Michigan
B1G Husker Invitational
Depth on Display for U-M Women at Indiana, Texas
4/16/2021 9:53:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The University of Michigan women's track and field team kicked off its first split-squad weekend of the 2021 outdoor campaign on Friday (April 16), with the distance squad excelling in its only day of competition at the B1G Indiana Invitational #3 and the sprinters and field-event athletes kicking off the first of two days at the neutral site B1G Husker Invitational in Prairie View, Texas.
Distance Crew Shines at Indiana
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex)
Event: B1G Indiana Invitational #3
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 17 -- at B1G Husker Invitational - Day 2 (Bloomington, Ind.), 10:30 a.m. CDT
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Led by top performers Aurora Rynda, Ericka VanderLende and Kathryn House, the Wolverines' distance crew showed depth worthy of the program's lofty legacy in that event area at the B1G Indiana Invitational #3.
Rynda clocked one of the fastest 800-meter times in school history, VanderLende joined an elite group at the 5,000-meter distance, and House nearly chopped 10 seconds off her best at 1,500 meters as all three led strong contingents in their respective events.
One weekend after setting a marginal new career-best at 800 meters in just her second race of the 2020-21 academic year, Rynda crushed that mark by more than a second with a Big Ten-leading 2:03.93.
The time likely is quick enough to rank her top-15 nationally by the time the weekend is through, and places her No. 4 all-time on the deep Michigan list. Among those who she bypassed in her move from No. 9 to No. 4 were former NCAA champions Anna Willard, Jaimie Phelan, Nicole Edwards and Rebecca Addison. It also cements her status as a qualifier to the NCAA East Preliminaries next month, where berths will be at stake to the NCAA Championships to be held in Eugene, Ore., this June.
The Wolverines also ran well behind her, as Annie Taylor was fifth in a career-best 2:08.90 and Lucy Petee was sixth in 2:09.21 in her first collegiate outdoor race at the distance.
Though VanderLende did not get the win in heated 5,000-meter final, her third-place effort of 15:54.27 made her just the seventh woman in school history to crack 16 minutes for the distance in an outdoor race.
It virtually will assure her a place at the NCAA East Prelims, where she very well may be joined by teammate Jessi Larson who clocked a career-best 16:08.78 for sixth place on the day. At the 2019 East Prelims, Larson missed by just one spot a trip to nationals at 5,000 meters.
Michigan showed perhaps the greatest depth of all at 1,500 meters. Led by runner-up House in a nearly 10-second career-best 4:19.72, the Wolverines claimed five of the top nine spots. Relay All-American Alice Hill was fourth in a career-best 4:20.67, with fellow relay All-American Meg Darmofal and Jena Metwalli right behind in fourth and fifth in 4:21.14 and 4:21.80, respectively.
House looks to be right on the cusp of what might eventually qualify her to the NCAA East Prelims, as only the top 32 in each event will advance.
Full Michigan Results by Event
Q = automatic qualifier to final; q = at-large qualifier to final
800 meter run
Final
1. Aurora Rynda / 2:03.93 [New PR]
5. Annie Taylor / 2:08.90 [New PR]
6. Lucy Petee / 2:09.21
7. Eva Jansohn / 2:11.73 [New PR]
17. Julia Sullivan / 2:15.59
1,500 meter run
Final
2. Kathryn House / 4:19.72 [New PR]
4. Alice Hill / 4:20.67 [New PR]
5. Meg Darmofal / 4:21.14
6. Jena Metwalli / 4:21.80 [New PR]
9. Kayla Windemuller / 4:26.57 [New PR]
11. Lauren Fulcher / 4:31.52
14. Julia Vanitvelt / 4:32.19 [New PR]
16. Raquel Powers / 4:33.23
26. Peyton Witt / 4:57.36
5000 meter run
Final
3. Ericka VanderLende / 15:54.27
6. Jessi Larson / 16:08.78 [New PR]
7. Katelynne Hart / 16:14.22
9. Samantha Tran / 16:32.77
12. Samantha Saenz / 16:45.01
Wolverines Off to Solid Start in Texas
Site: Prairie View, Texas (Prairie View A&M Track & Field Stadium)
Event: B1G Husker Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 17 -- at B1G Husker Invitational - Day 2 (Prairie View, Texas), 10:30 a.m. CDT
• Complete Results (PDF)
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Michigan's sprinters and field-event athletes got off to a strong start on the first day of competition at the B1G Husker Invitational, held as a neutral-site competition at Prairie View A&M just outside of Houston.
Theresa Mayanja excelled in the first of two days of action in the heptathlon, while first-year U-M outdoor competitors Hannah Waller and Amanda Schaare also posted top-eight finishes.
Mayanja is well on her way to a career best in the seven-event heptathlon, currently sitting in fourth overall through four events with 3,096 points. She came within .11 seconds of her 100-meter hurdles best in 14.11, cleared an outdoor best 1.60m (5 feet, 3 inches) in the high jump, posted a new outdoor shot put PR at 10.74m (35-2.75), and came within .01 seconds of her best at 200 meters in 25.75.
Waller continued her dynamic debut campaign at Michigan with a career-best in the long jump as she sailed 5.96m (19-6.75) for seventh overall. The mark moves her into a tie for No. 8 on the all-time U-M outdoor long jump list with Vera Simms.
Also placing seventh for the Wolverines was Schaare, who threw a best of 49.07m (161-0) on the day in the discus.
Highlighting the action on the track was Michaiah Thomas, who just missed making the 100-meter hurdles final with a 10th-place finish in 14.30 (-1.0m/s wind).
Action in Prairie View, Texas, resumes Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
Full Michigan Results by Events
Q = automatic qualifier to final; q = at-large qualifier to final
100 meter dash
Prelims
15. Hanna Hearn / 12.17 (-1.8m/s)
24. Hannah Waller / 12.28 (-1.8m/s)
100 meter hurdles
Prelims
10. Michaiah Thomas / 14.30 (-1.0m/s)
Long Jump
Final
7. Hannah Waller / 5.96m (19-6.75) [New PR]
Discus
Final
7. Amanda Schaare / 49.07m (161-0)
Heptathlon
Through 4 of 7 events
4. Theresa Mayanja / 3,096 points
100 meter hurdles / 14.11 (-0.2m/s) (963 pts) / Place: 3
High Jump / 1.60m (5-3) (736 pts) [New PR] / Place: 9
Shot Put / 10.74m (35-2.75) (578 pts) [New PR] / Place: 7
200 meter dash / 25.75 (+0.9m/s) (819 pts) / Place: 2
Players Mentioned
