-M                   3.50m  (11-05.75) 8. Sara Olds, U-M                        3.35m  (10-11.75)14. Andrea Marcos, U-M                    3.20m  (10-06.00)   
Triple Jump 1. Lena Bettis, Unattached              12.53m  (41-01.50)   
High Jump 1. Nicole Forrester, Mizuno              1.88m  (6-02.00) 6. Christina Solomon, U-M                1.65m  (5-05.00)12. Olivia Both, U-M                      1.60m  (5-03.00)14. Brianna Jenkins, U-M                  1.60m  (5-03.00)18. Tofunmi Akeredolu, U-M                1.55m  (5-01.00)   
Shot Put 1. Allison Liske, U-M                   15.31m# (50-02.75) 6. Emily Pendleton, U-M                 13.54m  (44-0525) 7. Danica Haight, U-M                   13.19m  (43-03.25)

N O T E S

• U-M had four former student-athletes competing at the event. Student assistant coach Tiffany Ofili won the 60m hurdles (8.32). Nicole Edwards won the 1,000-meter run in 2:42.31. Nicole Forrester won the high jump, clearing 1.88m (6-02.00). Rounding out the former Michigan tracksters was Katie McGregor, who won the 3,000-meter run in 9:16.04.

• Allison Liske's shot put throw of 15.31 meters (50-02.75) was a provisional mark. It was the first time a Wolverine hit a provisional mark this season.

• The Wolverines have won a relay in both events this season.

• Michigan will return to Penn State for the Big Ten Indoor Championships, Feb. 27-28.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Assistant Coach Anne Takacs-Grieb
On what she was expecting from her throwers ... "I expected this week to be a little bit of a down week because it was the second week back competing. You are normally drained after the first week because you have been waiting so long to compete; it just takes it out of you. This week was a rough week of practice. I was just hoping that we would be consistent with what we did last week, maybe take a little dip. They were excited because this is where Big Tens will be. Their goal was to get a trial run for the conference meet. They wanted to give it all they could to test out the facility. They all managed their time and warmups really well. It was not just about the performance, it was about the future. That was what helped. It was not about throwing far, it was about performing. They really put it together today. It was exciting to watch."

On making adjustments ... "In the shot put, originally there were three flights, scheduled for 5 p.m. They moved the event up 30 minutes and condensed it to two flights, which meant not everyone was warmed up. There was a little bit of a challenge because during your warmup, you are preparing, both mentally and physically. It was a challenge for sure. That happens in track, you have to be resilient, and you have to be prepared for anything to happen. You don't know what an official is going to do, what a competitor is going to do. They responded to it and that is what we need. Were able to put things together and perform well today."

Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423