Weekly Release #18
5/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Fri-Sun., May 18-20 -- at Big Ten Outdoor Championships (Bloomington, Ind.)
Wed-Sun., May 30-June 2 -- at NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.)
This Week: Big Ten Championships
The University of Michigan women's track and field team will head to the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships this weekend (Friday through Sunday, May 18-20) hosted by Indiana University on the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind. The heptathlon will begin on Friday and the evening will end with the 10,000-meter run. The rest of the track and field events will start on Saturday.
There is no charge for Friday's events. Saturday and Sunday will be $7 for adults and $4 for youth (all children-college students). Tickets will be available only at the gate. For more information and the schedule of events, visit Indiana's site.
Michigan at the Big Ten Championships
Since 1982, the Wolverines have taken the team title three times: 1993 (150.5 points), 1994 (179 points) and 1998 (129 points). Michigan's 179 total points in 1994 were the most ever by a Big Ten program. The Maize and Blue also produced three second-place finishes in 1982, 1983 and 1997. Prior to the 2000 campaign, the Wolverines had placed in the top-five seven consecutive years (1993-99).
On an individual basis, Michigan has had two athletes named the Athlete of the Championship: Richelle Webb in 1994 and Tania Longe in 1998. James Henry has been named the Coach of the Year three times, in 1993, 1994 and 1998. The Wolverines also hold two Big Ten Outdoor records, both in field events: Brandi Bentley in the long jump (21-4, 1999) and Tania Longe in the heptathlon long jump (21-8, 1997).
Last Year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships
The Wolverines had three athletes claim Big Ten individual championships and three runner-up finishes to come in sixth place (94.5 points), while Indiana took the team title with 135 points at the 2000 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. Junior Katie Jazwinksi (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic HS) and sophomore Carly Knazze (Southfield, Mich./Southfield HS) are the two tracksters returning for the Maize and Blue looking to defend their titles. Jazwinski won the 3,000-meter run with an NCAA provisional time of 9:21.92, and added a second-place finish in the 5,000 with her second NCAA provisional time (16:32.85) for the weekend. Knazze was victorious in the 400, posting a time of 53.54, and came in fifth in the 200, making her the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Here is a list of returning Michigan athletes who scored at last year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships:
| | Carly Knazze | 200-meter dash, 5th |
| Carly Knazze | 400-meter dash, 1st | |
| Tamika Craig | 400-meter hurdles, 2nd | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 3,000-meter run, 1st | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 5,000-meter run, 2nd | |
| Tasha Phillips | Triple jump, 6th | |
| Teyonna Simpson | Triple jump, 8th | |
| Nicole DeNamur | High jump, 7th | |
| April Phillips | Shot put, 4th | |
| Tasha Phillips | Heptathlon, 7th |
Around the Big Ten
Heading into the Big Ten Outdoor Championships this weekend (May 18-20), several Wolverines are highly ranked among Big Ten competitors. Michigan has the number one athlete in five events, four of which come from junior Katie Jazwinski, according to CollegeRunning.com. Here is a list of Wolverines who are ranked in the top five of each event (as of May 14):
| | Regine Caruthers | 200-meter dash (3rd, 23.97) |
| Carly Knazze | 400-meter dash (4th, 54.64) | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 800-meter run (1st, 2:08.38) | |
| Lisa Ouellet | 800-meter run (2nd, 2:09.15) | |
| Rachel Sturtz | 800-meter run (4th, 2:09.49) | |
| Adrienne Hunter | 800-meter run (5th, 2:09.52) | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 1,500-meter run (1st, 4:20.22) | |
| Lisa Ouellet | 1,500-meter run (2nd, 4:22.88) | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 3,000-meter run (1st, 9:38.46) | |
| Katie Jazwinski | 5,000-meter run (1st, 16:06.71) | |
| Teyonna Simpson | Triple jump (1st, 42-3 1/2) | |
| April Phillips | Shot put (4th, 48-11 1/2) | |
| Melissa Bickett | Discus (2nd, 171-9) | |
| April Phillips | Hammer throw (4th, 186-3) | |
| 400-meter relay | 5th (45.98) | |
| 1,600-meter relay | 3rd (3:40.25) |
Phillipses Close Out Regular Season
Michigan hosted its final outdoor meet of the 2001 season with the two-day Len Paddock Invitational this past weekend (May 11-12) on Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. Sophomore April Phillips (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) and junior Tasha Phillips (Sarasota, Fla./Booker HS) each won an individual title in their respective events. April won the hammer throw with a toss of 183-6, while Tasha had the fastest 100-meter hurdles time, clocking in at 14.24.
Jazwinski Doubles Up With NCAA Times
Junior Katie Jazwinski ran a personal best and NCAA automatic time in the 5,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays (April 20) with her run of 16:06.71. This made her the first female or male Wolverine of the 2001 season to qualify for the NCAA Championships with an automatic time or mark. It also makes her the only Wolverine to qualify for two NCAA events, as she has a provisional qualifying time in the 1,500 (4:20.22), which she set at the Duke Invitational (April 7).
