Sprinters, Field Athletes Pace U-M at Simmons Invite

Saturday, January 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan

Red Simmons Invitational

1/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track team had a strong showing at the 20th Annual Red Simmons Invitational Saturday (Jan. 22) at the U-M Indoor Track Building. The Wolverines accounted for four individual wins and one relay victory in the non-scoring event.

The top performance of the afternoon came from senior Brandi Bentley (Detroit, Mich./Marian HS), who won the long jump with a distance of 21 feet, 5 inches, and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships. Joining Bentley as a Michigan victor in the field events was freshman April Phillips (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS), who won the shot put (47-4 1/2).

The Wolverine sprinters produced solid efforts, with Maria Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Immaculate Conception HS) winning the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.85 seconds and placing second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.50. Carly Knazze's (Southfield, Mich./Southfield HS) time of 56.47 in the 400-meter dash was the best of the meet, while she also finished second behind Brown in the 200 (25.43). Michigan's other event winner came from its 1,600-meter relay squad with a pace of 3:47.31.

Sophomore multi-event athlete Tasha Phillips (Sarasota, Fla./Booker HS) placed second with a time of 8.65 in the 60-meter hurdles. In the distance events, Katie Clifford (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic HS) provided Michigan with a second-place finish in the mile run (4:54.06).

Also finishing as runners-up for the Wolverines were middle distance runners Erica Murdock (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Heights HS), 2:13.08 in the 800-meter run, and Lisa Ouellet (Sudbury, Ont./LaSalle Secondary), 1:33.72 in the 600-meter run.

The Maize and Blue continue its indoor season by traveling to Michigan State University for the annual Michigan Intercollegiate Championships on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423