Michigan
B1G SPIRE Invitational
VanderLende Makes History in Wolverines' Return at SPIRE
2/12/2021 3:17:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Site: Geneva, Ohio (SPIRE Institute)
Event: SPIRE Big Ten Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 13 -- SPIRE Big Ten Invitational - Day 2 (Geneva, Ohio), 11 a.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
GENEVA, Ohio -- Distance runner Ericka VanderLende did much more than bust off the rust in a historic performance to headline the first of two days at the SPIRE Big Ten Invitational, held at the SPIRE Institute on Friday (Feb. 12). It was first competition for the University of Michigan women's track and field team after a two-week department-wide pause.
VanderLende surpassed all but Erin Finn on the all-time program list at the 5,000-meter distance and established herself among the nation's best in 2021, as she torched the oversized 300-meter track at SPIRE for a 15:48.88 showing.
She crossed the line behind only Michigan State's Jenna Magness, setting the stage for a rematch at the Feb. 25-27 Big Ten Indoor Championships on the very same track.
The two may also meet again at the NCAA Indoor Championships. At publication, VanderLende ranked No. 5 nationally at the distance, and her time is fast enough to have qualified her for seven of the past nine national championship meets.
Her runner-up finish was chief among the top performances of the day for the Wolverines, which also included pentathlon and distance medley relay wins to go along with an impressive showing in the pole vault.
Theresa Mayanja had a career-best day in the five-component pentathlon to take the overall victory with a score of 3,662 points. That total was not just a personal best but also good enough for No. 10 in school history. Along the way, she posted new PRs in the high jump at 1.61m (5 feet, 3.5 inches), the long jump at 5.25m (17-2.75) and over 800 meters in 2:25.67.
The distance medley relay squad got the win in what was an event debut for three of its members. After two-time All-American Alice Hill led off on the 1,200-meter leg, the next three legs were from first-year collegians in Ziyah Holman (400 meters), Lucy Petee (800 meters) and Katelynne Hart (1,600 meters).
All four will run individual events on Saturday (Feb. 13).
The quartet combined to run 11:08.84, a time that likely will need to be lowered at the Big Ten Indoor Championships to defend the conference title and qualify to NCAAs for a third straight year.
Michigan's deep pole vault corps was fully in action for the first time on Friday, led by runner-up Jessica Mercier at 4.05m (13-3.5) -- her best-ever clearance during the indoor season. Mia Manson posted the best-ever debut effort by a first-year Wolverine at 3.90m (12-9.5) for fourth place.
Action will resume at the SPIRE Institute on Saturday, starting just after 11 a.m.
Full Michigan Results by Eveny
Q = automatic qualifier to final; q = at-large qualifier to final
200 meter dash
Final
5. Hannah Waller / 24.73
10. Hanna Hearn / 25.36
5,000 meter run
Final
2. Ericka VanderLende / 15:48.88 [New PR]
8. Raquel Powers / 16:51.38 [New PR]
Distance Medley Relay
Final
1. Ziyah Holman, Lucy Petee, Katelynne Hart Alice Hill / 11:08.84
Pole Vault
Final
2. Jessica Mercier / 4.05m (13-3.5)
4. Mia Manson / 3.90m (12-9.5) [New PR]
6. Bree Bredeweg / 3.60m (11-9.75) [New PR]
7. Cate Visscher / 3.60m (11-9.75)
9. Morgan Flynn / 3.45m (11-3.75) [New PR]
Weight Throw
Final
3. Courtney Jacobsen / 18.88m (61-11.25)
Pentathlon
Final
1. Theresa Mayanja / 3,662 [New PR]
60 meter hurdles / 8.78 (956 pts) / Place: 3
High Jump / 1.61m (5-3.5) (783 pts) [New PR] / Place: 2
Shot Put / 10.82m (35-6) (583 pts) / Place: 1
Long Jump / 5.25m (17-2.75) (628 pts) [New PR] / Place: 2
800 meter run / 2:25.67 (748 pts) [New PR] / Place: 2
Players Mentioned
