Michigan
Tyson Invitational
Sub-4:00 Mile Gives Brannen Second at Tyson Invitational
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Senior captain Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) of the University of Michigan men's track and field team blazed his second sub-4:00 mile in as many weeks to claim runner-up honors in the invitational division of the event at the prestigious Tyson Invitational on Friday (Feb. 11). In another attempt at the collegiate indoor mile record, Brannen was not able to improve on his 3:55.11 showing two weeks ago at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games (Jan. 29).
With the race constructed to give two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat a shot at the world record in the event, many registered participants had dropped out in the days preceding the competition, leaving just four entries in the final race in addition to a pair of rabbits.
Brannen recorded a time of 3:59.50 -- his fourth consecutive sub-4:00 performance -- to place second among the slim field, finishing nearly 10 seconds behind Lagat, who missed the world record -- held by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj -- by 1.44 seconds. Brannen went straight to the back at the gun, where he remained until the last 350 meters when he used his kick to move around Kenya's Paul Korir and former Wolverine Kevin Sullivan.
Brannen will reunite with his Wolverine teammates next weekend when the Wolverines host the Harold Silverston Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
Michigan Results
Mile Run 1. Bernard Lagat, Nike 3:49.89 2. Nate Brannen, U-M 3:59.50 3. Kevin Sullivan, Reebok 4:00.40 4. Paul Korir, Nike 4:07.31 -- Laban Rotich, adidas DNF -- Fred Sharpe, adidas DNF
Q U O T E S
Senior Nate Brannen
On his mile performance ... "I came into this race knowing that I really wasn't going to break the record, but I decided to try anyway. I've been feeling pretty bad with a throat infection over the last few days, and it didn't feel any better today, but I'm happy with my performance. I got another decent race under my belt, and I'll come back next weekend looking to get my 'A' qualifier in the 800."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
