Maize and Blue Excel in Florida State Relays

Wednesday, March 15

Tallahassee, Fla.

Michigan

Florida State Relays

3/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team made the trip down to the Florida State University Relays on Friday and Saturday (March 17-18) in for the first meet of the 2000 outdoor season. The Wolverines impressed in the individual events while dominating the relays. The were two divisions (I and II) according to entry marks, as well as several open events (events mentioned below are Division I unless otherwise noted).

The Maize and Blue finished no lower than fourth in each of the six relays in which they competed. The impressive showing was capped off by Michigan winning the 4x800 relay (8:56.36), the 4x1,500-meter relay (18:44.92) and the distance medley relay (11:40.15). In the Wolverines' other relays, they finished second in the 1,600-meter sprint medley relay (4:10.95) while placing runner-up in the final of the 4x400-meter relay (3:45.80). The Wolverines also placed fourth in the 4x200-meter relay (1:38.90).

Perhaps the best individual performance by a Wolverine was junior Regine Caruthers (Inglewood, Calif./St. Bernard HS), who won the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.48. Following close behind was teammate Maria Brown (Kingston, Jamaica/Immaculate Conception HS), who took third (55.98) in that event.

Michigan's most dominant individual event was probably the Division II 3,000-meter run as the Wolverines took three of the top eight spots, including a first-place finish from Katie Ryan (Rochester, Mich./Rochester HS), with a time of 4:35.67. Sarah Hamilton (Plymouth, Mich./Canton HS) placed fourth (4:39.99), while Rachel Sturtz (Traverse, Mich./Traverse HS) finished eighth (4:44.22).

Another Michigan individual victory came courtesy of Brandi Bentley's (Detroit, Mich./Marian HS) leap of 19 feet, seven inches in the long jump. Behind Bentley in sixth place was freshman Tanisha Williams (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti HS), who jumped 18 feet, 1/2 inches, and sophomore Tasha Phillips (Sarasota, Fla./Booker HS), who finished seventh with a mark of 17 feet, 7 inches.

Michigan went on to perform well in the hurdles as well as junior Tamika Craig (Inkster, Mich./Dearborn Robichaud HS) placed third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.95. The Wolverines were also led by Tasha Phillips and freshman Robin Landfair (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS), who went on to finish fifth (14.14) and seventh (14.45), respectively, in the 100-meter hurdles. In the open 100-meter hurdles, Phillips, Landfair and junior Ashlie Wilbon (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon HS) went on to place third (14.38), fourth (14.47) and fifth (14.76), respectively, as well.

The Maize and Blue continued to excel in the field events as six Michigan women finished in the top eight. In the high jump, Tanisha Williams and sophomore Nicole Denamur (Algoma, Wis./Algoma HS) finished tied for sixth as each leaped 5 feet, 4 1/4 inches. In the triple jump, Teyonna Simpson (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose HS) placed eighth, leaping 37 feet, 7 3/4 inches, while freshman April Phillips (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) finished third in the shot put with a heave of 43 feet, 11 3/4 inches. Phillips also placed seventh in the discus (130-5), behind sophomore Erin Massengale (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney HS) (143-9), who finished third.

Michigan's other top-eight finish in the field belonged to senior Julie Presley (Claremont, Calif./Claremont HS), who finished fifth in the hammer throw with a heave of 153 feet, 5 inches.

Michigan will stay on the road for its next meet as the Wolverines will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to compete in the Stanford Invitational next weekend (March 25-26).

Event Winners/U-M Finishers
All events are Division I unless otherwise noted

Thursday Results

Hammer Throw 1. Angelica Iannone, Wagner 162-5 (49.50m) 5. Julie Presley, U-M 153-5 (46.76m)

Friday Results

100-Meter Dash 1. Yolanda Cooper, Ala-Birmingham 11.73 11. Brandi Bentley, U-M 12.60 23. Robin Landfair, U-M 12.89 25. Ashlie Wilbon, U-M 12.91 35. Teyonna Simpson, U-M 13.29 100-Meter Hurdles 1. Damu Cherry, South Florida 13.35 5. Tasha Phillips, U-M 14.14 7. Robin Landfair, U-M 14.45 11. Ashlie Wilbon, U-M 14.63 17. Tanisha Williams, U-M 14.95 Division II 200-Meter Dash 1. Le'Tetia Silas, First Step 24.55 18. Tasha Phillips, U-M 26.08 27. Robin Landfair, U-M 26.89 34. Ashlie Wilbon, U-M 27.45 34. Charo Sweet, U-M 27.45 38. Teyonna Simpson, U-M 27.53 Division II 400-Meter Hurdles 1. Cara Evans, Florida 59.06 4. Breanne Tenclay, U-M 1:04.21 19. Ashlie Wilbon, U-M 1:10.45 Division II 800-Meter Run 1. Tameka Grizzle, Florida 2:05.57 13. Ursula Taylor, U-M 2:21.43 Division II 1,500-Meter Run 1. Katie Ryan, U-M 4:35.67 4. Sarah Hamilton, U-M 4:39.99 8. Rachel Sturtz, U-M 4:44.22 11. Katie Easton, U-M 4:48.50 15. Nicole Johnson, U-M 4:49.50 16. Andrea Steinhoff, U-M 4:49.51 17. Julie Froud, U-M 4:49.91 27. Erica Murdock, U-M 4:51.54 31. Joanie Lugo, U-M 4:53.43 33. Jeanne Spink, U-M 4:55.37 High Jump 1. Merideth George, Ala-Birm. 5-8 (1.73m) 6. Tanisha Williams, U-M 5-4 1/4 (1.63m) Nicole Denamur, U-M 5-4 1/4 (1.63m) 20. Breanne Tenclay, U-M 5-0 1/4 (1.53m) Long Jump 1. Brandi Bentley, U-M 19-7 (5.97m) 6. Tanisha Williams, U-M 18-0 1/2 (5.50m) 7. Tasha Phillips, U-M 17-7 (5.36m) Division II Shot Put 1. Makiba Batten, Florida State 43-6 (13.26m) 10. Erin Massengale, U-M 38-2 1/4 (11.64m) 13. Nikki Proulx, U-M 38-0 (11.58m) Division II Discus 1. Makiba Batten, Florida State 155-7 (47.42m) 18. Julie Presley, U-M 107-6 (32.76m) -- Nikki Proulx, U-M Foul 4x200-Meter Relay 1. South Florida 1:34.54 3. MICHIGAN 1:38.90 4x400-Meter Relay (Preliminary) 1. Florida A&M 3:38.63 4. MICHIGAN 3:44.07 4x800-Meter Relay 1. MICHIGAN 8:56.36 Distance Medley Relay 1. MICHIGAN 11:40.15

Saturday Results

Open 100-Meter Hurdles 1. Robin McClain, Florida A&M 13.95 3. Tasha Phillips, U-M 14.38 4. Robin Landfair, U-M 14.47 5. Ashlie Wilbon, U-M 14.76 400-Meter Dash 1. Regine Caruthers, U-M 55.48 3. Maria Brown, U-M 55.95 400-Meter Hurdles 1. Nakoshia Jackson, Ala-Birm. 59.93 3. Tamika Craig, U-M 1:00.95 800-Meter Run 1. Kapreia Kirk, Middle Tenn. 2:13.34 4. Rachel Sturtz, U-M 2:17.04 6. Sarah Hamilton, U-M 2:18.88 8. Erica Murdock, U-M 2:20.36 3,000-Meter Run 1. Naoko Ishibe, Moving Comfort 9:53.56 7. Colleen Lange, U-M 10:23.67 9. Andrea Steinhoff, U-M 10:29.51 13. Jeanne Spink, U-M 10:38.42 15. Joanie Lugo, U-M 10:43.43 Division II Triple Jump 1. Corliss Cade, South Florida 40-7 1/2 (12.38m) 4. Teyonna Simpson, U-M 37-5 1/4 (11.41m) 7. Charo Sweet, U-M 36-11 (11.25m) Triple Jump 1. Kerine Black, South Florida 44-2 3/4 (13.48m) 8. Teyonna Simpson, U-M 37-7 3/4 (11.47m) 10. Tasha Phillips, U-M 37-1 (11.30m) -- Charo Sweet, U-M Foul Shot Put 1. LaKeisha Moss, Florida State 47-3 (14.40m) 3. April Phillips, U-M 43-11 3/4 (13.40m) Discus 1. Makiba Batten, Florida State 163-8 (49.88m) 3. Erin Massengale, U-M 143-9 (43.82m) 7. April Phillips, U-M 130-5 (39.76m) 10. Nikki Proulx, U-M 116-9 (35.58m) 4x400-Meter Relay (Final) 1. Florida State 3:37.76 2. MICHIGAN 3:45.80 4x1,500-Meter Relay 1. MICHIGAN 18:44.92 1,600-Meter Sprint Medley Relay 1. Liberty 4:01.01 2. MICHIGAN 4:10.95