Michigan
B1G Ohio State Invitational
Distance Depth Headlines First Day of Split-Squad Weekend
4/30/2021 10:47:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The University of Michigan women's track and field team opened up its final split-squad weekend of the 2021 outdoor campaign on Friday (April 30), headlined by distance prowess at Indiana and the opening day at Ohio State.
Distance Prowess, Depth on Display at Indiana
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Billy Hayes Track & Field Complex)
Event: B1G Billy Hayes Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 1 -- at B1G Billy Hayes Invitational - Day 2 (Bloomington, Ind.), 2:45 p.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- In her first 3,000-meter steeplechase race in 707 days, Alice Hill picked up where she left off with a victory in career-best fashion.
Hill slashed three seconds off her personal record to run 9:54.19 to win by 24 seconds and take over the 2021 Big Ten lead by 10 seconds. She also bolstered her position as the No. 3 runner in school history and moved to No. 5 in the NCAA East Region for the year.
The Wolverines capped the evening with a tremendous display of depth at 5,000 meters as they claimed eight of the top 10 spots with seven runners faster than 16:25.
All-American Ericka VanderLende took the overall win in 16:00.88, with Kathryn House outdueling teammate Jessi Larson for second place, 16:10.66 to 16:10.85. The time was a career-best for House and it likely secures her spot at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds alongside VanderLende and Larson. The NCAA announced it is expanding the fields for the East Prelims to 48 qualifiers per event from 32. The average cutoff the past three years for qualification has been 16:31.
If that holds, it might be good news for sixth-place Samantha Saenz (16:20.38), seventh-place Jena Metwalli (16:20.81), eighth-place Samantha Tran (16:22.48), ninth-place Kayla Windemuller (16:22.94) and 10th-place Raquel Powers (16:31.28) -- all of whom ran career bests.
The sprinters join the action at Indiana on Saturday (May 1), beginning at 2:45 p.m.
Full Michigan Results by Event
Q = automatic qualifier to final; q = at-large qualifier to final
Steeplechase
Final
1. Alice Hill / 9:54.19 [New PR]
3. Lauren Fulcher / 10:35.99
5000 meter run
Final
1. Ericka VanderLende / 16:00.88
2. Kathryn House / 16:10.66 [New PR]
3. Jessi Larson / 16:10.85
6. Samantha Saenz / 16:20.38 [New PR]
7. Jena Metwalli / 16:20.81 [New PR]
8. Samantha Tran / 16:22.48 [New PR]
9. Kayla Windemuller / 16:22.94 [New PR]
10. Raquel Powers / 16:31.28 [New PR]
15. Julia Vanitvelt / 17:22.00
16. Maddy Trevisan / 17:28.81
Wolverines Open Weekend at Ohio State
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Jesse Owns Stadium)
Event: B1G Jesse Owens Classic (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 1 -- at B1G Billy Hayes Invitational - Day Two (Columbus, Ohio), 11 a.m.
• Complete Results (PDF)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Though most events at the Jesse Owens Classic are slated to be contested Saturday, the Wolverines opened up limited competition in Columbus on Friday.
Hammer thrower Courtney Jacobsen competed outdoors for the first time since the 2018 NCAA East Preliminaries -- approximately 1,072 days ago -- finishing fourth with a best heave of 55.72m (182 feet, 9 inches).
Heptathlete Theresa Mayanja competed in a pair of events, finishing 11th in the javelin and 21st at 200 meters.
Action for Michigan at Ohio State resumes Saturday (May 1) at 11 a.m.
Full Michigan Results by Event
Q = automatic qualifier to final; q = at-large qualifier to final
200 meter dash
Final
21. Theresa Mayanja / 26.23 (+3.3m/s)
Hammer Throw
Final
4. Courtney Jacobsen / 55.72m (182-9)
Javelin
Final
11. Theresa Mayanja / 28.36m (93-0)
Players Mentioned
