Holman Dazzles in Wolverine Women's 2021 Debut

Saturday, January 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

Simmons-Harvey Invitational

Ziyah Holman (Michigan Photography)

1/16/2021 8:06:00 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: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 23 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), TBA

• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's track and field team competed for the first time in 322 days, and it was newcomer Ziyah Holman who starred center-stage at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 16) in the U-M Indoor Track Building.

Holman made an immediate impact on the record books with a superlative-laden performance at the 600-meter distance in 1:29.27 before closing out the evening with a jaw-dropping, come-from-behind 4x400-meter relay anchor leg to bring home the win for the Wolverines.

Coming to Ann Arbor as one of the most decorated high school sprinters in the country, Holman quickly showed she can translate that success to the NCAA level. In what was her first-ever 600-meter race, the Washington, D.C., standout was dominant from start to finish.

She established a 10-meter lead after just one lap on a blistering 27.37-second first lap, and was able to hold on over the next 400 meters with splits of 29.92 and 31.98. The performance was decisive enough to earn the win by more than four seconds.

It also was quick enough to earn her a litany of accolades: 2021 NCAA leader, fifth-fastest time in the world, No. 3 on the all-time Michigan list, Michigan first-year record, fastest-ever debut by a Michigan women, Simmons-Harvey Invitational record, U-M Indoor Track Building record and the fastest time ever run in the state of Michigan.

She put the exclamation point on the meet with her performance in the 4x400 relay, as she brought the Wolverines back from a daunting four-second deficit to claim victory by nearly a half-second in 3:48.02. It took one lap for Holman to erase the gap between her and Ohio State's runner, and ran down OSU with just over 20 meters to go until the finish.

As she crossed the finish line, Holman clocked 51.79 for the 400-meter split.

Holman was not alone in notching debut victories. At 800 meters, first-year collegian Lucy Petee took the victory in her first NCAA race as she clocked 2:10.52 to take the win by a second and a half.

Though not in a victory, the future of Michigan distance running was on display in the 3,000-meter final as sophomore Ericka VanderLende and first-year Katelynne Hart finished second and third, respectively. VanderLende was narrowly outleaned at the line by .03 seconds, coming across in 9:20.68. Not far behind her was Hart in 9:21.85 in her collegiate debut.

The Wolverines were equally strong in the mile final as two-time distance medley relay All-American Alice Hill led a 3-4-5-6-7-8 finish for Michigan in 4:43.92, with the next four Michigan finishers all also under 5:00.

Those distance results are promising signs of Michigan's potential when they compete in the Big Ten Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Jan. 30, in Shelbyville, Ind.

The Wolverines also posted several top-three field-event finishes to headline action off the track.

Amanda Schaare was just one centimeter off her personal record in the shot put as she finished third overall with a heave of 15.65m (51 feet, 4.25 inches).

Former Big Ten Championships silver medalist pole vaulter Jessica Mercier returned to action for the first time since 2019, taking third in her signature event with a clearance of 3.91m (12-10).

The high jump duo of Katt Miner and Jada Wimberly both cleared 1.68m (5-6.25) to finish second and third, respectively.

First-year Hannah Waller also posted a pair of top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish in the long jump and a fifth in the 200 meters.

Full Michigan Results by Event

q = qualified for final

60 meter dash
Final
4. Hanna Hearn / 7.73

Prelims
4. Hanna Hearn / 7.77q

200 meter dash
Final
5. Hannah Waller / 24.69
8. Chika Amene / 25.65
9. Paige Chapman / 26.13
10. Madison Eaton / 26.93

600 meter run
Final
1. Ziyah Holman / 1:29.27
7. Julia Sullivan / 1:35.26 [New PR]

800 meter run
Final
1. Lucy Petee / 2:10.52
5. Eva Jansohn / 2:16.02

Mile
Final
3. Alice Hill / 4:43.92
4. Kathryn House / 4:51.14 [New PR]
5. Samantha Tran / 4:53.24
6. Raquel Powers / 4:53.53 [New PR]
7. Jena Metwalli / 4:58.64
8. Lexi Munley / 5:04.13