Ouellet Gives U-M Another Provisional
Senior Lisa Ouellet joins freshman Melissa Bickett (Akron, Ohio/Revere HS), sophomore April Phillips, junior Katie Jazwinski and sophomore Teyonna Simpson (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose HS) as Wolverines who have qualified with NCAA provisional times and marks in their respective events. Ouellet was the latest Wolverine to achieve such a mark, with her 4:22.88 in the 1,500-meter run at the Stanford Invitational (May 4). Bickett was runner-up in the discus at the Mt. SAC Relays (April 21), with a throw of 171-9.
Phillips qualified with a Michigan- and Ferry Field-record throw of 186-3 in the hammer throw at the Michigan Triangular (April 14). Jazwinski has an automatic time in the 5,000 (4:20.22) set at the Mt. SAC Relays, and ran a provisional time of 4:20.22 to a third-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at the Duke Invitational (April 7). Simpson leaped to a mark of 42-3 1/2 and took second in the triple jump at the Stanford Invitational (March 31). Simpson had an indoor NCAA provisional mark of 41-8 3/4 earlier this season, but that mark was not far enough to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Jazwinski Highly Ranked in Two Events
Junior Katie Jazwinki is ranked 11th in the nation (as of May 13) with her NCAA automatic time of 16:06.71 in the 5,000-meter run, which she achieved at the Mt. SAC Relays (April 20). She is also ranked eighth in the nation in the 1,500 with her time of 4:20.22 from running at the Duke Invitational (April 7). Senior teammate Lisa Ouellet is ranked 21st in the country in the 1,500 with her time of 4:22.88 that she ran at the Stanford Invitational (May 4).
Field Athletes Listed Among Nation's Elite
Freshman Melissa Bickett is ranked 10th in the nation (as of May 13) in the discus with her NCAA provisional throw of 171-9 that she achieved at the Mt. SAC Relays (April 21). Sophomore teammate April Phillips is 31st in the country in the hammer throw with her school-record toss of 186-3 at the Michigan Triangular (April 14).
Balanced Attack Leading the Way
So far during the 2001 outdoor season, sophomore April Phillips leads the Maize and Blue with seven individual victories. Phillips added her last victory in the hammer throw at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 11). Freshman Vera Simms and junior Tasha Phillips are tied for second on the team with three individual wins. Simms won the 400-meter hurdles at the Toledo Invitational (May 5). April Phillips and Simms each won two events at the Michigan Triangular (April 14). April Phillips was victorious in the hammer throw and shot put, while Simms won the 400-meter low hurdles and the long jump. Tasha Phillips claimed the 100-meter hurdle titles at the Len Paddock Invitational, Toledo and the Michigan Triangular.
Four different athletes have won two individual events. Junior Shalina Rankin (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln HS) took first in the 400-meter hurdles on day one of the Stanford Invitational (March 31), and returned the next day to win the 400. Junior Katie Jazwinski won the 3,000-meter run at the Michigan Triangular and the 800 at Stanford. Sophomore Carly Knazze (Southfield, Mich./Southfield HS) brought home the 400 title at Stanford, and won it again at the Michigan Triangular. Freshman Adrena Williams (Berkeley, Calif./James Logan HS) won the 100-meter dash at the Toledo Invitational and at the Michigan Triangular.
PR's Fall at Len Paddock Invitational
There were 14 personal bests achieved over the weekend at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 11-12), three of which came from freshman Ashley Eckel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS). Here is the list:
| | Carly Knazze | 100-meter dash (11.90) |
| Regine Caruthers | 100-meter dash (11.90) | |
| Jeanne Spink | 800-meter run (2:22.67) | |
| Amy Hatfield | 1,500-meter run (4:44.30) | |
| Jeanne Spink | 1,500-meter run (4:45.97) | |
| Katie Easton | 1,500-meter run (4:47.34) | |
| Casey Overby | 100-meter hurdles (15.86) | |
| Doris Simmons | 100-meter hurdles (16.33) | |
| Tasha Phillips | 400-meter hurdles (1:04.69) | |
| Christy Tzilos | 400-meter hurdles (1:06.98) | |
| Aisha Chappell | 400-meter hurdles (1:07.65) | |
| Ashley Eckel | Shot put (41-10) | |
| Ashley Eckel | Discus (117-1) | |
| Ashley Eckel | Hammer throw (139-2) |
Phillips Goes Provisional with School Record
Sophomore April Phillips broke the Michigan hammer throw record with an NCAA provisional and Ferry Field-record toss of 186-3 at the Michigan Triangular (April 14). Phillips had set the record the two previous weeks with throws of 182-6 at the Duke Invitational (April 6) and 166-2 1/2 at the Raleigh Relays (March 31).
Bickett Sets Ferry Field Record in Discus
Freshman Melissa Bickett followed up April Phillips' record-setting day by establishing her own Ferry Field record (April 14). Bickett won the discus with a throw of 164-4, breaking the old facility record mark of 163-8, which was set in 1988 by Rachel Lewis of Minnesota.
Simpson Takes Down Triple Jump Record
Sophomore Teyonna Simpson highlighted the field events at the Stanford Invitational (April 1) for the Maize and Blue by breaking the six-year-old Michigan outdoor triple jump record. Simpson took second for the Wolverines with a personal-best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 42-3 1/2. The old record was set by Tania Longe (1995-98) in 1995 with a mark of 41-1 1/2.
Contact: Steve Grialou (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
