Source: Mgoblue.com
Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:02:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:05:38 PM EST
Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:02:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:05:38 PM EST
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Senior co-captains Geena Gall (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and Tiffany Ofili (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) captured individual national championships to lead the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's track and field team to a seventh-place team finish on Saturday (June 13) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held at John McDonnell Field. Gall claimed her second consecutive crown in the 800-meter run and Ofili won her third straight title in the 100-meter hurdles.
Sophomores Emily Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore) and Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) also competed in event finals for U-M; Pendleton took ninth in the discus and Tauro finished 12th in the 1,500-meter run.
Gall took home her second straight national title in the 800-meter run with a career-best time of 2:00.80, the fastest collegiate time in the nation this season. Gall went to the front early and was in control of the pace from the start. She continued to run in the front of the field throughout before coming around the final turn and creating a gap between her and the rest of the competition. Gall claimed the victory by 0.57 seconds over Laura Hermanson of North Dakota State.
In addition to being her second consecutive national championship in the 800 meters outdoors, Gall also claimed the 10th All-America honor of her extraordinary career in Maize and Blue.
Ofili followed that up with her third straight 100-meter hurdle national championship with a winning time of 12.96 seconds in the final. Ofili was locked in a tight battle early with Moriam-Seun Adigun of Houston but began to pull away from Adigun, and the field, as she was the cleanest competitor over each of the hurdles. Kristi Castlin of Virginia Tech claimed second place with a time of 13.15 seconds.
The victory for Ofili not only gave her three consecutive 100-meter hurdle national titles but also gives her five total national championships in her illustrious career at U-M. Ofili also won the last two indoor 60-meter hurdle national championships.
Meanwhile, Pendleton claimed ninth place in the discus throw with a top throw of 160-11 (49.06m). Her best throw of competition was recorded with her fourth of six attempts in the finals. Pendleton bettered her performance from last season's NCAA Championships when she finished 14th. D'Andra Carter of Texas Tech won the discus with a throw of 182-6 (55.62m).
In the final of the 1,500-meter run, Tauro, running in her first NCAA individual event final, finished 12th in a time of 4:24.30. Florida State's Susan Kuijken won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:13.05.
Michigan's seventh-place team finish is the third consecutive top-10 finish for the program at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Maize and Blue finished seventh last season and had a program-best third-place finish in 2007.
Sophomores Emily Pendleton (Lindsey, Ohio/Woodmore) and Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) also competed in event finals for U-M; Pendleton took ninth in the discus and Tauro finished 12th in the 1,500-meter run.
Gall took home her second straight national title in the 800-meter run with a career-best time of 2:00.80, the fastest collegiate time in the nation this season. Gall went to the front early and was in control of the pace from the start. She continued to run in the front of the field throughout before coming around the final turn and creating a gap between her and the rest of the competition. Gall claimed the victory by 0.57 seconds over Laura Hermanson of North Dakota State.
In addition to being her second consecutive national championship in the 800 meters outdoors, Gall also claimed the 10th All-America honor of her extraordinary career in Maize and Blue.
Ofili followed that up with her third straight 100-meter hurdle national championship with a winning time of 12.96 seconds in the final. Ofili was locked in a tight battle early with Moriam-Seun Adigun of Houston but began to pull away from Adigun, and the field, as she was the cleanest competitor over each of the hurdles. Kristi Castlin of Virginia Tech claimed second place with a time of 13.15 seconds.
The victory for Ofili not only gave her three consecutive 100-meter hurdle national titles but also gives her five total national championships in her illustrious career at U-M. Ofili also won the last two indoor 60-meter hurdle national championships.
Meanwhile, Pendleton claimed ninth place in the discus throw with a top throw of 160-11 (49.06m). Her best throw of competition was recorded with her fourth of six attempts in the finals. Pendleton bettered her performance from last season's NCAA Championships when she finished 14th. D'Andra Carter of Texas Tech won the discus with a throw of 182-6 (55.62m).
In the final of the 1,500-meter run, Tauro, running in her first NCAA individual event final, finished 12th in a time of 4:24.30. Florida State's Susan Kuijken won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:13.05.
Michigan's seventh-place team finish is the third consecutive top-10 finish for the program at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Maize and Blue finished seventh last season and had a program-best third-place finish in 2007.
