Weekly Release #1

1/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 8 -- host Jack Harvey Invitational (U-M Track Building), 9:30 a.m./noon
Saturday, Jan. 15 -- Indiana Dual Meet (Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse), 9 a.m./noon

This Week: Invitations Only
The University of Michigan women's track and field team opens its 2005 season this weekend as host of the Jack Harvey Invitational, Saturday (Jan. 8) at the U-M Indoor Track Building. Athletes from Eastern Michigan, Detroit-Mercy, Hillsdale College, Sienna Heights and Findlay College will be competing against the Wolverines in the season-opener. The meet begins at 9 a.m. with the women's weight throw. At noon, the women's 60-meter hurdle trials will commence and the meet will conclude with the men's and women's 1,600-meter relay.

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 intrasqaud 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 - Depending on How You Slice It
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 travel to Indiana for the Indiana Dual Meet on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m.