Wednesday, June 10
Fayetteville, Ark.
Michigan
at
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Gall, Hay Advance on First Day of NCAA Championships
6/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Fayetteville, Ark. (John McDonnell Field)
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 1)
U-M Team Standing: No Points After Day 1
Next U-M Event: Thu-Sat., June 11-13 -- at NCAA Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.), 10:30 a.m.
Results | Photo Gallery
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Seniors Geena Gall(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and Amber Hay(Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) of the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team both advanced on Wednesday's (June 10) first day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships at John McDonnell Field. Gall advanced to the semifinals of the 800-meter run and Hay advanced to the semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles.
Gall qualified for the semifinals of the 800 meters with a winning time of 2:04.94 in her opening-round heat. Running in the first of four heats, Gall made her way to the front on the opening lap, sitting second after 400 meters. She controlled the pace in the second half of the race, building a small cushion down the stretch en route to the victory over second-place Laura Hermanson of North Dakota State (2:05.54). Gall was the second-fastest qualifier overall, just behind Tennessee's Phoebe Wright (2:04.86), and will now compete in the semifinals of the 800 meters on Thursday evening (June 11).
In the 400-meter hurdles, Hay advanced to the semifinals with a season-best time of 57.77 to finish second in her heat. Locked in a tight race for second coming around the final turn, Hay, running on the outside in lane eight, distanced herself from the pack to earn a second-place finish in the fourth of five heats. Asia Washington of Virginia Tech won the heat in a time of 57.00. Overall, Hay is the sixth-ranked qualifier; Nicole Leach of UCLA is the top-ranked qualifier after winning heat three in a time of 56.46.
Senior Bettie Wade(Northville, Mich./Farmington), meanwhile, finished the high jump qualifiers in a tie for 22nd with a top clearance of 5-7 (1.70m). Competing in the first of two flights, Wade cleared 5-7 (1.70m) on her second attempt at the height. She did not advance into Friday's event finals; 15 athletes cleared 5-9 3/4 (1.77m), the top height cleared during the qualifying round.
Wade also competed in the qualifiers in the long jump, placing 26th with a top leap of 17-7 (5.26m). Wade fouled on each of her first two attempts in the competition before recording her lone legal jump on her third and final attempt; she did not advance to the finals. Jamesha Youngblood of Oregon posted the top jump of the qualifiers, recording a mark of 21-5 1/4 (6.53m).
The Wolverines return to action at the NCAA Championships on Thursday (June 11) at John McDonnell Field. Six U-M athletes will be competing, beginning with sophomore Emily Pendleton(Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore) in the discus qualifying at 10:30 a.m.
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 1)
U-M Team Standing: No Points After Day 1
Next U-M Event: Thu-Sat., June 11-13 -- at NCAA Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.), 10:30 a.m.
Results | Photo Gallery
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Seniors Geena Gall(Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and Amber Hay(Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) of the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team both advanced on Wednesday's (June 10) first day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships at John McDonnell Field. Gall advanced to the semifinals of the 800-meter run and Hay advanced to the semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles.
Gall qualified for the semifinals of the 800 meters with a winning time of 2:04.94 in her opening-round heat. Running in the first of four heats, Gall made her way to the front on the opening lap, sitting second after 400 meters. She controlled the pace in the second half of the race, building a small cushion down the stretch en route to the victory over second-place Laura Hermanson of North Dakota State (2:05.54). Gall was the second-fastest qualifier overall, just behind Tennessee's Phoebe Wright (2:04.86), and will now compete in the semifinals of the 800 meters on Thursday evening (June 11).
In the 400-meter hurdles, Hay advanced to the semifinals with a season-best time of 57.77 to finish second in her heat. Locked in a tight race for second coming around the final turn, Hay, running on the outside in lane eight, distanced herself from the pack to earn a second-place finish in the fourth of five heats. Asia Washington of Virginia Tech won the heat in a time of 57.00. Overall, Hay is the sixth-ranked qualifier; Nicole Leach of UCLA is the top-ranked qualifier after winning heat three in a time of 56.46.
Senior Bettie Wade(Northville, Mich./Farmington), meanwhile, finished the high jump qualifiers in a tie for 22nd with a top clearance of 5-7 (1.70m). Competing in the first of two flights, Wade cleared 5-7 (1.70m) on her second attempt at the height. She did not advance into Friday's event finals; 15 athletes cleared 5-9 3/4 (1.77m), the top height cleared during the qualifying round.
Wade also competed in the qualifiers in the long jump, placing 26th with a top leap of 17-7 (5.26m). Wade fouled on each of her first two attempts in the competition before recording her lone legal jump on her third and final attempt; she did not advance to the finals. Jamesha Youngblood of Oregon posted the top jump of the qualifiers, recording a mark of 21-5 1/4 (6.53m).
The Wolverines return to action at the NCAA Championships on Thursday (June 11) at John McDonnell Field. Six U-M athletes will be competing, beginning with sophomore Emily Pendleton(Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore) in the discus qualifying at 10:30 a.m.
Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 1)
800-meter Run (First Round) 1. Phoebe Wright, Tennessee 2:04.86q 2. Geena Gall, U-M 2:04.94q 400-meter Hurdles (First Round) 1. Nicole Leach, UCLA 56.46q 6. Amber Hay, U-M 57.77q High Jump (Qualifying) 1t. 15 tied at 5-9 3/4 (1.77m)q 22t. Bettie Wade, U-M 5-7 (1.70m) Long Jump (Qualifying) 1. Jamesha Youngblood, Oregon 21-5 1/4 (6.53m)q 26. Bettie Wade, U-M 17-7 (5.36m) q - denotes advanced to the next round of competition
Contact: Jeremy Reid (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
Mid Distance
/ Women's Track & FieldHurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & FieldMulti-Events
/ Women's Track & FieldNCAA Champion, Record Breaker Sutherland Reflects on Journey, U-M Career
Thursday, June 19
Yungeberg Overcomes Life’s Obstacles to Earn Second Trip to NCAAs
Tuesday, June 10
Women’s History Month Leaders and Best: Yasmine Mansi
Tuesday, March 04
Laurencin Starting to Check Off Big Goals Set at Start of U-M Career
Tuesday, June 18
