Michigan
SPIRE Invitational
Howell Takes First in Pentathlon at SPIRE Invite
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 13, 2015
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Site: Geneva, Ohio (Lied Recreation Center)
Event: SPIRE Invitational Classic (Day 1)
U-M Team Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 14 -- at SPIRE Invitational - Day 2 (Geneva, Ohio), 10 a.m.; at Don Kirby Collegiate Invitational - Day 2 (Albuquerque, N.M.), 9:30 a.m. MST
GENEVA, Ohio -- The 20th-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team began competition at the SPIRE Invitational on Friday (Feb. 13), highlighted by a pentathlon win from sophomore Aaron Howell and a one-two finish in the 600m race inside Lied Recreation Center.
U-M traveled 31 athletes to the SPIRE Institute, the site of the Big Ten Championships in two weekends (Feb. 27-28). Howell -- a multi-event specialist -- got her first chance at the pentathlon this season, and she seized the opportunity by taking the title with a personal-best 4,115 point total. She set PRs in the long jump (5.97m; 19-7 ft.) and high jump, where she cleared 1.76 meters (5-9.25 ft.) and also placed first in both those events.
Howell finished runner-up in the shot put (12.28m; 40-3.5 ft.) and 60m hurdles (8.82). She also finished fourth in the 800m race (2:27.92) on her way to a 91-point margin of victory. She shattered her previous career-best mark of 3,908 points.
In the 600m race, the Wolverines placed five of six competitors in the top 11, including both members of a one-two finish. Junior Danielle Pfeifer took the title in 1:31.14, while senior Chinyere Onimo was runner-up in a neck-and-neck finish, crossing at 1:31.40.
In the pole vault, sophomore/freshman Sarah Uhlian set a new personal best, clearing 3.67m (12-5 ft.) to finish sixth in the event
The Maize and Blue will resume action tomorrow morning (Saturday, Feb. 14) in the SPIRE Institute facility at 10 a.m. with the shot put, featuring fifth-year senior Elly Mioduszewski and sophomore/freshman Kayla Deering. Running events begin with the mile run, where six different Wolverines will compete across four heats beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Junior sprinter/hurdler Cindy Ofili is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Don Kirby Collegiate Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico and will begin competition tomorrow as well. Ofii, who is currently tied for the fastest 60-meter hurdles mark in the nation (8.10), made the trip south to run the 60m hurdles and dash with some of the nation's top competitors. The prelims of her two races are scheduled for 11:20 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. MST, respectively.
N O T E S
• The Maize and Blue traveled 31 athletes to the SPIRE Institute this weekend in preparation of the Big Ten Championships, which will be hosted by the Institute at the end of the month.
• Four Wolverines set PRs in six different events on the SPIRE Invitational's first day of action. Altogether, U-M collected four event titles, including two from pentathlon events.
• Sophomore Aaron Howell competed in her first pentathlon of the season, totaling 4,115 points across the five events -- a new personal best.
• U-M will close its regular season next weekend by hosting the Silverston Invitational (Feb. 21) at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Personal Records
Aaron Howell -- Pentathlon (4,115 points); Long Jump (5.97m; 19-7 ft.) P; High Jump (1.76m; 5-9.25 ft.) P
Anna Pasternak -- 5,000m (16:54.92)
Chelsey Miller -- 600m (1:33.45)
Sarah Uhlian -- Pole Vault (3.67m; 12-5 ft.)
P = Pentathlon event
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
