Michigan
EMU Twilight Meet
Willis, Brannen Hit NCAA Qualifying Times at EMU Meet
4/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Despite a soaking rain and cold and windy conditions, the University of Michigan men's track and field team added a pair of NCAA regional-qualifying performances at the EMU Twilight Meet on Friday (April 22) as junior/sophomore Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS) and senior/junior Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) finished 1-2 in the 1,500-meter run.
The Wolverine pair led a U-M sweep of the top four positions in the event, clocking 3:41.81 and 3:41.92, respectively, to better the qualifying standard by more than six seconds in their outdoor season debuts. Freshman Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) also posted an NCAA regional-qualifying time -- his second in two weeks -- in a third-place effort of 3:47.62, while junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) posted a time of 3:49.99 in fourth place.
With five Wolverines competing in the fifth and fastest heat, senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) pushed to the front from the gun, pacing the nine-man field through the opening 200 meters before allowing Ellerton to take the lead. Willis and Brannen remained in the third and fourth spots as the tight pack moved through the 800-meter mark at 2:00. Willis took off with one lap remaining, and with Brannen on his heels, the pair pulled away from the field, maintaining their positions to the finish line.
Bolstering the U-M middle-distance events were a trio of personal-best performances in the 800-meter run as sophomore John D'Arcy (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont HS), freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS) and freshman Andrew Wechter (Shelby, Ohio/Shelby HS) all placed among the top 11. It was the first collegiate open 800m for both 400-meter specialists D'Arcy and Wechter. D'Arcy placed third with a time of 1:52.31, while Wecther moved from third to first in the final 100 meters of his heat to claim the 11th overall spot at 1:55.11. Woods shaved a full second from his previous personal best with a time of 1:52.92 and a seventh-place finish.
Wolverines runners took three of the top four spots in the 400-meter hurdles with sophomore/freshman Chris Stowe (Traverse City, Mich./North HS) setting the pace with a time of 53.86 in a runner-up performance. Competing unattached, freshman Dan Harmsen (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) clocked a personal-best 53.94 to win his heat and qualify for the U.S. Junior National Championships in June.
Leading the U-M field events with his first collegiate victory was junior Brad Miller (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS), who cleared 6-6 3/4 to share first place in the high jump with Eastern Michigan's Adam Kring and London Western's Mark Scherle.
The Wolverines will head to the prestigious Penn Relays next weekend (April 28-30) in Philadelphia, Pa.
Event Winners/U-M Finishes
100-meter Dash 1. Enrique Colville, Eastern Michigan 10.78 4. Francis LeGasse, U-M 11.31 200-meter Dash 1. Mike Wilburn, Hope 22.77 400-meter Dash 1. Kenny Coleman, Grand Valley State 48.41 6. Seth Waits, U-M 49.55 800-meter Run 1. Phil Marlatt, Michigan State 1:50.35# 3. John D'Arcy, U-M 1:52.31 7. Mike Woods, U-M 1:52.92 11. Andrew Wechter, U-M 1:55.11 22. Ryan Gall, U-M 1:57.41 1,500-meter Run 1. Nick Willis, U-M 3:41.81# 2. Nate Brannen, U-M 3:41.92# 3. Victor Gras, U-M 3:47.62# 4. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 3:49.99 13. Rondell Ruff, U-M 3:55.42 20. Todd Iacovelli, U-M 3:58.23 21. Andrew Bauer, U-M 3:58.35 24. Brian Les, U-M 3:59.05 28. Ethan Brown, U-M 4:01.49 29. Joe Schramski, U-M 4:02.54 3,000-meter Run 1. Neal Naughton, unattached 8:33.44 2. James Reichardt, U-M 8:37.59 6. Brian Les, U-M 8:37.68 8. Seth Thibodeau, U-M 8:44.87 9. Todd Iacovelli, U-M 8:46.57 11. Dan Murray, U-M 8:50.74 5,000-meter Run 1. Adam Frezza, Oakland 14:38.17 110-meter Hurdles 1. Eric Alejandro, Eastern Michigan 14.60 3. Rich LaCroix, unattached 14.91 400-meter Hurdles 1. Eric Alejandro, Eastern Michigan 53.52 2. Chris Stowe, U-M 53.86 3. Dan Harmsen, unattached 53.94 4. David Battani, U-M 54.34 7. Nick Meter, U-M 55.50 3,000-meter Steeplechase 1. Aaron Iverson, Calvin 9:18.46 4x100-meter Relay 1. Eastern Michigan 41.50 4x400-meter Relay 1. Hillsdale 3:21.99 High Jump 1. Brad Miller, U-M 6-6 3/4 (2.00m) Adam Kring, Eastern Michigan 6-6 3/4 (2.00m) Mark Scherle, London Western 6-6 3/4 (2.00m) Long Jump 1. Julien Williams, Michigan State 24-1 1/2# (7.35m) 4. Adam Kiesler, U-M 22-0 3/4 (6.72m) 9. Michael Whitehead, U-M 19-8 3/4 (6.01m) Triple Jump 1. Dakel Vicks, Findlay 46-7 1/2 (14.21m) 2. David Grant, U-M 44-4 3/4 (13.53m) Pole Vault 1. Josh Goodrich, Eastern Michigan 14-6 (4.42m) Shot Put 1. Nate Mekes, Calvin 57-1# (17.40m) 6. Paul Sarantos, U-M 51-8 1/2 (15.76m) 14. Dan Bedoya, unattached 43-0 (13.13m) Discus Throw 1. Nate Mekes, Calvin 175-6# (53.50m) 3. Joey Sarantos, U-M 161-0 (49.33m) 10. Paul Sarantos, U-M 135-7 (41.32m) Javelin Throw 1. Kevin Kimpel, unattached 164-10 (50.24m) Hammer Throw 1. AG Kruger, Ashland Elite 238-10# (72.81m) 5. Chris McHugh, U-M 178-5 (54.38m) # NCAA Regional Qualifier
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
