Smith Wins 400m Hurdles at Season-Opening USF Bulls Invite

Friday, March 15

Tampa, Fla.

9:30 AM

Michigan

USF Bulls Invitational

Smith Wins 400m Hurdles at Season-Opening USF Bulls Invite

3/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field

March 15, 2013

Site: Tampa, Fla. (USF Track & Field Stadium)
Event: USF Bulls Invitational
U-M Team Result: Non-scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 16 -- at UCF Black & Gold Challenge (Orlando, Fla.), 9 a.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team opened the 2013 outdoor season on Friday (March 15) at the USF Bulls Invitational, recording 11 top-five performances at USF Track & Field Stadium. Junior Amber Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) highlighted the opening day, winning the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:01.44.

Fifth-year senior Alexandria Williams (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven), who sat out the indoor season due to exhausted eligibility, returned to the track to finish second in the 400-meter hurdles behind Smith in a time of 1:02.26.

Smith had a solid day in multiple events, also finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles (13.65) and was a member of the third-place 4x400-meter relay team. Freshman Maya Long (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron), sophomore Chinyere Onimo (Ypsilanti, Mich./Huron) and Williams also joined Smith on the relay, which ran a time of 3:48.98.

In her collegiate outdoor debut, freshman Cindy Ofili (Ypsilanti, Mich./Huron) placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.84, while junior Erin Busbee (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) took fifth in 14.18.

Busbee had a career-best day in the long jump, finishing third with a mark of 5.99 meters (19-8). Fifth-year senior Tofunmi Akeredolu (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) recorded a jump of 5.83 meters (19-1.50) to follow in fourth place.

In the throwing circle, senior Erin Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore) finished second in the discus (49.85 meters, 163-6) and fifth in the hammer throw (50.85 meters, 166-10). Erin's sister and former Wolverine Emily Pendleton, who graduated last year, won the discus as an unattached athlete with a mark of 50.71 meters (166-4). Senior/junior Kari Prena (West Bloomfield Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Central) finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 45.68 meters (149-10) to round of Michigan's top-five efforts.

The Wolverines will make the short trip to Orlando, Fla., to compete in the UCF Black and Gold Challenge tomorrow (Saturday, March 16). The meet starts at 9 a.m.

Event Winners/U-M Finishers

100-meter Dash 1. Tylia Gillon, Rutgers                        11.48 7. Charlotte Cahill, U-M                        11.79 8. Cindy Ofili, U-M                             11.8020. Ada Unachukwu, U-M                           12.2529. Tofunmi Akeredolu, U-M                       12.51 200-meter Dash 1. Aireonna Bailey, South Florida               23.5423. Maya Long, U-M                               25.0625. Ada Unachukwu, U-M                           25.08 400-meter Dash 1. Elizabeth Ichite, Florida State              53.7415. Chinyere Onimo, U-M                          58.47 100-meter Hurdles  1. Kayla Parker, Kentucky                       13.51 2. Amber Smith, U-M                             13.65 3. Cindy Ofili, U-M                             13.84 5. Erin Busbee, U-M                             14.18 400-meter Hurdles 1. Amber Smith, U-M                           1:01.44 2. Alexandria Williams, U-M                   1:02.2616. Emily Wee, U-M                             1:06.84 4x400-meter Relay 1. South Florida                              3:44.64 3. MICHIGAN 'A'                               3:48.98   (Maya Long, Amber Smith,    Chinyere Onimo, Alexandria Williams) 6. MICHIGAN 'B'                               3:56.35   (Cindy Ofili, Erin Busbee,    Emily Wee, Charlotte Cahill) High Jump 1. Courtney Anderson, South Florida              1.78m (5-10) 9. Sara Nitz, U-M                                1.63m (5-4.25)--  Brianna Jenkins, U-M                            NH Long Jump 1. Asha Ruth, Rutgers                            6.07m (19-11) 3. Erin Busbee, U-M                              5.99m (19-8) 4. Tofunmi Akeredolu, U-M                        5.83m (19-1.50) Discus 1. Emily Pendleton, Unattached                  50.71m (166-4) 2. Erin Pendleton, U-M                          49.85m (163-6) 4. Kari Prena, U-M                              46.14m (151-4)11. Joanna Fleming, U-M                          40.91m (134-3) Hammer Throw 1. Reta Woodard, Embry-Riddle                   59.62m (195-7) 5. Erin Pendleton, U-M                          50.85m (166-10) 6. Joanna Fleming, U-M                          49.66m (162-11) 8. Kari Prena, U-M                              45.68m (149-10)--  Amanda Adwon, U-M                             FOUL Shot Put 1. Chelsea Whalen, Florida State                15.59m (51-1.75) 8. Erin Pendleton, U-M                          12.91m (42-4.25) 9. Elly Mioduszewski, U-M                       12.55m (41-2.25)12. Kari Prena, U-M                              12.00m (39-4.50) Javelin 1. Casey Wagner, South Florida                  45.59m (149-7) 6. Elly Mioduszewski, U-M                       38.06m (124-10)