Michigan
Alex Wilson Invitational (Day 2)
Brannen Breaks School 800m Mark, Qualifies for NCAAs
3/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Senior captain Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS), a member of the University of Michigan men's track and field team, bettered his own school record to win the Wilson section of the 800-meter run at the Alex Wilson Invitational on Saturday (March 5) and secure his trip to next weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships.
Clocking an indoor personal-best 1:47.51, Brannen broke the U-M school record in the indoor 800m for the fourth time in three years, trimming 0.10 seconds from his previous mark, recorded at last season's NCAA Championships.
Prior to the Alex Wilson meet, Brannen ranked 19th on the NCAA's 2005 performance list with an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 1:49.07, but he now climbs into the sixth spot -- combining with last-chance results from Iowa State -- giving the Wolverine captain an opportunity to race for his third consecutive NCAA indoor title in the event. Brannen bettered the automatic-qualifying standard by 0.49 seconds.
As the 20-man field bunched together at the start of the race, Brannen briefly accelerated his pace to move up to the heels of Tim Dunn, the competition's designated rabbit. Dunn took the field through the opening 400 meters at 52 seconds before stepping into lane two at the 500-meter mark. Brannen maintained a five-meter lead as he moved into the lead and continued to pull away from the field in the remaining lap, closing in 28 seconds to finish 0.78 seconds ahead of runner-up Courtney Jaworski from Pennsylvania.
With six automatic-qualifying standards and several provisional mark, the Wolverines will send a strong contingent to the NCAA Indoor Championships next Friday and Saturday (March 11-12) in Fayetteville, Ark.
U-M Results
400-meter Dash 1. Miles Smith, Southeast Missouri 46.42# 17. John D'Arcy, U-M 48.62 Wilson 800-meter Run 1. Nate Brannen, U-M 1:47.51* 60-meter Hurdles (Prelims) 1. Montrell Person, Georgia Tech 7.77# 8. Jeff Porter, U-M 8.05 Triple Jump 1. Rick Bellford, Wisconsin 52-0 1/2# (15.86m) 2. Michael Whitehead, U-M 49-10 1/2 (15.20m) Pole Vault 1. Paul Gensic, Air Force 17-9 3/4 (5.43m) -- Kevin Peterman, U-M NH
Q U O T E S
Senior Nate Brannen
On the 800-meter race ... "I felt really relaxed. I felt good through the 600, and I thought I'd actually be able to run a little faster, but I didn't have anyone around me. I knew this was the meet for me to get [the automatic qualifier], but before the race I was just concerned about getting tripped up or boxed in. I'm definitely relieved that everything worked out, and I'm confident now going into nationals."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
