Weekly Release #3
1/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 22 -- host Red Simmons Invitational (U-M Indoor Track Building), 9 a.m./noon
Saturday, Jan. 29 -- host Michigan Intercollegiate (U-M Indoor Track Building)
This Week: Red Simmons Invitational
The University of Michigan women's track and field team hosts the Red Simmons Invitational this weekend welcoming Ball State, South Florida, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Akron, Detroit-Mercy, Hillsdale College and Grand Valley State to the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Last Week - Bringing Blue and Maize to the Bluegrass State
Michigan made its presence felt at the Kentucky Invitational, putting a number of SEC and ACC schools on notice that the Wolverines will contend for national honors this season. Senior/junior high jumper Stephanie Linz punched her ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championship in Fayetteville, Ark. with an NCAA automatic qualifying clearance of 6-0 1/2, a personal best. Four Wolverines -- fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo, junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter and freshmen Nicole Edwards and Alyson Kohlmeier -- set NCAA provisional qualifying times in Lexington. Gallo and Edwards posted qualifying times in the mile, while Walter and Kohlmeier had their best performances of the season in the 3,000-meter run.
I would have to say that it's mission accomplished," said head coach James Henry after the meet. "We have made it a goal to get better each week, and this week we showed improvement since the Jack Harvey Invitational. We looked more relaxed this weekend and the performances were coming to us, rather than us having to fight to get those performances."
NCAA Automatic and Provisional Qualifiers So Far...
Automatic Qualifiers
Stephanie Linz, high jump: Cleared 6-0 1/2 at Kentucky Invitational.
Provisional Qualifiers
Lindsey Gallo, mile: 4:45.28 at Kentucky Invitational.
Nicole Edwards, mile: 4:46.05 at Kentucky Invitational.
Rebecca Walter, 3,000m: 9:23.15 at Kentucky Invitational.
Alyson Kohlmeier, 3,000m: 9:23.57 at Kentucky Invitational.
Trackwire 25 and Dandy Dozen
Michigan moved up one spot from ninth to eighth in the Trackwire 25, up from 25 points to 27 points in the latest ranking thanks to dominating performances at the Kentucky Invitational. U-M remains the highest ranked Big Ten school on the list.
In the Dandy Dozen, Michigan's distance medley relay team still ranks atop the nation, while fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo is unchanged at second place in the mile and junior Katie Erdman remains third in the 800-meter run. Senior/junior Stephanie Linz debuts on the list at number six in the high jump thanks to her NCAA automatic qualifying height.
Back-to-Back Big Ten Weekly Awards
Michigan has dominated the Big Ten Conference's weekly awards this season, winning the first two laurels of the season with record-breaking performances. Junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter won the intial Big Ten Athlete of the Week award with a personal best 4:51.54 in the mile, just 3.94 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. The next week, senior/junior Stephanie Linz automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship with a clearance of 6-0 1/2 at the Kentucky Invitational, a personal best.
All-American Returns to the Fold - Qualifies for NCAA Indoors
After a year at Oakland University, 2003 All-American high jumper senior/junior Stephanie Linz returned to action after a year's hiatus and promptly recorded an NCAA automatic qualifying standard in the high jump in her first road meet. She cleared 6-0 1/2 at the Kentucky Invitational to finish second to 2004 U.S. Olympian Chaunte Howard, who also cleared 6-0 1/2. Linz was an All-American at Michigan in 2003 before transferring to Oakland University where she played volleyball for the Grizzlies.
The Magnificent Milers
Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo led the pack at the Kentucky Invitational with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 4:45.28, while freshman Nicole Edwards took second with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 4:46.05. Fifth-year senior Andrea Parker finished third in 4:58.25, while junior Jeni Frudden crossed in fifth place, clocking in at 5:01.71.
At the Jack Harvey Invitational, junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter paced the field the entire way, finishing first with a personal-best 4:51.54. The time was just 3.94 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard and comes in Walter's first indoor meet since the 2003 season. Senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp clocked in at 4:54.18 to take second, two and a half seconds off her personal best.
