Women's track answers challenge

Bulletin board material by Indiana coach doesn't show up in meet

By Rhonda Gilmer

Daily Sports Writer

Last week, Indiana women's track coach Randy Heisler told the Indiana Daily Student that he anticipated an easy victory over Michigan.

"I don't expect us to have a close meet all year," Heisler said.

But the Wolverines proved him wrong. Michigan was anything but second best, tying the Hoosiers 81-81.

The dual meet at Michigan's indoor track building went down to the wire. With the triple jump as the day's final event, Michigan trailed by five points. Indiana needed a top-two finish to clinch the victory. But the Wolverines came in first and second, just what they needed for the tie.

Sophomore Teyonna Simpson won the triple jump with a distance of 39-feet, 3.75-inches. Junior Tahsa Phillips locked up the tie by placing second.

Michigan could have tried for the victory had they used some of their runners in more than one event. But Michigan coach James Henry decided not to overuse them this early in the season.

"If we absolutely, positively had to win the meet, we could have doubled runners up," Henry said. "I'm slowly finding out that what I want is a balance between the field events, sprints, middle-distance and distance events."

Throughout the head-to-head meet, Michigan showed its strengths in the middle-distance and distance events. Sophomore Jane Martineau won the one-mile run with a time of 5:01.4. Running at a steady pace, Martineau had a strong kick in her running style throughout the race. Freshman Lindsey Gallo took third place in the mile at 5:08.

The quick-paced 600-meter dash gave the Wolverines a chance to sweep the event, as Indiana is a little weaker in the mid-distance runs. Senior Regine Caruthers set the pace for the race with a time of 1:33.2. Senior Adrienne Hunter came in second at 1:35.30 and senior Tameka Craig finished up the Michigan one-two-three finish with 1:35.70.

For the 800-meter event, sophomore Rachel Sturtz ran 2:13.4 for first place.

"That was a real good time for Rachel, particularly this early in the season," assistant coach Mike McGuire said. "She just went a little over a second too fast that first lap. But similar to taking a deposit out of the bank, she had to pay it back with interest on the last lap."

Senior Katie Jazwinski came through for her teammates Saturday. Despite a back injury, she decided to run in the dual, which had the potential to make or break the meet for Michigan. Out during the past week due to injury, Jazwinski did not get a chance to prepare until Thursday's practice. The rustiness didn't hamper Jazwinski, as she won the 3-kilometer with a time of 10:07.46, giving the Wolverines some extra points on the board.

"They told me they wanted me to run, and I just had to make up my mind that I was going to do it and not think negatively about the back injury," Jazwinski said.

From the start of the race, freshman Katie Easton came out strong, setting the pace. After about five laps, Easton dropped behind Jazwinski and Indiana's Erin Womble. Coming in third, Easton showed a good finish with a time of 10:23.20.

Indiana showed most of its strengths during the sprints. The 60-meter hurdles were won by Indiana's Danielle Carruthers with a time of 8:47. Indiana also won the 60-meter and 200-meter with senior Lorraine Dunlop running in both of these events.

One Indiana runner in particular stood out among the rest - junior Tia Trent. With her strong biceps and incredible size, she brought her teammates out of an unbelievable deficit during the four-by-four relay. After the third baton pass, Michigan was strides ahead of Indiana.

At the switch to anchor, Michigan was still in the lead, but Trent fought hard to catch up. Then came the final lap where Trent closed up a large gap to give her team the first-place finish.

DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily

Jane Martineau won the mile in Saturday's tie over Big Ten power Indiana. Michigan hosts the Red Simmons Invitational next weekend.