Michigan
Bryan Clay Invitational
Michigan Women Set Two School Records on Final Day in California
4/15/2023 10:27:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Sites: Azusa, Calif. (Cougar Athletic Stadium); Long Beach, Calif. (Jack Rose Track); Torrance, Calif. (Hilmer Lodge Stadium)
Events: Bryan Clay Invitational (Day 3 of 3); Mt. SAC Relays (Day 2 of 2); Beach Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
U-M Results: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 22 – host Len Paddock Invitational (Ann Arbor, Mich), 11 a.m.
The University of Michigan women's track and field team competed in three meets across California's west coast Saturday (April 15), taking part in the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut and the Beach Invitational in Long Beach. The day was highlighted by two school records in the 4x400 meter relay and 4x100 meter relay.
Bryan Clay Invitational
Trinity Henderson competed in the 200-meters in Azusa, taking twenty-third pace. Her time of 24.25 was impressive for the freshman, though the wind speed of +2.8 m/s prevented it from being wind legal. Henderson now holds a new all-conditions best. Hanna Hearn was entered in the event, but did not compete.
Mt. SAC Relays
In the year of the school record, Michigan's 4x100 relay team broke the Michigan program record for the second time in a month, running a time of 44.10. The relay team was made up of Aasia Laurencin, Savannah Sutherland, Ziyah Holman and BreeAna Bates and they ran in the elite category, coming face to face with Team USA and Athletics Canada athletes along with NCAA-leading squads. The relay team finished the race in seventh place, winning its heat. The race was highlighted by a strong finish from Bates in the final leg after a smooth handoff from Holman. Laurencin, Sutherland, and Bates were all members of the previous school-record setting team, which ran a time of 44.70 at UCF's Black and Gold Invitational.
The second school record of the day was set in the 4x400 relay, with a team made up of Sophie Isom, Nikki Stephens, Aurora Rynda and Ziyah Holman. Their time of 3:33.12 healthily secured the record, overtaking the previous record of 3:33.42 set in 2016 (Ofili, Wee, Pfeifer, Long).
After success in the 4x100, Laurencin competed in the elite 100-meter hurdles. Her impressive time of 13.07 secured a fourth-place finish and was just a hundredth of a second off of her career best (13.06). The time, which ranks fifth all-time in Michigan program history, is the current leading time in the Big Ten and ranks the NCAA top-10 for 2023. Laurencin also holds the number four all-time spot in the event.
Holman also followed up the 4x100 by competing in the elite 400-meters. She fought hard in the race, finishing fourth in a time of 51.60, which is a top-10 all-time mark for Michigan and third-best in the Big Ten for the 2023 outdoor season. Holman still holds the best mark for the outdoor season in the Big Ten as well, set at Pepsi Florida Relays.
On the field, Trinity Franklin competed in the hammer throw, finishing thirty-fifth with a throw of 43.04 meters.
Beach Invitational
Franklin was the sole representative for Michigan in Long Beach on Saturday, competing in the shot put following the hammer throw competition at Mt. SAC. She made a throw of 13.73 meters (45 feet, 0.5 inches) to take twenty-ninth place.
After a busy week in California, the Wolverines will stay in Ann Arbor next weekend for the Len Paddock Invitational. The meet will be held at the U-M Track and Field Staidum on Saturday, April 22. Start time is still to be announced.
Players Mentioned