800-Meter Dominance
Senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp paced the field in her first 800-meter performance of the year at the Kentucky Invitational, clocking in at 2:11.92 for first place. Fifth-year senior Anna Jones was second with a time of 2:13.39.
At the Jack Harvey Invitational, fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo led the entire way in the 800-meter, crossing the line in 2:11.72. Michigan has claimed the last two 800-meter Big Ten titles (Theresa Feldkamp in 2004 and Rachel Sturtz in 2003.)
Hauser-Price - From the Hardwood to the 400-Meter
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price competed in her first career indoor meet and her first 400-meter event at the Jack Harvey Invitational, claiming the title in a time of 57.57. She followed it up with a fifth-place finish at the Kentucky Invitational, clocking in at 56.54 and shaving 1.03 seconds off her time from the Jack Harvey. Hauser-Price competed with the Michigan women's basketball team the last three seasons, averaging 26 minutes, 3.5 points and recording 37 steals last season. Hauser-Price has typically competed in the 100 and 200-meter dash in the outdoor season.
4x800-Meter Relay Team Sets Kentucky Indoor Record
Michigan's 4x800-meter relay team set a Nutter Field House indoor record at the Kentucky Invitational clocking in at 8:47.75, shattering the previous record by 6.01 seconds (set by Auburn University in 2003.) Sophomore/freshman Laura Glynn, freshman Nicole Edwards, senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp and fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo finished nearly 26 seconds faster than the second-place Clemson Tigers.
Captains of the Ship
Head coach James Henry selected four captains to lead the 2005 Wolverines. Fifth-year seniors Lindsey Gallo and Lynn Gasparella, senior Keri Kirk and junior/sophomore Rebecca Walter will serve as co-captains for Michigan in 2005.
Record Breaking Intrasquad
Michigan held its Maize and Blue Co-Ed Intrasquad on Dec. 11 and 12, shattering five intrasquad records in a preseason tune-up. The women's Maize squad took 12 of 14 events to help the Maize squad capture a 660-550 victory. Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo broke two intrasquad records en route to victories in the 1,200 and 3,000-meter events. Gallo shaved five seconds off the previous best in the 1,200-meter and lapped the 13-person field in the 3,000-meter to better the previous high water mark by 18 seconds, clocking in at 9:41.02.
Senior Sierra Hauser-Price led an 11-person field in the 200-meter dash to set a new intrasquad record with a time of 25:05, 0.53 seconds faster than the old record. Senior/junior Stephanie Linz won the high jump with a clearance of 5-10 3/4, adding a full three inches to the previous high. Junior Elizabeth Boyle bettered her own intrasquad record with a mark of 12-0 1/2, more than a foot higher than the previous best.
Returning Champions
Michigan returns four Big Ten champions from last year's indoor and outdoor teams. Junior Katie Erdman returns after winning the 600-meter in the indoor season, joining senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp, the 800-meter indoor champion. Outdoor returning champions include junior pole vaulter Elizabeth Boyle and double Big Ten champion fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo who is the defending 800 and 1,500-meter champion.
Five of Six or Eight of Ten - Dominating Either Way in the Big Ten
With Michigan's 2004 Big Ten Outdoor championship, the Wolverines have captured the last three outdoor conference titles and two of the last three indoor championships, taking second in 2004. If cross country titles are added to Michigan's totals, the Wolverines' 2002, '03 and '04 cross country titles would give Michigan eight of the last 10 Big Ten cross country and track and field titles.
Recordholders Return
Six Wolverines, holding eight school records, return for the 2005 season. Junior Katie Erdman holds school records in the indoor 600 and 800-meter and was a member of Michigan's record-breaking 4x800-meter outdoor relay team. Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo returns with two records in her holster - the outdoor 800 and 1,500-meter - while also holding a chunk of the 4x800-meter outdoor relay record.
Junior Elizabeth Boyle returns with both the indoor and outdoor pole vaulting records, while fifth-year senior Andrea Parker returns with Michigan's 3000-meter steeplechase record. Fifth-year senior Anna Jones and senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp are the other half of Michigan's 4x800-meter outdoor relay team.
Looking Ahead
The Wolverines host the Michigan Intercollegiates on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
