Weekly Release #18
5/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sat., May 27-28 -- at NCAA Mideast Regional (Bloomington, Ind.), Noon/Noon
Wed-Sat., June 8-11 -- at NCAA Outdoor Championships (Sacramento, Calif.)
This Week: NCAA Mideast Regional
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will send 14 different individuals and a relay team to the 2005 NCAA Mideast Regional Friday and Saturday (May 27-28) at Indiana's Robert C. Haugh Complex in Bloomington, Ind. Competition will begin at noon EST/CDT each day, with track events beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, including a complete schedule of events, visit the Indiana website.
Schedule for U-M Athletes (Times EST/CDT)
| |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan at the NCAA Regional
In 2003, the NCAA adopted a regional-qualifying format for the NCAA Championships, dividing the country into four separate regions. A student-athlete must finish in the top five of an individual event or be a member of a top-three relay at the regional championship in order to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. The track and field committee will also select a group of at-large athletes to round out the remainder of the Championships field in each event.
The Wolverines have boasted three individual event champions through two previous regional appearances. Last season, junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) kicked down the competition to win the 800-meter crown with a time of 1:48.32 and capture the second title in the event in two years, adding to senior/junior Nate Brannen's (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) win at the inaugural regional meet. Junior/sophomore Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS) also claimed the 1,500-meter crown to advance to the 2003 NCAA Championships.
Going Back to Cali
The Wolverines have registered 18 NCAA qualifying performances in 11 different events this season -- nine greater than last year. Junior Andrew Ellerton, senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) and junior/sophomore Nick Willis each boasted a pair of qualifying marks -- Ellerton and Ruff in the 800m and 1,500m and Willis in the 1,500m and 5,000m. The 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Mideast Regional will serve as the Wolverines' qualifying meet for the NCAA Championships, scheduled for June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.
| Event (Qualifying Standard) | Name | Time/Mark | Date Set |
| 400-Meter Dash (47.26) | Stann Waithe | 46.70 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| 800-Meter Run (1:50.40) | Andrew Ellerton | 1:48.25 | 5/7 Len Paddock |
| Rondell Ruff | 1:49.67 | 5/15 Big Ten Championships | |
| 1,500-Meter Run (3:48.21) | Nick Willis | 3:41.81 | 4/22 EMU Twilight Meet |
| | Nate Brannen | 3:41.92 | 4/22 EMU Twilight Meet |
| | Mike Woods | 3:44.52 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| | Andrew Ellerton | 3:46.17 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| | Victor Gras | 3:46.75 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| | Rondell Ruff | 3:47.09 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| 5,000-Meter Run (14:15.75) | Nick Willis | 14:14.10 | 5/15 Big Ten Championships |
| 110-Meter Hurdles (14.33) | Jeff Porter | 14.12 | 3/26 Raleigh Relays |
| 400-Meter Hurdles (52.51) | Chris Stowe | 51.52 | 5/15 Big Ten Championships |
| | Seth Waits | 52.34 | 5/6 Len Paddock |
| 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (9:08.15) | Andrew Bauer | 9:04.49 | 4/28 Penn Relays |
| 4x400-Meter Relay (3:10.00) | D'Arcy, Wechter, Waits, Waithe | 3:09.05 | 5/15 Big Ten Championships |
| High Jump (2.10m) | Brad Miller | 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| Triple Jump (15.08m) | Michael Whitehead | 51-3 1/2 (15.63m) | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| Discus Throw (50.37m) | Joey Sarantos | 169-10 (51.76m) | 4/9 Duke Invitational |
In the Nick of Time
Junior/sophomore Nick Willis captured the Wolverines' lone individual title at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15), winning the 5,000-meter run with an NCAA regional-qualifying time of 14:14.10. Willis is the fifth Wolverine runner to capture the 5,000-meter conference title and the first since John Scherer won back-to-back trophies in 1988 and 1989. Willis also holds the qualifying standard in the 1,500-meter run -- the event he won at the 2003 mideast regional -- but will not compete.
