Tobel Qualifies for NCAA Championships in Pole Vault

Thursday, May 26

Bloomington, Ind.

3:30 PM

Michigan

NCAA Preliminary Round

5/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

May 26, 2011

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex)
Event: NCAA East Preliminary Round (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Team Standing: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 27 -- at NCAA East Preliminary Round - Day Two (Bloomington, Ind.), 1 p.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Redshirt freshman Kiley Tobel (Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Western) of the University of Michigan women's track and field team qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault on Thursday (May 26) during day one of the NCAA East Preliminary Round at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.

Tobel cleared 3.85 meters (12-7 1/2) on her first attempt at the height, finishing in 12th place for the final pole vault bid. Seven other participants cleared the same height; however, Tobel advanced because she needed only attempt to clear her final height.

In the 800-meter run, redshirt freshman Jillian Smith (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) and sophomore Rebecca Addison (Spring Lake, Mich./Grand Haven) advanced to tomorrow's (Friday, May 27) quarterfinal action. Smith finished second in her heat in 2:08.14 to grab an automatic qualifying berth, while Addison advanced as one of the next six fastest times (2:08.50).

Junior Alexandria Williams (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) was Michigan's other quarterfinal qualifier on the day, placing 22nd in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.72. Senior Jennifer Neville (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) ended her career at Michigan with a 25th-place finish in the event, crossing in 1:00.26 to just miss advancing to the next round.

U-M's final participant on the day was redshirt freshman Lindsey Hilton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams), who placed 40th in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 35:19.09.

The Wolverines will continue NCAA East Preliminary Round action tomorrow (Friday, May 27) at 1 p.m. Tomorrow's events include shot put, high jump, 100-meter hurdles, 800-meter run, 400-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash.

Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day One)

Quarterfinals Pole Vault 1. Mandissa Marshall, George Mason      4.00m (13-1 1/2)q12. Kiley Tobel, U-M                     3.85m (12-7 1/2)q First Round 400-meter Hurdles 1. Ti'erra Brown, Miami                56.39q22. Alexandria Williams, U-M            59.72q25. Jennifer Neville, U-M             1:00.26 800-meter Run 1. Chanelle Price, Tennessee         2:06.21q11. Jillian Smith, U-M                2:08.14q23. Rebecca Addison, U-M              2:08.50q 10,000-meter Run 1. Kate Harrison, W. Virginia       33:48.64q40. Lindsey Hilton, U-M              35:19.09 q qualified for next round

N O T E S

• Kiley Tobel qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time in her career.

• Jillian Smith, Jennifer Neville, Kiley Tobel and Lindsey Hilton all participated in the preliminary round for the first time.

• Alexandria Williams advanced to the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles for the second consecutive season.

• In first-round action, the top 24 athletes advance to the quarterfinal round. In quarterfinal action, the top 12 athletes advance to the NCAA Championships.

• This is the second year of the NCAA Preliminary Round system.

• The NCAA Championships are slated for June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423