Michigan
Len Paddock Invitational (Day 2)
U-M Produces Three More NCAA Qualifiers at Paddock
5/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team improved its stock for the NCAA Mideast Regional with three regional qualifying standards Saturday (May 7) at its Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry Field.
Sophomore Bridgette Maynard (Madison, Mich./Bishop Foley) improved her standing in the discus by bettering her regional qualifying standard by 5-11, while senior/junior Jennifer Williams (Burton, Mich./Atherton) and senior Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame) had qualifying performances in the high jump and 200-meter dash, respectively.
Maynard took first place in the discus with a toss of 164-5 for first place, setting a personal best and bettering her throw of 158-6 at the Sea Ray Relays in April. Senior Tara Kennedy (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) took fourth (138-2) and senior Amy Bicknell (Rochetser Hills, Mich./Rochester Hills) wrapped up fifth (135-8) with a personal record.
Williams cleared a regional-qualifying height of 5-8 3/4 in the high jump to take top spot and set her fourth regional qualifying standard in the event this season. Williams' clearance was the best at the Len Paddock Invitational since 2003.
Hauser-Price regionally qualified in the 200-meter dash, taking second place with a time of 23.89, just ahead of sophomore Chanelle Campbell (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock), who took third in a personal-best time of 24.35. Hauser-Price regionally qualified in the 200-meter dash earlier in the season at Pomona-Pitzer, clocking in at 23.76.
Hauser-Price also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.76, just 0.01 second off the regional qualifying standard. She previously qualified for the 100-meter dash on two occasions, clocking in at 11.67 in April at the EMU Twilight.
Freshman Samantha Smith (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) won her heat and placed seventh overall with a personal best and Michigan season-best time of 14.50 in the 100-meter hurdles, while junior Beth Vinckier (Yale, Mich./Yale) set a personal record with a ninth-place finish, clocking in at 14.65.
Michigan took four of the top five spots in the 800-meter run, paced by senior Anna Jones (Omaha, Neb./Marian) and her title-winning run of 2:11.27. Sophomore Laura Glynn (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) had a personal record with a time of 2:12.06 for second, while twin junior/sophomores Monica Dunn (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) and Melissa Dunn (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) locked up fourth (2:13.06) and fifth (2:13.66), respectively, with Monica setting a personal best.
In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Shavonne Maclin (University Heights, Ohio/Beaumont School) took second place with a time of 55.99, recording the fastest time by a Wolverine at the Len Paddock Invitational in the last six years. Freshman Serita Williams (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) finished fourth (55.59) and sophomore Jenifer Horn (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) claimed fifth (56.61), both with personal-best times.
Michigan's 4x100-meter relay team ran U-M's fastest time this season, clocking in at 46.83 for second place. Hauser-Price, Campbell, Horn and senior Keri Kirk (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) shaved one second off Michigan's previous best time set at the EMU Twilight earlier this season.
Michigan travels to Columbus, Ohio, for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Friday through Sunday (May 13-15). The Wolverines are looking for their fourth straight Big Ten outdoor title and the fourth triple crown in program history.
Q U O T E S
Senior/Junior Jennifer Williams
On her regional qualifying performance in the high jump ... "I have been pleased with my consistency in the high jump this season. Usually I'm up and down from week to week, but this season I have been able to be consistently good."
On competing at the Len Paddock Invitational ... "This is usually a very low key event for our team, but Beth (Vinckier) and I are competing in five events this weekend so it's a big meet for us. I earned a PR in the 100-meter hurdles as well so I was pleased with my meet."
On next weekend's Big Ten Outdoor Championships ... "I will be competing in only my second heptathlon and the first in a Big Ten Outdoor Championships. I want to do well and hopefully hit some PRs and help the team earn some points and a championship."
Sophomore Bridgette Maynard
On her personal record and regional standard in the discus ... "It was very exciting to get the result I did today. I'm peaking at the end of the season with Big Tens and regionals coming up and I'm looking forward to the next few meets."
On next weekend's Big Tens ... "I'm hoping to place in the top three in the discus and do what I can for the team. I'd love a PR as well."
On teammate Ashley Eckel qualifying for regionals in the hammer throw ... "It's awesome. I am very excited now that I get a roommate in Indiana."
Freshman Samantha Smith
On her PR and team-season best in the 100-meter hurdles ... "It all happened so fast out there. I just told myself to go hard the whole way and that's what I did."
On her freshman season at Michigan ... "I am so exciting to be a part of this team. I expected to redshirt this season, but when I got to compete I was extremely happy. It's awesome to be a part of this team. It's almost unfathomable that just three years ago I had never run the hurdles and today I have the fastest time on the team. I am honored to compete with such talented athletes each and every day, and I've enjoyed my first season immensely."
Day 1 Recap
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