Raisin Brannen
Senior/junior captain Nate Brannen nabbed the NCAA qualifying mark in his outdoor-season debut at the EMU Twilight Meet (April 22), clocking 3:41.92 to finish second behind teammate Nick Willis. The performance places fourth among the 1,500-meter field in mideast region, just 0.28 second behind leader Sean Jefferson from Indiana. Misfortune hit Brannen in the 1,500-meter final at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) as a fall in the last 150 meters pushed the U-M captain back to fourth place.
An-drew It Again
Junior Andrew Ellerton returns to the NCAA Mideast Regional as the 800-meter defending champion, coming off a runner-up finish in the event at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15). The Wolverine boasts a season-best 1:48.25 -- recorded at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 6-7) -- and ranks eighth in the mideast region. Ellerton nabbed a pair of regional-qualifying standards in his outdoor season debut, clocking 1:50. 29 in the 800m and 3:46.17 in the 1,500m at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16).
Ruff and Ready
Just one week after breaking the 1:50 milestone in the 800-meter run, senior/junior Rondell Ruff trimmed another 0.66 seconds from his personal-best in the event, claiming fifth place at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) with a time of 1:49.67. Despite the steady improvement in his 800-meter performance, Ruff will compete in the 1,500-meter run at the NCAA Mideast Regional after posting a season-best 3:47.09 at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). The Wolverine competed in the 1,500m at last season's regional meet, qualfying to the final and claiming 12th overall.
Holly-Woods
Freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS) led a contigent of four U-M regional-qualifiers in the 1,500-meter run at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16), claiming runner-up honors with a time of 3:44.52. The season-best performance was two seconds off his personal best in the event, which he recorded at the 2004 World Junior Championships. At the Big Ten Championships, Woods finished sixth with a time of 3:47.12.
The Gras is Always Greener
Freshman Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) posted NCAA regional-qualifying performances in the 1,500-meter run over consecutive weekends, clocking 3:46.75 in a ninth-place performance at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16) and 3:47.62 for third at the EMU Twilight Meet (April 22). After redshirting the indoor season, Gras made his collegiate track and field debut at the Yellow Jacket Invitational (April 2).
If You Can't Stann the Heat
Sophomore Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) shaved 0.25 seconds from his 400-meter personal best at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16), claiming ninth place with a time of 46.70. Waithe claimed third in the event at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) and anchored the Wolverines' 4x400-meter relay to its second straight outdoor medal with third place. The U-M junior also improved on his personal best in the 200-meter dash this season, winning the event at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 6-7) with a time of 21.32.
You Drew First Blood, Not Me
Sophomore Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) posted the Wolvervines' first NCAA regional-qualifying time of the season, clocking 14.12 to claim third in the 110-meter hurdles at the Raliegh Relays (March 25-26). Marking the second consecutive year that the Wolverine nabbed the regional standard in his first outdoor attempt, he bettered the mark by 0.21 seconds while falling just 0.04 seconds shy of his personal best in the event.
Best in Stowe
Sophomore/freshman Chris Stowe (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) shattered his personal-best in the 400-meter hurdles to claim third place in the event at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15). Posting a time of 51.52, Stowe shaved 0.83 seconds from his previous mark, which he recorded at both the Yellow Jacket Invitational (April 2) and the Len Paddock Invitational (May 6-7). He ranks ninth in the mideast region, 0.58 seconds out of the top five.
Good Things Come to He Who Waits
Senior Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego HS) qualified for his second straight NCAA regional meet after posting a time of 52.47 at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). The Wolverine captain bettered his season mark in Michigan's regular-season finale, clocking 52.34 at the Len Paddock Invitational (May 6-7) before claiming fourth place at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) with a 52.39 showing. At last season's NCAA Mideast Regional, Waits placed 11th in the preliminary round with a time of 51.68.
