2008 Woodie Awards
Six first-place finishes pace team
By: Tim Ottusch
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Sports
Four consecutive CMU runners streaked across the finish line in the 60-meter dash Friday in the Jack Skoog Open.
The team's dominance in the dash was a microcosm of the entire meet. The Chippewas had six first-places, five second-places, six third-places and six fourth-places.
"It was a great confidence boost all around, as far as the running and the field events," said coach Karen Lutzke. "I was really pleased with how many of our athletes stepped it up at this competition."
The team's most successful event was the 60m dash. Central took the top four placings and five of the top six. Senior Tempestt Stanford won the dash in 7.65 seconds, followed by freshman Jordan Dunn in second, sophomore Cara Dukes in third and freshman Brittnee Shreve in fourth. Freshman Shanaye Carr placed sixth.
"We had a great 60-meter dash both in the prelims and the finals," Lutzke said. "We had quite a few surprises in the 60. … It was really good to see how competitive those ladies were."
Dunn's (7.68), Dukes' (7.78) and Shreve's (7.88) times all were personal bests. Stanford's time tied her best season-best.
Freshman Danielle Dakroub earned her first collegiate win with a first-place finish in the mile run. Sophomore Sarah Squires finished second.
Lutzke said she was happy that Dakroub won her first race.
"It was really nice. She's been coming along all season," Lutzke said. "She started off not where we wanted her to be. But she's been working hard every day in practice and consistently getting better every week."
Other high placings included junior Shanna Tamminga and Carr in the 60m hurdles. Tamminga finished second, and Carr placed third. In the 400m dash, sophomore Erin Dillon placed second, and freshman Allie Sisson placed third.
Dukes placed second in the 200 and Sisson placed fourth. Sophomore Bryn Smetana finished fourth in the 600.
Senior Jenaie Edwards got a some help from an old friend in the 800m run. CMU 2007 alumna Najah Floyd ran as an open runner and paced Edwards through the first 600 meters of the race. Edwards fell just short of CMU's indoor record of 2 minutes, 10.1 seconds, but won the event in a time of 2:11.94.
"I was very fortunate to have Najah go out and rabbit the race and put together a good 600 meters for me," Edwards said.
Edwards also anchored the 1,600m team, comprising Dillon, Stanford and sophomore Erika Schroll, to a win. They finished with a time of 3:57.21.
Freshman Aleisha Leeper won the triple jump, with a leap of 37 feet, 9.25 inches. Schroll won the high jump with a leap of 5'7.75," four inches better than the second-place finisher. She fell just short of a leap a 5'10," which would have put her on the national provisional list.
The meet was the team's last before this weekend's Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, and this week in practice, Lutzke's main goal is to keep the team fresh and ready to go for this weekend in Ypsilanti.
sports@cm-life.com
The team's dominance in the dash was a microcosm of the entire meet. The Chippewas had six first-places, five second-places, six third-places and six fourth-places.
"It was a great confidence boost all around, as far as the running and the field events," said coach Karen Lutzke. "I was really pleased with how many of our athletes stepped it up at this competition."
The team's most successful event was the 60m dash. Central took the top four placings and five of the top six. Senior Tempestt Stanford won the dash in 7.65 seconds, followed by freshman Jordan Dunn in second, sophomore Cara Dukes in third and freshman Brittnee Shreve in fourth. Freshman Shanaye Carr placed sixth.
"We had a great 60-meter dash both in the prelims and the finals," Lutzke said. "We had quite a few surprises in the 60. … It was really good to see how competitive those ladies were."
Dunn's (7.68), Dukes' (7.78) and Shreve's (7.88) times all were personal bests. Stanford's time tied her best season-best.
Freshman Danielle Dakroub earned her first collegiate win with a first-place finish in the mile run. Sophomore Sarah Squires finished second.
Lutzke said she was happy that Dakroub won her first race.
"It was really nice. She's been coming along all season," Lutzke said. "She started off not where we wanted her to be. But she's been working hard every day in practice and consistently getting better every week."
Other high placings included junior Shanna Tamminga and Carr in the 60m hurdles. Tamminga finished second, and Carr placed third. In the 400m dash, sophomore Erin Dillon placed second, and freshman Allie Sisson placed third.
Dukes placed second in the 200 and Sisson placed fourth. Sophomore Bryn Smetana finished fourth in the 600.
Senior Jenaie Edwards got a some help from an old friend in the 800m run. CMU 2007 alumna Najah Floyd ran as an open runner and paced Edwards through the first 600 meters of the race. Edwards fell just short of CMU's indoor record of 2 minutes, 10.1 seconds, but won the event in a time of 2:11.94.
"I was very fortunate to have Najah go out and rabbit the race and put together a good 600 meters for me," Edwards said.
Edwards also anchored the 1,600m team, comprising Dillon, Stanford and sophomore Erika Schroll, to a win. They finished with a time of 3:57.21.
Freshman Aleisha Leeper won the triple jump, with a leap of 37 feet, 9.25 inches. Schroll won the high jump with a leap of 5'7.75," four inches better than the second-place finisher. She fell just short of a leap a 5'10," which would have put her on the national provisional list.
The meet was the team's last before this weekend's Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, and this week in practice, Lutzke's main goal is to keep the team fresh and ready to go for this weekend in Ypsilanti.
sports@cm-life.com
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