Michigan
Red Simmons Invitational
U-M Dominates Middle Distance, Distance at Simmons
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team dominated the middle-distance and distance events in the Red Simmons Invitational Saturday (Jan. 22) at the U-M Indoor Track, taking top prize in the 200-, 600- and 800-meter events and the mile while posting significant results across the board in the field events as well.
Fifth-year senior Lindsey Gallo (Freehold, N.J./Howell) and senior Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame) each came a fraction of a second shy of setting NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 800-meter run and 200-meter dash, respectively. Hauser-Price fell just 0.25 seconds shy of the 200-meter standard, while Gallo finished 0.82 seconds shy of setting her second qualifying time of the season, having already pocketed a provisional qualifying time in the mile.
Sophomore Jackie Gaydos (Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park) won the mile in a personal-best time of 4:53.43, while sophomore Erin Webster (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) took fifth in a personal-record time of 5:00.50, senior/junior Chelsea Loomis (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City) took sixth (5:02.14), junior/sophomore Laura Brosius (Saline, Mich./Saline) finished seventh with a personal-best 5:02.15 and senior/junior Ana Gjesdal (LaCrescenta, Calif./Glendale CC) placed eighth (5:04.55). Gaydos overtook eventual second-place finisher Krista O'Dell in the final 100 meters and cruised to victory in her first meet of the season in a Michigan uniform. Gjesdal and senior/junior Jessica Wagner (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) finished one-two in section two with Gjesdal leading wire to wire.
In the Francie Kraker Goodridge 800-meter Invitational, Gallo clocked in at 2:10.22 to claim first place and remain undefeated in the 800-meter and mile this season. Michigan's junior twin combo of Melissa Dunn (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) and Monica Dunn (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) placed second and third, respectively, crossing the finish line in 2:16.53 and 2:18.01, with Melissa setting a new personal best.
Hauser-Price posted Michigan's fastest 200-meter time of the season, clocking in at 24.55. Hauser-Price ran the 200-meter dash indoors for the first time in the first indoor season of her track and field career, falling short of the U-M Indoor Track Building record by 0.44 seconds.
Freshman Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey) took the lead in her section of the 600-meter run with 150 meters remaining, cruising to a first-place finish in 1:33.12. Senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele) placed fourth with a time of 1:36.01, while fifth-year Anna Jones (Omaha. Neb./Marian) claimed fifth, clocking in at 1:37.16.
In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Jenifer Horn (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) took fifth in 59.11, while freshman Serita Williams (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) claimed sixth, clocking in at 59.44 and senior Keri Kirk (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) took eighth with a time of 59.73.
In the high jump, senior/junior Stephanie Linz (Okemos, Mich./Okemos) placed third with a clearance of 5-8 a week after recording an NCAA automatic qualifying height at Kentucky, while senior Jennifer Williams (Burton, Mich./Atherton) took fourth with a clearance of 5-6.
In the long jump, freshman Samantha Smith (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) took seventh with a personal best distance of 17-5 and Williams finished eighth with a long of 17-0 3/4.
In the throwing events, senior Ashley Eckel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) took second in the weight throw with a distance of 56-4 and senior Tara Kennedy (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) finished ninth with a distance of 48-1 1/4. Sophomore Bridgette Maynard (Madison, Mich./Bishop Foley) secured 10th with a throw of 47-6 1/4. Eckel staked claim to fourth in the shot put with a distance of 44-0 3/4, while junior/sophomore Jamie Barbour (Dearborn, Mich./Edsel Ford) took eighth with a put of 41-10. Maynard came in ninth with a distance of 41-7.
In the pole vault, fifth-year senior Lynn Gasparella (New Hudson, Mich./South Lyon) took third with a clearance of 11-6 1/4, while junior Elizabeth Boyle (Northbrook, Ill./New Trier) finished fourth with a clearance of 11-6 1/4 and junior Kelly Catino (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City Central) claimed sixth (11-6 1/4).
Michigan's 4x400-meter relay team took third, clocking in at 3:53.35, paced by Gallo, Hauser-Price, junior Shavonne Maclin (University Heights, Ohio/Beaumont School) and Horn.
The Wolverines host the Michigan Intercollegiate on Saturday (Jan. 29) at the U-M Indoor Track. The meet will be Michigan's first scored meet of the season.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach James Henry
On the Red Simmons Invitational ... "Our middle-distance and distance performers did well for us again. Nicole Edwards was very competitive and took a big step towards being an outstanding collegiate athlete. Sierra Hauser-Price opened her 200-meter season running her first 200-meter indoor and came close to a provisional qualifying time. Lindsey Gallo is in a league of her own right now after another stellar performance. She hasn't had a chance to compete against elite company yet but she is having a dominating season."
On next weekend's Michigan Intercollegiate ... "It's a whole different ball of wax when with our first scoring meet of the season. We've only lost it once in as many years as its been going on. We need to stay focused and stay healthy and compete to our potential."
Fifth-Year Senior Ashley Eckel
On her performances so far this season ... "The weight throw has gone well this season with a lot of quick improvement. I set a good PR last week in Kentucky and I want to get up to 60 feet or more by Big Tens. The shot is taking a little longer but it's still a little early. I think I'm starting off well."
Freshman Nicole Edwards
On her first season of collegiate track ... "I was happy with my 800-meter time in the first week. I was very happy with my provisional mile in Kentucky. It felt awesome and went exactly how I imagined a good race to go. I ran even splits and I've never been able to run even splits like those. I was stronger than I'd ever been. Prior to coming to Michigan, most of my success was in the 800-meter but I'm surprising myself in the mile. This fall's cross country season made me stronger than I'd ever been."
Senior/Junior Ana Gjesdal
On setting her Michigan personal best in the mile ... "I was spiked right before the race, so I was a little upset before the race. I always run better when I'm upset, so I think that helped a little. I led from the beginning and I felt good out there. Overall I was happy with the result."
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
