The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/544673
BY MICHAEL SPATH I n the United States this year (through July 1), two female college athletes have clocked a 100-meter hurdles time of 12.60 seconds or better — Kentucky senior Kendra Harrison (12.50) and Michigan junior Cindy Ofili (12.60). Ofili's mark earned her a second- place finish, to Harrison, at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June — the top individual effort by a Wolverine since Jillian Smith was runner-up in the indoor 800-meter run in 2011 — and was an incredible .21 seconds faster than her previous lifetime best. Ofili's time also eclipsed older sister Tiffany's program record 12.73, which won her the 2008 outdoor national title. "My main goal was to win, and I wasn't even thinking about running it in a certain time," said Ofili. "When I crossed the finish line it was upsetting that I came in second, but when I saw my time, and saw that I demolished Tiffany's record, I said, 'I'll take that.' "In our house, for now, I have bragging rights." Tiffany captured five individual hurdle national titles for the Wolverines during a career from 2006- 09 in which she established herself the greatest sprinter and hurdler in U-M history. While her younger sibling cannot match her for hardware, she is determined to further the family legacy. "I definitely think I can go faster," Ofili said. "There are some technical issues within my race, even though I did PR [set a personal record], if I can BLAZING HER OWN TRAIL Cindy Ofili Has Stepped Out Of Her Sister's Shadow To Set Her Own Records FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR CINDY OFILI