Senior co-captain Geena Gall held still in a crouching position before the start of the 400-meter dash Saturday at Len Paddock Invitational.

It was an unfamiliar sight for the defending NCAA 800-meter outdoor champion, who was competing in the 400-meter dash for the time in her collegiate career.

Gall's performance paced the No. 9 Michigan women's track and field team as the senior class saw their last competition in Ann Arbor at Ferry Field.

Gall showed some rust from the start, but it didn't take long for her to find her stride. Heading into the final turn, Gall stood in third place.

Then she took over. She accelerated down the final stretch to capture the victory by the narrowest of margins — one hundredth of a second.

"I wanted to do something different," Gall said. "I haven't run it since high school. I've been working on my speed for Big Tens and regionals."

But the race lost some of its mystique when former Wolverine and current Reebok runner Katie Waits decided to scratch at the last minute.

While Waits wasn't in attendance, a number of former Wolverines showed up to compete and cheer on their alma mater.

Nicole Edwards, a 2008 graduate, paced the field in the 800-meter run with a victory in the event (2:06.79). Sophomore Danielle Tauro took a break from her distance events to run with with her former teammate. But instead of battling Edwards, Tauro was running for second place. Down the final stretch, she was edged out by four hundredths of a second to finish third (2:09.57).

The Wolverines used the non-scoring meet as an opportunity to warm-up for the Big Ten Championships next weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

"The goals were met, coming out healthy, as always, coming out with some improved performances and confidence," Michigan coach James Henry said. "Right now, rest is the most important thing to make sure that we are in a good position to be competitive. And hopefully, we will be in the top three."

The competition also marked the last time senior and co-captain Tiffany Ofili would compete in front of the home crowd in the maize and blue. Looking to set the stadium record in the 100-meter hurdles, Ofili catapulted out of the blocks. The Ypsilanti native crossed the finish line first (12.98), but since it was a wind-aided time it will not stand as a Ferry Field record.

Henry had high praise for the outgoing senior class that includes Gall, Ofili and fellow senior Bettie Wade whom competed in last summer's Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. In addition, Ofili has earned four individual NCAA titles while Gall won her first individual crown in the 800-meter run last year.

"They were not the most heralded class coming in, but they are the most-heralded class we have had going out," Henry said.