Michigan
Eastern Michigan Twilight Invitational
Four Wolverines Earn Five Event Titles at EMU Twilight
4/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team posted five first-place finishers tonight (Friday, April 18) as the Maize and Blue sent 10 varsity runners across Washtenaw County to compete in the Eastern Michigan University Twilight Invitational on the Olds-Marshall Track.
Leading the way for the Wolverines was senior co-captain April Phillips (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS), who recorded a pair of individual throwing victories with NCAA Regional qualifying throws of 191-10 and 50-2 1/2 in the hammer throw and shot put, respectively. Phillips' distance in the hammer throw is a season-best mark as she out-threw her previous best by eight inches. Phillips marked 183-6 last week at the Sea Ray Relays.
Fellow thrower Melissa Bickett (Akron, Ohio/Revere HS) earned an additional event victory when she placed first in the discus with an NCAA Regional qualifying distance of 168-09. Bickett's distance bettered the rest of the field by nine feet as Melinda Ramsey posted a runner-up showing of 159-8.
On the track senior co-captain Rachel Sturtz (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) led a field of 36 runners across the finish line of the 1,500-meter run as she clocked in with an NCAA Regional qualifying and personal-best time of 4:24.25. Sturtz's previous best in the event was 4:32.16 set last year at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational (4/19/02).
The Wolverines had four other competitors in the race as Jane Martineau (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant HS) finished fifth (4:29.90), Jessica Wagner (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame HS) finished 11th (4:37.35), Lauren Weddel (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) placed 16th (4:41.30) and Erika Flannery (Perry, Mich./Perry HS) crossed the finish line 18th (4:44.60).
Earning the final event victory of the evening was sophomore Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame HS). Hauser-Price took the 100-meter dash title when she crossed the finish line with a time of 11.90.
The Wolverines return to action next Thursday through Saturday, April 24-26, when they send individuals to the Penn Relays and Drake Relays. The Penn Relays will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., while the Drake Relays take place in Des Moines, Iowa.
Event Winner/U-M Finishers
100-meter Dash 1. Sierra Hauser-Price, U-M 11.90 1,500-meter Run 1. Rachel Sturtz, U-M 4:24.25# 5. Jane Martineau, U-M 4:29.90# 11. Jessica Wagner, U-M 4:37.35 16. Lauren Weddell, U-M 4:41.30 18. Erika Flannery, U-M 4:44.60 Pole Vault 1. Kellie Kern, EMU 12-6 (3.81m) T4. Anna Fisher, U-M 11-6 1/4 (3.51m) T4. Lynn Gasparella, U-M 11-6 1/4 (3.51m) Shot Put 1. April Phillips, U-M 50-2 1/2 (15.30m)# Discus 1. Melissa Bickett, U-M 168-9 (51.44m)# 4. April Phillips, U-M 143-4 (43.68m) Hammer Throw 1. April Phillips, U-M 191-10 (58.48m)# # NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark
Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
