Weekly Release #16

Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sat., May 11-12 -- host Len Paddock Invitational (Ferry Field)
Sat-Sun., May 19-20 -- at Big Ten Outdoor Championships (Bloomington, Ind.)

This Week: Len Paddock Invitational
The University of Michigan men's track and field will host its second outdoor meet of the season with the two-day Len Paddock Invitational this Friday and Saturday (May 11-12) on Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. This is the final tuneup for the Maize and Blue prior to the Big Ten Outdoor Championships the following weekend (May 19-20) in Bloomington, Ind.

Field events will begin at 11 a.m. both days. Track events will start at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Teams that will be competing other than Michigan are: Michigan State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Siena Heights, Hillsdale College and other collegiate programs and track clubs. Results will be available shortly after the final event each day at MGoBlue.com. [ Schedule of Events ]

More on Len Paddock
Lenwood Paddock was an assistant trainer at Michigan for 33 years working with all sports including track and field. Paddock's career spanned the football coaching tenures of Fritz Crisler, Bennie Oosterbaan, Bump Elliot and Bo Schembechler. In his first season with the Wolverines, 1947-48, Michigan won national championships in football, hockey and swimming, the men's basketball team captured the Big Ten title and Charles Fonville set a world record in the shot put. On March 3, 1984, the Michigan track team re-named its training room to the Lenwood Paddock Training Room.

Last Year's Len Paddock Invitational
Michigan returns several athletes who did well at the 2000 Len Paddock Invitational. Charles DeWildt (Wyoming, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) set his personal best in the pole vault with a mark of 17-4 3/4, which moved him into No. 2 on Michigan's individual career list for that event. Michigan's lone event champion of the day was junior hurdler Josh Sellers (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee HS), who won the 400-meter hurdles in 52.43. Wolverine thrower Andy Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) delivered Michigan's other personal best with a toss of 217-9 in the javelin to place runner-up. Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) set his personal and season team best in the 100-meter dash by running in a time of 10.22. Michigan also received a solid effort from Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS), who finished second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.09).

Okenwa Wins Twice at Toledo Invitational
Junior Ike Okenwa won both the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Toledo Invitational (May 4-5) in Toledo, Ohio. Okenwa and the rest of the Wolverines won a total of seven events and had four-runner up finishes over the two-day meet. Here are the Michigan event winners:

	Ike Okenwa	100-meter dash (10.68)
	Ike Okenwa	200-meter dash (21.28)
	Ravi Smith	400-meter dash (47.82)
	Josh Sellers	400-meter hurdles (51.84)
	Charles DeWildt	Pole vault (15-0)
	Oded Padan	Triple jump (49-3 3/4)
	Wishart, Smith,   Sellers, Okenwa	1,600-meter relay (3:12.65)

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.

Tracking the Big Ten
With the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in three weeks 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 7):

Event	Individual	Rank (Time/Mark)
800-Meter run	Brian Turner	4th (1:50.89)
1,500-Meter run	Brian Turner	5th (3:50.69)
10,000-Meter run	Steve Lawrence	2nd (29:32.81)
Pole Vault	Charles DeWildt	5th (17-0 3/4)

PR's Fall Over Weekend
At the Toledo Invitational (May 4-5), two personal bests were achieved by Michigan athletes. Here is the breakdown:

	Terrence Rindler	800-Meter run (1:53.17)
	Dave Sage	5,000-Meter run (15:10.24)

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 six individual wins this season, four more than any other Wolverine on the squad. He picked up two more wins this past weekend at the Toledo Invitational (May 4-5). Four Michigan athletes are tied for second with two individual wins. Senior Ravi Smith (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup HS) won the 400-meter dash at the Toledo Invitational and Michigan Triangular (April 14). Senior Charles DeWildt won the pole vault at the same two meets. Senior co-captain Josh Sellers has two 400-meter hurdles to claim, as does senior Oded Padan (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance HS) in the triple jump after competing at the Toledo Invitational and Michigan Triangular.