The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/315684
T he Michigan women's track and field team, helped by event titles from sophomore sprinter Cindy Ofili and freshman long-distance special- ist Erin Finn, tied for fourth place at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships May 16-18 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Wolverines scored 86 points in the three-day meet, four more than they did at the conference outdoor meet last season, but finished in the same spot. The Wolverines, who last won the Big Ten Outdoor Champion- ships title in 2007, have finished in the top five in each of the last two years, after placing eighth in 2010, 10th in 2011 and seventh in 2012. Penn State took home the confer- ence crown, scoring 136 points. "We set ourselves up well going into the finals, but it just wasn't our day this final day," Michigan head coach James Henry said. "It was just us not doing what we're capable of doing. I don't think it was a lack of effort of our athletes, it just wasn't there. I could see them trying to give it all they have, but there was not enough gas in the tank. We need to regroup and get ready for regionals." Ofili, who won the 60-meter hurdles title at the Big Ten Indoor Champion- ships, capped off a tremendous season by sweeping the short-hurdle races with a win in the 100-meter hurdles at the outdoor meet. Her time of 12.93, a career best, was 0.30 seconds faster than runner-up Evonne Britton of Penn State. Ofili, the school record holder in the 60-me- ter dash (7.37) and the 200-meter dash (23.69), was named the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Year earlier this season. "She's gotten much better from last OLYMPIC SPORTS Cindy Ofili And Erin Finn Win Titles At Big Ten Championship Meet Ofili, a sophomore sprinter, won the league crown in the 100-meter hurdles, and she also finished third in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the 100-meter dash. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS