Weekly Release #17
5/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Fri-Sun., May 18-20 -- at Big Ten Outdoor Championships (Bloomington, Ind.)
Wed-Sun., May 30-June 2 -- at NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.)
This Week: Big Ten Championships
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will head to the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships this weekend (Friday through Sunday, May 18-20) hosted by Indiana University on the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind. The decathlon will begin on Friday and the evening will end with the 10,000-meter run. The rest of the track and field events will start on Saturday.
There is no charge for Friday's events. Saturday and Sunday will be $7 for adults and $4 for youth (all children-college students). Tickets will be available only at the gate. For more information and the schedule of events, visit Indiana's site.
Michigan at Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Michigan has won the most Big Ten Outdoor Championship team titles with 30, the last coming in 1983. Illinois is second on the list with 28. The Wolverines won four consecutive team titles three times in the school's history: 1901-04, 1937-40 and 1980-83.
Two former Wolverines are still linked to the Big Ten Outdoor Championships for their accomplishments. Current assistant coach Kevin Sullivan (1994-98) was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1994 at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. He also went on to be named the Athlete of the Year in 1995 and 1998, and was the Athlete of the Championship in 1995. John Mortimer (1996-99) also shined at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, as he was the Athlete of the Championship twice, in 1997 and 1998.
Last Year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Michigan finished in eighth-place (65 points) as Wisconsin won the team title with 155 points at the 2000 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The Wolverines produced two Big Ten individual champions, both of whom could defend their titles. Junior Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) was the 10,000-meter champion by running a time of 29:59.93. Senior Charles DeWildt (Wyoming, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) won the pole vault championship by clearing a height of 17-1 1/2. However, DeWildt may not be able to participate this weekend due to a leg injury he sustained this past weekend at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 12). Here is a list of the returning Wolverines who scored at last year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships:
| | Ike Okenwa | 100-meter dash, 5th |
| Ike Okenwa | 200-meter dash, 3rd | |
| Josh Sellers | 400-meter hurdles, 5th | |
| Charles DeWildt | Pole vault, 1st | |
| Andy Derr | Javelin, 5th | |
| Nick Rogers | Discus, 6th | |
| Mike Wisniewski | 10,000-meter run, 1st |
Tracking the Big Ten
With the Big Ten Outdoor Championships this week in Bloomington, Ind., several Wolverines are ranked among the Big Ten elite in their respective events according to CollegeRunning.com. Here is a list of Michigan athletes who are ranked in the top five of each event (as of May 14):
| | Event | Individual | Rank (Time/Mark) |
| 800-Meter run | Brian Turner | 4th (1:50.89) | |
| 10,000-Meter run | Steve Lawrence | 3rd (29:32.81) | |
| Pole Vault | Charles DeWildt | 5th (17-0 3/4) |
Okenwa Doubles Up at Len Paddock Invitational
Michigan hosted its final outdoor meet of the 2001 season with the Len Paddock Invitational over the weekend (May 11-12) on Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines won seven events over the two days. Junior Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) won both the 100- and 200-meter dashes for the second week in a row. Here are the Michigan event winners:
| | Ike Okenwa | 100-meter dash (10.49) |
| Ike Okenwa | 200-meter dash (21.08) | |
| Josh Sellers | 400-meter hurdles (51.44)* | |
| Ryan Hesselink | 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:12.69)* | |
| Oded Padan | Triple jump (48-6 1/4) | |
| Charles DeWildt | Pole vault (17-0) | |
| Andy Derr | Javelin (209-0) | |
* Personal best |
Sellers Moves up in Record Book
Senior co-captain Josh Sellers (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee HS) ran a personal-best time of 51.44 to win the 400-meter hurdles at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 11). By doing so, Sellers passed by Calvin Williams' (1977-80) time of 51.46 and moved into fifth place on the Michigan all-time outdoor best list. Here are the top five fastest times in the 400-meter hurdles in Michigan history:
| | Neil Gardner | 48.30 (1996) |
| Gary Hicks | 50.44 (1978) | |
| Shelby Johnson | 50.77 (1981) | |
| Brian Theisen | 51.31 (1998) | |
| Josh Sellers | 51.44 (2001) |
PR's Fall Over Weekend
At the Len Paddock Invitational (May 11-12), 11 personal bests were achieved by Michigan athletes. Here is the breakdown:
| | Ravi Smith | 200-meter dash (22.09) |
| Anthony Beal | 200-meter dash (22.38) | |
| Terrence Walcott | 200-meter dash (23.08) | |
| Dan Cooke | 400-meter dash (50.86) | |
| Mason Ward | 800-meter run (1:54.64) | |
| Mason Ward | 1,500-meter run (3:47.07) | |
| Nick Stanko | 1,500-meter run (4:09.89) | |
| Josh Sellers | 400-meter hurdles (51.44) | |
| Andrew Ochs | 400-meter hurdles (53.31) | |
| Ryan Hesselink | 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:12.69) | |
| David Sage | 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:21.14) |
Lawrence Provisionals at Penn Relays
Senior Steve Lawrence (Consecon, Ontario/East Northumberland SS) ran to the first NCAA provisional time by a male Wolverine this 2001 outdoor season with his 29:32.81 effort in the 10,000-meter run at the Penn Relays (April 26) in Philadelphia, Pa. Lawrence was a 2000 NCAA Indoor All-American in the 5,000 in his only NCAA Championship appearance in his career.
Okenwa Leading the Way, Again
The entire indoor season, junior Ike Okenwa led the team with the most individual wins, and he is doing it again during the outdoor season. Okenwa has eight individual wins this season, five more than any other Wolverine on the squad. He picked up two more wins this past weekend at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 11-12). Three Michigan athletes are tied for second with three individual wins. Senior Charles DeWildt won the pole vault at the Len Paddock Invitational, Toledo Invitational (May 4) and at the Michigan Triangular (April 14). Senior co-captain Josh Sellers has won three 400-meter hurdle races, as does senior Oded Padan (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance HS) in the triple jump after competing at the Len Paddock Invitational, Toledo Invitational and Michigan Triangular.
Contact: Steve Grialou (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
