Michigan
Power Five Invitational
Rynda's Blazing 800 Highlights Final Day of Power Five Invite
2/2/2019 5:33:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Power Five Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Feb 8-9 -- at Vanderbilt Music City Challenge (Nashville, Tenn.)
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR -- Another national-caliber performance from true freshman Aurora Rynda headlined the University of Michigan women's track and field team's effort on the final day of the Power Five Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 2).
Rynda, who earned Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week honors two weeks ago with a fast 600-meter performance, posted one of the nation's quickest times for 800 meters on the final day of action at the U-M Indoor Track Building as many of her Wolverine teammates posted wins or career-best efforts.
Her runner-up finish at 800 meters (2:06.80) was one of nine top-five finishes on the day, including a win by school record-holder Jade Harrison at 400 meters, as the Wolverines hosted their final regular-season meet of the year ahead of their playing host to the Big Ten Indoor Championships in Ann Arbor on Feb. 22-23.
Pulled along by a world-leading time from winner Shannon Osika in 2:02.92, Rynda crossed the line in the four-lap race in 2:06.80 as the runner-up. The Canadian stuck right on Osika, a Michigan-alum-turned-professional, for the first three laps as the duo crossed the 1,200-meter split in 1:32, but Osika pulled away over the final circuit around the hydraulic-banked track.
Rynda's performance ranks her No. 15 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten, and it moves her up to No. 12 in Michigan's vaunted program history. She came within just a second and a half of the Michigan freshman record of 2:05.23 set by Olympian Geena Gall in 2006.
Rynda also still ranks No. 5 in the country at 600 meters and is No. 1 in the Big Ten.
She had strong support in the event behind her as Hannah Meier ran a career-best 2:08.67 for fourth place, Lauren Biggs was sixth in 2:09.58 and Alice Hill was seventh in 2:09.77. Meier became the 34th Wolverine to join the all-time sub-2:10 club in Michigan history.
Harrison claimed the Wolverines' lone win on the day, winning her first competition of the season in the 400-meter event in which she holds the Michigan indoor school record as part of a Wolverine 1-2 finish with Chloe Foster, who doubled back from winning the 600 meters on Friday night (Feb. 1).
Running in the fastest section of the day, Harrison took the lead at the 200-meter halfway point and never looked back en route to a 54.24 clocking. Foster never let Harrison out of her sights, though, as she was just .26 of a second behind in 54.50 -- a time that moves her to No. 5 in school history.
The Wolverines also had a strong showing in the mile as Anne Forsyth closed strong and bypassed national champion Sharon Lokedi on the last lap en route to a 4:48.23 time for third place overall. In the previous heat, Camille Davre ran 4:50.67 for fifth overall and Meg Darmofal went 4:51.30 in Forsyth's section for sixth overall.
The co-school-record-holding duo of Kayla Deering and Bailey Baker headlined the field events, where they finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in a Big Ten Championships-caliber weight throw field. Deering tossed a pair of marks at 19.12m (62 feet, 8.75 inches), while Baker went 19.08m (62-7.25) on her second throw.
Michigan will hit the road next weekend for its final significant weekend of regular-season competition as it heads to Vanderbilt for the Music City Challenge next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 8-9).
Collegiate Career-Best Performances
Career debuts not included
Lauren Biggs -- 2:09.58 / 800m (I)
Alice Hill -- 2:09.77 / 800m (I)
Hannah Meier -- 2:08.67 / 800m (I)
Jessica Mercier -- 3.85m (13-1.5) / Pole Vault (I)
Aurora Rynda -- 2:06.80 / 800m (I)
Full Michigan Results By Event
Q = Automatic qualifier into final; q = non-automatic qualifier into final
60 Meters
PRELIMS (Contested Friday)
17. Akili Echols / 7.88
200 Meters
SEEDED SECTIONS
4. Jade Harrison / 24.61
13. Julia Hall / 25.42
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
7. Akili Echols / 25.73
400 Meters
SEEDED SECTIONS
1. Jade Harrison / 54.24
2. Chloe Foster / 54.5
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
5. Lauren Rodriguez / 62.95
600 Meters
(Contested Friday)
1. Chloe Foster / 1:31.90
3. Lauren Biggs / 1:32.38
5. Alice Hill / 1:32.55
8. Julia Hall / 1:32.93
800 Meters
SEEDED SECTIONS
2. Aurora Rynda / 2:06.80
4. Hannah Meier / 2:08.67
6. Lauren Biggs / 2:09.58
7. Alice Hill / 2:09.77
14. Lexi Munley / 2:13.15
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
2. Carola Jansohn / 2:16.85
6. Haley Click / 2:18.68
Mile
SEEDED SECTIONS
3. Anne Forsyth / 4:48.23
5. Camille Davre / 4:50.67
7. Meg Darmofal / 4:51.30
21. Rachel Coleman / 4:56.01
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
3. Julia Vanitvelt / 4:55.01
4. Jena Metwalli / 4:55.24
8. Faith Reynolds / 4:57.79
16. Jacalyn Overdier / 5:05.81
3,000 Meters
SEEDED SECTIONS
2. Kathryn House / 9:35.51
5. Audrey Belf / 9:41.13
14. Sydney Badger / 9:55.58
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
8. Kayla Keane / 10:12.36
5,000 Meters
(Contested Friday)
3. Madeline Trevisan / 17:14.49
4. Raquel Powers / 17:24.09
60-Meter Hurdles
FINAL
6. Lauren Rodriguez / 8.94
7. Sydney McGinley / 8.98
PRELIMS (Contested Friday)
7. Lauren Rodriguez / 8.97q
8. Sydney McGinley / 9.00q
4x400 Relay
5. Reid, Biggs, Meier, Hill / 3:50.93
Distance Medley Relay
(Contested Friday)
3. Coleman, Reid, Darmofal, Munley / 11:40.23
High Jump
4. Katt Miner / 1.67m (5-5.75)
Pole Vault
9. Jessica Mercier / 3.85m (13-1.5)
Long Jump
6. Jeryne Fish / 5.69m (18-8)
Shot Put
9. Briana Nelson / 14.30m (46-11)
15. Maegan McCarthy / 13.57m (44-6.25)
Weight Throw
SEEDED SECTIONS
8. Kayla Deering / 19.12m (62-8.75)
9. Bailey Baker / 19.09m (62-7.25)
UNSEEDED SECTIONS (Contested Friday)
4. Briana Nelson / 17.98m (59-0)
Pentathlon (Overall)
(Contested Friday)
3. Theresa Mayanja / 3347
60 meter hurdles - 8.90 / 931 points
High Jump - 1.55m (5-1) / 678 points
Shot Put - 10.96m (35-11.50) / 592 points
Long Jump - 4.92m (16-1.75) / 538 points
800 meter run - 2:36.97 / 608 points
Players Mentioned
