Michigan
Duke Invitational
Sarantos Qualifies for NCAA Regional in Discus at Duke
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
DURHAM, N.C. -- In spite of thunderstorms and numerous weather delays, several members of the University of Michigan men's track and field team posted solid marks at the Duke Invitational, held Friday and Saturday (April 8-9) at Wallace Wade Stadium. Three Wolverines boasted NCAA Regional-qualifying marks at the non-scoring meet, headlined by senior/junior Joey Sarantos (Portage, Mich./Northern HS), who registered a career best in the discus throw.
Claiming third place among the 31-man field with a mark of 169-10, Sarantos added nearly six feet to his previous personal best in the event, which he recorded at last season's home Len Paddock meet. The Wolverine finished less than four feet shy of event winner Dan Royal of Liberty University while bettering the regional-qualifying standard by more than four and a half feet.
Sophomore Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) also posted an NCAA Regional-qualifying mark -- his second in as many weeks -- in a third-place performance in the triple jump. With a leap of 49-10, Whitehead missed his season-best mark in the event by just one inch.
Rounding out the U-M field events was sophomore Chris McHugh (Nokington, R.I./Bishop Hendricken HS), who claimed eighth in the hammer throw with a season-best mark of 172-0.
The Wolverines also boasted a strong quartet of hurdlers at the two-day meet with sophomore Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) in the 110-meter high hurdles and seniors Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego HS), David Battani (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) and Nick Meter (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS) in the 400-meter event. Placing fifth overall, Porter clocked 14.24 in the preliminary round to earn his third NCAA regional qualifying time in three weeks, while Waits, Battani and Meter all posted season-best performances with times of 52.69, 53.33 and 54.94, respectively.
The Wolverines will resume competition next Saturday (April 16) at the Sun Devil Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.
Event Winners/U-M Finishes
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
Triple Jump 1. Daniel Harris, North Carolia 52-1# (15.87m) 3. Michael Whitehead, U-M 49-10# (15.19m) Hammer Throw 1. Eric Frasure, East Carolia 185-11# (56.68m) 8. Chris McHugh, U-M 172-0 (52.44m)
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
110-meter Hurdles (Prelims) 1. Enrique Llanos, St. Augustine 13.98q# 4. Jeff Porter, U-M 14.24q# 110-meter Hurdles (Final) 1. Enrique Llanos, St. Augustine 13.97# 5. Jeff Porter, U-M 14.39 400-meter Hurdles (Developmental) 1. Andrew Oyer, Akron 53.80 4. Nick Meter, U-M 54.94 400-meter Hurdles (Seeded) 1. Ian Weakley, unattached 49.99 9. Seth Waits, U-M 52.69 12. David Battani, U-M 53.33 Discus Throw 1. Dan Royal, Liberty 173-4# (52.84m) 3. Joey Sarantos, U-M 169-10# (51.76m) # NCAA Regional Qualifier Qq indicates qualification for next round
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
