Wolverines Defeat Rivals OSU, MSU for Simmons-Harvey Title

Saturday, January 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

10:15 AM

Michigan

Simmons-Harvey Invitational

Julia Hall (left) and Chloe Foster (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Defeat Rivals OSU, MSU for Simmons-Harvey Title

1/18/2020 5:15:00 PM | Women's Track & Field

Photo Gallery

By: Kyle Terwillegar

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Simmons-Harvey Invitational
U-M Result: 1st of 3 teams (120 points)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Jan. 24-25 -- at John Thomas Terrier Classic (Boston, Mass.); at Rod McCravy Memorial (Lexington, Ky.)

• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team made the most of its hometrack advantage on Saturday (Jan. 18) as it took down rivals Ohio State and Michigan State in its only scored competition of the regular season.

In front of a live national television audience on Big Ten Network at the world-class U-M Indoor Track Building, the Wolverines (120 points) topped the Buckeyes (93) and Spartans (90), powered by wins in five of the 15 events on the schedule.

Julia Hall accounted for two of those wins as she took the title at 600 meters and ran a leg of Michigan's winning 4x400 relay, while reigning Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week Meg Darmofal took the victory in the mile.

Michigan also got a pair of titles in the field as Jada Wimberly took the win in the high jump in a tiebreak over teammate Katt Miner, and Sydney McGinley won the triple jump in her first ever go-round in the event.

Additionally, the Wolverines posted nine runner-up finishes and 27 total top-five showings on the day.

Hall, off to her best start to a season since 2017, ran a career-best 1:31.40 to overtake teammate Chloe Foster in the fast heat of the 600 meters, moving up to No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten so far this season.

Hall and Foster teamed up for the third and fourth legs of the winning 4x400 relay that clocked 3:40.73 for the ninth-best time in school history and the No. 5 spot on the 2020 NCAA list when it was ran.

After a strong opening leg from Emma Lane, Jade Harrison took the lead from Ohio State on the second leg. From there, Hall ran away and hid from OSU, opening up a two-second gap by the time she handed off to Foster. Ultimately, Michigan ended up winning by more than a second.

Darmofal got her victory in the mile over Michigan State's All-American Annie Fuller, pulling away from the Spartan late to cross the line in 4:46.78. She got the win over Fuller by nearly two seconds, all of which came in the final 400 meters.

Alice Hill also went sub-4:50 as she took third in 4:49.59.

The women's high jump corps continued its strong start to 2020 as Wimberly and Miner both cleared 1.72m (5 feet, 7.75 inches) on the day. Wimberly was declared the victor as it took her just two attempts to clear that career-best bar, while Miner required all three allotted tries to make it over.

McGinley also took the win in the triple jump, leaping out to 11.50m (37-8.75) on her second-to-last attempt to move into the lead. It was her first time contesting the event, either at the collegiate or high school levels.

Courtney Jacobsen's weight throw school record survived another week, but just barely. Teammate Briana Nelson first threatened it with a new personal-record 20.05m (65-9.5) heave on her first attempt, and Jacobsen herself twice came within two centimeters with a pair of 20.13m (66-0.5) marks on her fourth and sixth throws. They would ultimately finish second and third.

One record that did not survive the weekend was Amanda Schaare's freshman shot put mark. In her runner-up performance, she extended her own record to 15.66m (51-4.5) on her final throw, bumping her up to No. 5 in school history overall.

The Wolverines will hit the road for the first time this season next weekend as select distance runners head to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic, and select sprinters and field event athletes will compete at the Kentucky Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington.

Collegiate Career-Best Performances

Career debuts not included

Madison Eaton -- 7.88 / 60m (I)
Madison Eaton -- 8.78 / 60m Hurdles (I)
Julia Hall -- 1:31.40 / 600m (I)
Kathryn House -- 9:34.60 / 3000m (I)
Courtney Jacobsen -- 20.15m (66-1.25) / Weight Throw (I)
Tiana Luton -- 8.17 / 60m (I)
Theresa Mayanja -- 8.87 / 60m Hurdles (I)
Maegan McCarthy -- 12.80m (42-0) / Shot Put (I)
Briana Nelson -- 20.05m (65-9.25) / Weight Throw (I)
Samantha Saenz -- 2:15.32 / 800m (I)
Amanda Schaare -- 15.66m (51-4.5) / Shot Put (I)
Jada Wimberly -- 1.72m (5-7.75) / High Jump (I)