U-M Wins Three Events at Boston University Invitational

Friday, January 28

Boston, Mass.

Michigan

B.U. Invitational

U-M Wins Three Events at Boston University Invitational

1/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

BOSTON, Mass. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan men's track and field team experienced its share of near-misses in its first-ever appearance at the Boston University Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 29) as four different Wolverines fell fractions of second shy of NCAA provisional-qualifying standards.

Junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS), sophomore Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) and senior/junior Kevin Peterman (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS) led the Wolverines at the non-scoring meet by capturing individual event titles -- each for the second week in a row -- in the 800-meter run, 55-meter hurdles and pole vault, respectively.

After sitting near the back of the pack through a slow opening two laps, Ellerton started to move with 300 meters remaining to gradually push his way to the front. Using his kick, the Wolverine caught Pennsylvania's Courtney Jaworski entering the final stretch and pulled away from the field to clock a time of 1:49.75. Ellerton improved his season best in the event by five seconds after opening at last weekend's Red Simmons Invitational (Jan. 22) and missed the NCAA provisional-qualifying standard by just 0.55 seconds. Sophomore Sebastien Lounis (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Seaholm HS) ran a personal-best 1:51.39 to claim seventh among the 27-man field, trimming nearly a second from his previous mark.

Porter boasted his second high-hurdles title of the season in just his second hurdles race, pacing the seven-man final to the line with a time of 7.43. The Wolverine had run a tick faster during Friday evening's preliminary round, clocking 7.42 to miss the NCAA provisional mark by a slim 0.04 seconds.

Peterman dominated the pole-vault field for the second consecutive week, capturing the event crown with a height of 15-11 3/4, six inches better than a pair of unattached runners-up. Sophomore Kevin Day (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North HS) shared fifth place in the competition -- with Yale's Matthew Lachman -- at 14-6.

The Wolverines exhibited their tremendous depth in the 400-meter dash with three individuals among the top 15 placers and five posting marks under 50 seconds. Sophomore Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) boasted the top U-M performance in the event -- his first 400-meter race of the season -- claiming runner-up honors with a time of 47.29, just 0.04 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional-qualifying standard. Sophomore John D'Arcy (Clayton, Mich./Northmont HS) also registered a solid showing, trimming 0.01 seconds from his personal best to place 10th at 48.43.

Just one week after blazing a personal best in the mile, fifth-year senior Tom Greenless (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) did in the same in Friday evening's 3,000-meter run, posting a time of 8:05.23 to place seventh in the championship-division race. Greenless shaved nearly 30 seconds from his previous mark -- registered at last season's Red Simmons Invitational -- and missed the NCAA provisional-qualifying standard in the event by just 0.23 seconds.

Sophomore Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) recorded season-best marks in both horizontal-jump events, claiming runner-up honors in the triple jump and finishing fourth in the long jump. Whitehead posted a 49-5 in the triple jump, bettering last weekend's season-opening mark by more than two feet, and registered a 22-4 1/4 in the long jump, coming within three inches of his personal best in the event.

The Wolverines hit the road next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 4-5) for the annual Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The two-day competition is slated to begin at 5 p.m. on Friday evening at Notre Dame's Loftus Sports Center.

Event Winners/U-M Finishes

Friday Results

3,000-meter Run 1. Zach Castiglione, Miami 8:39.23 3,000-meter Run 1. Mark Carroll, adidas 7:46.60 7. Tom Greenless , U-M 8:05.23 5,000-meter Run 1. Fernando Cabada, Virginia Intermont 13:54.13 Distance Medley Relay 1. Duke 9:56.77

Saturday Results

55-meter Dash 1. Kevon Pierre, Florida International 6.85 7. Nathan Taylor, U-M 6.62 200-meter Dash 1. Danny Johnson, Seton Hall 21.28 14. Jason Stewart, U-M 22.44 20. David Battani, U-M 22.88 400-meter Dash 1. Bayano Kamani, Santa Monica TC 46.26 2. Stann Waithe, U-M 47.29 10. John D'Arcy, U-M 48.43 15. Andrew Wechter, U-M 49.50 18. Seth Waits, U-M 49.59 20. Chris Stowe, U-M 49.73 22. DarNell Talbert, U-M 50.45 800-meter Run 1. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:49.75 7. Sebastien Lounis, U-M 1:50.39 Mile Run 1. Alan Webb, Nike 3:59.80 7. Rondell Ruff, U-M 4:07.99 60-meter Hurdles 1. Jeff Porter, U-M 7.43 4x400-meter Relay 1. Delaware State 3:12.11 3. Michigan 3:18.02 High Jump 1. Brian McCarthy, Dartmouth 6-9 3/4 (2.08m) t2. Brad Miller, U-M 6-8 (2.03m) Long Jump 1. Jade Ellis, Duke 23-9 (7.24m) 4. Michael Whitehead, U-M 22-4 1/4 (6.81m) 7. Adam Kiesler, U-M 21-11 1/2 (6.69m) 8. Jason Stewart, U-M 21-10 1/4 (6.66m) Triple Jump 1. Mark Axt, Lemans TC 49-10 1/2 (15.20m) 2. Michael Whitehead, U-M 49-5 (15.06m) Pole Vault 1. Kevin Peterman, U-M 15-0 (4.87m) t5. Kevin Day, U-M 14-6 (4.42m) -- Spencer Dowdall, U-M NH Shot Put 1. Matt Brown, Dartmouth 53-2 3/4 (16.22m) Weight Throw 1. Chris Bryce, unattached 61-2 3/4 (18.66m) 4. Nick Vander Ploeg, U-M 53-11 (16.43m) 6. Chris McHugh, U-M 50-3 1/2 (16.24m) 15. Dan Bedoya, unattached 40-10 1/2 (12.45m)