Willis Qualifies for NCAAs; Four Run Provisional Times

Saturday, February 5

South Bend, Ind.

Michigan

Meyo Invitational (Day 2)

Willis Qualifies for NCAAs; Four Run Provisional Times

2/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Junior Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS) made an impressive season debut, netting an NCAA automatic-qualiying time with a first-place performance in the 3,000-meter individual run, as the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan men's track and field team wrapped up second-day competition at the Meyo Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 5) at Notre Dame's Loftus Center. Four Wolverine runners also claimed NCAA provisional standards to highlight a strong U-M showing at the prestigious non-scoring indoor meet.

Clocking a time of 7:48.65 in his first competitive race since midway through the 2004 cross country season, Willis recorded the nation's fastest 3,000-meter run of the season to dominate the 22-man field. Willis stayed near the middle of the pack -- around the eighth or ninth positions -- through the opening few laps before gradually moving toward the front as the field began to string out around the track. The Wolverine took off with 400 meters remaining to take the lead and sprint away from the opposition, crossing the line 2.31 seconds ahead of runner-up Stephan Haas of Indiana. Willis, the 2004 NCAA runner-up in the 3,000-meter run, shattered the automatic-qualifying standard of 7:56.00 in the event and bettered the previous top national time of the season -- held by Brigham Young's Josh Rohantinsky -- by nearly three seconds.

Freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS) also clocked an NCAA provisional time in the event, registering a personal-best 8:02.01 to claim seventh place. Woods shaved more than 10 seconds from his previous best -- recorded just two weeks at the Red Simmons Invitational (Jan. 22) -- to earn his second NCAA provisional time of the season. The performance also gives the Wolverine newcomer the Canadian junior record in the indoor 3,000, bettering Ian Clarke's 26-year-old mark by more than two seconds.

Senior Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) picked up his second NCAA qualifying standard of the weekend -- and fourth in the last three weeks -- earning a provisional time of 1:49.07 with a first-place performance in the 800-meter run. Starting the race in the inside box, Brannen got out to a strong start but had to tuck in behind Alabama's Peter Etoot as the Crimson Tide runner pressed for the lead when the field converged. With Etoot leading a slow pace, Brannen moved to the front at the halfway point to take control of the race, but Etoot accelerated around the bend to retake the lead and again slow the pace. Brannen made his final move down the homestretch, using his kick to pass Etoot and beat him to the finish line by 0.30 seconds. The Wolverine captain missed the NCAA automatic standard by just a tick over one second.

Senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) shattered his personal record in the mile to hit the first NCAA indoor qualifying standard of his career. Ruff clocked 4:04.68 to claim seventh place in the Meyo section of the event, trimming 3.31 seconds from his previous best, set last weekend at the Boston University Invitational (Jan. 29).

The third time proved a charm for sophomore Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) as the Wolverine clocked an NCAA-provisional 7.89 to place sixth in his third hurdles race of the season, missing his personal best in the event by a mere 0.02 seconds. In a blanket finish at the line, just 0.09 seconds separated Porter from second-place Montrell Person, while Mississippi's Antwon Hicks captured the win with an NCAA-automatic 7.69.

After showing steady improvements throughout the season, junior Brad Miller (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) boasted a breakthrough performance in the high jump, claiming fourth place with a personal-best mark of 6-11. Miller added an inch and a half to his previous best -- set at last season's Big Ten indoor meet -- and equaled the top U-M high jump showing in eight seasons.

The Wolverines will look to defend their team title at the Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 11-12) in State College, Pa. Competition is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening and resume the next morning at 10 a.m. at Penn State's Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Track.

Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 2)

60-meter Dash 1. Johnie Drake, Central Michigan 6.56 9. Nathan Taylor, U-M 6.92 200-meter Dash 1. David Neville, Indiana 21.18 10. Stann Waithe, U-M 21.74 29. David Battani, U-M 22.92 400-meter Dash 1. Dirk Homewood, Northern Iowa 46.55 21. Andrew Wechter, U-M 49.23 24. DarNell Talbert, U-M 49.34 44. Nick Meter, U-M 51.10 800-meter Run 1. Nate Brannen, U-M 1:49.07 7. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:50.31 22. Sebastien Lounis, U-M 1:53.18 35. Ryan Gall, U-M 1:55.54 Mile Run (Meyo) 1. Sean Jefferson, Indiana 3:56.44 7. Rondell Ruff, U-M 4:04.68 Mile Run 1. Tipper O'Brien, Missouri 4:07.30 5. Joe Schramski, U-M 4:15.08 3,000-meter Run 1. Nick Willis, U-M 7:48.65 8. Mike Woods, U-M 8:02.01 60-meter Hurdles 1. Antwon Hicks, Mississippi 7.69 6. Jeff Porter, U-M 7.89 4x400-meter Relay 1. Northern Iowa 3:08.09 5. Michigan 3:10.88 (Mike Woods, Stann Waithe, Andrew Ellerton, Nate Brannen) High Jump 1. Steve Wolf, unattached 7-4 1/2 (2.25m) 4. Brad Miller, U-M 6-11 (2.11m) Triple Jump 1. Aarik Wilson, Indiana 53-1 1/2 (16.19m) 10. Michael Whitehead, U-M 46-8 (14.22m) Shot Put 1. Ryan Ketchum, Indiana 57-7 1/2 (17.56m) 17. Paul Sarantos, U-M 46-5 1/2 (14.16m) 19. Joey Sarantos, U-M 44-8 1/4 (13.62m)