Tauro Crosses First at Michigan Open

Friday, September 2

Dexter, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

Michigan Open

9/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country

Sept. 2, 2011

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Site: Dexter, Mich. (Hudson Mills Metropark)
Meet: Michigan Open (5,000 Meters)
U-M Finish: Non-scoring
Top U-M Individual: Danielle Tauro, 1st (18:02.40)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Sept. 16 -- at Illinois Orange & Blue Preview (Urbana, Ill.), 4 p.m. CDT

DEXTER, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's cross country team kicked off its 2011 season with the annual Michigan Open on Friday (Sept. 2) at Hudson Mills Metropark. The top six harriers to cross the finish line were competing for Michigan, followed by a pack of four that competed unattached in the 5,000-meter, non-scoring event.

For the fifth time in as many years, fifth year senior Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional HS) paced the Maize and Blue to the finish line in the season-opening event, also claiming the individual crown for the fourth time in her career with a time of 18:02.40. Tauro won the 2009 event before redshirting the season after missing the final six meets due to injury.

Michigan's top six competitors remained in a tight pack for the first two miles before starting to fan out. Tauro began to pull away from the group with just less than 1,000 meters to go. Junior Rebecca Addison (Spring Lake, Mich./Grand Haven HS) followed Tauro across the finish line in a time of 18:11.85. After redshirting during the 2010 season, sophomore/freshman Megan Weschler (Wyandotta, Mich./Roosevelt HS) returned to the course and legged out a strong finish in 18:21.60, shaving nearly 33 seconds off her previous personal best time.

Fellow sophomore/freshman Taylor Pogue (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich) finished fourth in 18:29.50. Rounding out Michigan's top five was junior Lindsey Hilton (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams) in a time of 18:36.09.

The Wolverines will take a two-week break before returning to action on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Illinois Orange & Blue Preview in Urbana, Ill. The 6,000-meter race will give U-M a preview of the course that will be used for Big Ten Championships later in the season. The race starts at 4:30 p.m. CDT at the University of Illinois Arboretum.

Complete Results

 1. Danielle Tauro, U-M             18:02.40 2. Rebecca Addison, U-M        18:11.85 3. Megan Weschler, U-M             18:21.60 4. Taylor Pogue, U-M               18:29.50 5. Lindsey Hilton, U-M             18:36.09 6. Mary Grace Pellegrini, U-M      18:44.62 7. Kaitlyn Patterson, unattached   18:48.00 8. Brook Handler, unattached       18:52.84 9. Ellen Junewick, unattached      19:01.0010. Michaela Carnegie, unattached   19:28.3511. Anna Pasternak, unattached      19:34.7012. Nicola Hallenborg, U-M          20:20.2513. Erica Crane, U-M                20:35.2414. Taylor Nye, unattached          20:38.7015. Chloe Gilbert, unattached       21:23.4016. Laura Addison, unattached       21:49.8717. Morgan Bailey, U-M              22:31.00

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Mike McGuire
On his thoughts of the first race of the season ... "I think we had a great camp. The conditions were tough today. By design we were a little more cautious early in the race. I thought that Danielle (Tauro) did a nice job leading us once again. I thought that Becca (Addison) was solid. Megan Weschler was a huge improvement over last year. You can tell that she's had good summer preparation. I thought that it was a good start. We have a few things that we have to get cleaned up, but that's no different than what most teams face early in the season. It sets a good bench mark and we'll just work to get better from here."

On his thoughts moving forward this season ... "I think we've got a pretty good start and two weeks down the road is going to give us a much better indication. I think that anything you do takes two or three times before you really feel like you're in a real completive grove. Given the environment and the conditions, I think we did a good job today."

U-M Fifth-Year Senior Danielle Tauro
On her performance in the first meet this season ... "I was a little nervous going in because of the weather, but I think that during the race I felt a lot better than I thought I would. The first 800 meters were a little rough because it was all in the sun and there is no shade. The second half of the first mile my body started to warm up and I was feeling really strong. I was talking to the girls and telling them to keep it honest so that we could all stay packed up. The last 1,000 meters was where Coach McGuire told us to kick it in and start to really push the pace. That's where we started to separate a little bit and that was my indication that I was gradually picking it up. With about 600 meters to go, I was really trying to push it in and finish strong."

On the team's top performances today ... "Becca (Addison) really stepped today up. It was nice to see her bring in second for the team. She held that position really well. Seeing Megan Weschler come through the line was huge. It was a breakthrough race for her. She looked amazing coming into the finish line so strong. I've been seeing her progress in workouts over the last few weeks and I knew it was going to be her year."

On her excitement for the remainder of the season ... "We're really excited for the season. We're just hoping to keep everyone healthy and as long as that happens then I think we'll be really competitive. We have the people, we have the mindset and we have the positive attitude to really get things going this season. I'm glad that I have this opportunity to be here for one more season. This is our year more than any other year for cross country."

Contact: Whitney Dixon (734) 763-4423