Weekly Release #15

Upcoming Schedule
Sunday, May 5 -- at Jesse Owens Classic (Columbus, Ohio)
Fri-Sat., May 10-11 -- host Len Paddock Invitational (Ferry Field), 6:30 p.m./12:30 p.m.

This Week
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to compete at the Jesse Owens Classic on Sunday (May 5). Among the teams expected to join Michigan at the non-scoring meet are Ohio State, Alabama, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Kent State and Oregon. Field events are scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Last Week Recap
Michigan split into two groups last week, with one group going to the Penn Relays (April 25-27) and the other heading to the Hillsdale Relays (April 26-27). Both squads had successful results, led by a career best in the 400-meter hurdles by junior tri-captain Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS) at the Penn Relays. Freshman Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS) also contributed in Philadelphia, Pa., by anchoring the distance medley relay and running the second leg of the 4x800-meter relay that placed fifth with a time of 7:23.95.

At the Hillsdale Relays in Hillsdale, Mich., the Wolverines received three top-five results, including a third-place finish in the 800-meter run by senior Kevin Rogan (Grass Lake, Mich./Grass Lake HS). The other top-five finishes for the Maize and Blue came from senior Brent Sheffer (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) in the pole vault and junior Brent Cummings (Belding, Mich./Belding HS) in the 100-meter dash, as both competitors placed fourth.

Webb and Brannen Are Probable for This Weekend
It is uncertain whether the freshman duo of Alan Webb and Nathan Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) will compete this weekend at the Jesse Owens Classic. Webb and Brannen, the only recruiting class ever to feature two runners who have run sub-four minute miles in high school, have not competed together as part of a track team. Both were members of the cross country team that placed 11th at the NCAA Championships (Nov. 19) in Greenville, S.C., but since that time both runners have suffered injuries. Webb missed the indoor season with Achilles tendinitis as Brannen qualified for the NCAA Championships (March 8-9) in the mile. The outdoor season has been the opposite as Webb has already posted an NCAA provisional time in the 1,500-meter run, while Brannen has been forced out of action with a stress fracture.

Hurdling to the Top
After redshirting last season with an injury, junior tri-captain Derek Applewhite is making the most of his return to the track in 2002. After posting a time of 51.80 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Duke Invitational (April 6), Applewhite improved on that time at the Penn Relays (April 27) by posting a career-best 51.58. The time by Applewhite resulted in a sixth-place finish at the Penn Relays while besting his previous best time of 51.69. Finishing behind Applewhite at the Penn Relays was Brian Derby of Penn State, who was the 2001 Big Ten champion in the event.

Webb on the Relays
Freshman Alan Webb competed in his second and third race for the Michigan track team last weekend at the Penn Relays by running on the distance medley relay and the 4x800-meter relay. On Friday (April 26), Webb ran the anchor leg of the distance medley and posted the second fastest split of the race with a time of 3:59.82 in the mile as Michigan finished ninth (9:45.91). The following day, Webb ran a time of 1:49.6 in the second leg of the 4x800-meter relay as the Wolverines finished fifth with a time of 7:23.95.

1:52.4 or Faster
No runner on Michigan's 4x800-meter relay team at the Penn Relays ran a split slower than 1:52.4, which would have placed as the best time by a Wolverine in the 800-meter run this season. Leading the way was Alan Webb with a split of 1:49.6, while junior Philip Stead (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS) ran the third leg with a split of 1:50.9. Sophomore Dan Cooke (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney HS) and junior Jeremy Schneider (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Andover HS) ran the leadoff and anchor legs, respectively, and posted times of 1:52.4 and 1:51.1.

No. 1 in the Conference
Senior tri-captain Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) currently owns the top mark in the 10,000-meter run for the Big Ten Conference with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 28:55.89. Nick Winkel of Wisconsin owns the second fastest time in the 10,000-meter at 29:01.39. Wisniewski's goal is to double up at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 29-June 1) in Baton Rouge, La., by running the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Wisniewski will attempt to qualify in the 5,000-meter run in one of the Wolverines' last three races as he already owns the 10th fastest time in the Big Ten for the event with a mark of 14:37.6

Michigan Will Host Only Home Meet on May 10-11
Michigan will host its only home outdoor track meet of the season with the Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry Field on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11. Track events start on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., while field events are slated to begin at 11 a.m. both days. Admission is free.

Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423