Michigan
Simmons/Harvey Invitational
Gall, Ofili Lead Wolverines at Simmons/Harvey Invitational
1/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Red Simmons/Jack Harvey Invitational
U-M Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Feb. 1-2 -- host Michigan Intercollegiate (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior co-captain Tiffany Ofili(Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) earned an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles (8.16) and captured three event titles (60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash, long jump) to lead the University of Michigan women's track and field team at the Red Simmons/Jack Harvey Invitational Saturday (Jan. 26) at the U-M Indoor Track Building. The Wolverines took titles in 11 of 15 events.
Junior Geena Gall(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying mark, placing first in the 800-meter run with a 2:07.23. Gall maintained her first-place position throughout the race.
Freshman Danielle Tauro(Manahawken, N.J./Southern Regional) came in first in the mile run with a 4:50.51 in her first performance at the U-M Indoor Track Building. She began the race at the front of the pack and never relinquished her lead. Fifth-year senior Jackie Gaydos(Allen Park, Mich./Allen Park), competing on the track for U-M for the first time since the 2005 season, came in second place (4:56.82).
Senior/junior Serita Williams(Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) won the 200-meter dash in a time of 25.31, with junior/sophomore Shana Vinson(Detroit, Mich./Mumford) right behind her in second place (25.58).
Sophomore Alexandria Jordan(Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington) and junior Katie LaValley(Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central) placed runner-up in the 400-meter dash and 600-meter run, respectively. Jordan's time was 58.89 and LaValley came in at 1:34.83.
The Maize and Blue was impressive in the field events as well. Fifth-year senior co-captain Bridgette Maynard(Clawson, Mich./Bishop Foley) earned first place in the weight throw (55-2 1/4), while freshmen Danica Haight(Iowa City, Iowa/West) and Allison Liske(Zeeland, Mich./East) took first and second, respectively, in the shot put.
Junior/sophomores Olivia Both(Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Christina Solomon(Belleville, Mich./Belleville) tied for first place in the high jump with a clearance of 5-8. Junior Casey Taylor(Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) won the triple jump (38-10 1/2) for the second time in as many weeks and came in second in the long jump (19-3 1/2).
Senior/junior Jennifer Mehl(Novi, Mich./Novi) tied her personal best in the pole vault (11-11 3/4) to earn a second-place finish.
The Wolverines will be at home again next week for the Michigan Intercollegiate on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 1-2) at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach James Henry
On the meet... "I thought we moved in the right direction. We improved from last week. I was concerned we would relax too much and not compete at home, but the opposite happened and I was glad we stepped it up and performed. We wanted to be healthy going in and coming out. We wanted to give more effort. January for us is the effort month. They gave more of an effort, and the results were improved performances."
On next week's meet... "It's a scored meet, it's about beating individuals. It's about winning a championship which we've won 18 out of the last 19 years. We have won it every year but one and we want to keep it at Michigan."
On performances he was most pleased with... "Some of the surprise performances I was pleased with were the top two high jumpers with a clearance of 5-8. Also, the two freshmen taking first and second in the shot put. I was also very happy with how junior co-captain Bettie Wade is coming around in her hurdles and her long jump. (Danielle) Tauro had a good performance. The young people really stepped it up for us."
U-M Assistant Coach Anne Takacs
On the meet... "The field events were really good today. We had three events where we went one-two. In the long jump, high jump and the shot put the performances were awesome. All of those marks were really good for the conference and for us. It was just really great to have a home meet where everyone felt comfortable and excited. The team knew they could build on being at home."
On next week's meet at the U-M Indoor Track Building... "Next week is a scored meet so we will have the addition of wanting to do it for the team. It's not just chasing a mark for personals but trying to get that extra centimeter to give us a point to beat somebody else. It's a two-day meet with the pentathalon on Friday and everything else on Saturday."
On what the team was looking for going into this week's meet... "We were looking for the pressure and fatigue to be decreased since were weren't traveling. We weren't leaving our comfort zone so there weren't any unknowns. Everything is known here."
Contact: Stacey Schwartz (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
