Posted on May 27, 2007

Memorial Day weekend proved to be a very memorable one for the Michigan women's track and field team.

Following the team's 36-point, fifth-place finish in last year's Mideast Regionals, the 10th-ranked Wolverines looked to improve at this year's meet in Columbia, Mo. Michigan finished in third place with 63 points, its best-ever performed at the NCAA Mideast Regional in school history.

LSU took the title with 112 points and Arkansas took second with 77 points.

"We had a really good weekend," coach Mike McGuire said through the athletic department. "LSU is loaded and they're the favorite to win the NCAAs. Arkansas had a good meet. And I think we had an outstanding week."

Three Wolverines claimed regional crowns. Junior Nicole Edwards took the 1,500-meter run, fifth-year senior co-captain Katie Erdman won the 800-meter run and graduate student Ann Willard dominated the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Willard's time of 9:44.88 set the Michigan outdoor track record (29 seconds less than the record was two weeks ago, before Willard broke it twice), Mideast Regional meet record and the Audrey J. Walton Stadium record.

"Anna (Willard) was totally unpressed," McGuire said through the athletic department.

The three winners, along with five of their teammates, advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships held on June 6.

Sophomores Geena Gall, Tiffany Ofili and Bettie Wade all qualified with their times in the 800m run, 100m hurdles and high jump, respectively. Senior Erin Webster and fifth-year senior Arianne Field qualified in the high jump and 5,000-meter run, respectively.

"We're in a position to have our best team finish ever," McGuire said through the athletic department.