Bauer's Dozen
Junior/sophomore Andrew Bauer (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) trimmed more than 12 seconds from his 3,000-meter steeplechase personal best to claim runner-up honors in the college division race at the Penn Relays (April 28-30). Clocking 9:04.49, Bauer posted the first NCAA regional-qualifying standard of his career and joins a trio of fomer-U-M steeplers -- Ryan Hesselink, Alex L'Heureux and Tarn Leach -- to qualfiy for the regional meet. Bauer placed 14th in the steeplechase at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15) with a time of 9:18.85.
A Hop, Skip and a Jump
Sophomore Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) broke his own U-M outdoor school record at the Big Ten Championships (May 13-15), placing third in the triple jump with a season-best 51-7 3/4. Whitehead added four inches to his previous mark, which he registered at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). Whitehead bettered the NCAA regional-qualifying standard in each of his triple jump performances ths season and currently lists eighth in the mideast region, just six inches out of the top five.
Miller's Crossing
Junior Brad Miller (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) registered the first NCAA regional-qualifying mark of his collegiate career, hitting the high jump standard dead on with a leap of 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) to claim fourth at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). The performance marked the Wolverine's best outdoor height of his career and missed his personal best by just 1/4 inch. Since the start of the indoor season, Miller has hit an average of 6-8 1/4 -- more than two inches better than his 2004 average.
Jump For Joey
Senior/junior Joey Sarantos (Portage, Mich./Northern HS) recorded a personal-best 169-10 to claim third place in the discus throw at the Duke Invitational (April 8-9) and earn Michigan its first NCAA qualifying mark in a throwing event in 12 seasons. Sarantos added nearly six feet to his previous best in the event and bettered the qualifying standard by more than four and a half feet. The last U-M thrower to qualify for the NCAA postseason was Stan Johanning, who registered a school record 232-11 in the javelin in 1992.
A Clean Sweep at Penn Relays
The Wolverines swept the distance relays at the Penn Relays (April 28-30), winning the distance medley, 4xMile and 4x800-meter events in dominant fashion. U-M is the first school to sweep the distance relays at Penn Relays in six years and joins Arkasas as the only programs to accomplish the feat since 1980. Michigan won four relay events at the 1945 Penn Relays -- 4x880 yards, 4xMile, sprint medley, distance medley.
Senior/junior Nate Brannen, junior Andrew Ellerton and junior/sophomore Nick Willis formed the core all three relays, while sophomore Stann Waithe competed on the DMR, freshman Mike Woods on the 4xMile and senior/junior Rondell Ruff on the 4x800m.
Just For the Record
The Wolverines broke the collegiate record in the 4xMile at the Penn Relays (April 28-30), blazing a time of 16:04.54 to shave 3.42 seconds from the previous record (16:07.96) set by Arkansas in 1999. Michigan owns a pair of collegiate relay records, adding 4xMile to its indoor DMR mark from the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships (7:27.77). Senior/junior Nate Brannen, junior Andrew Ellerton and junior/sophomore Nick Willis own a stake in both performances.
Most Valuable Runner
Junior/sophomore Nick Willis was named Men's College Athlete of the Relays at the Penn Relays (April 28-30) after the Wolverine clocked splits of 3:55.1 (DMR) -- the eighth-fastest 1,600-meter split in Penn Relays history -- 3:56.2 (4xMile) and 1:48.6 (4x800m). Willis also claimed the honor in 2003 when he registered the Penn Relays record for his 1,200-meter opening split (2:48.7) in the distance medley relay. He is just the seventh athlete to receive the honor multiple times since it was introduced in 1957. Kevin Sullivan is the only other U-M student-athlete to garner the distinction, winning the title in 1998.
Rank Me
The Wolverines hold the No. 21 spot in the most recent Trackwire 25 poll, released May 18, while listing second listing 34th (325.22 points) in this week's power rankings. The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country.
Additionally, the Wolverines boast three student-athletes ranked among the top 12 in their respective events. Senior/junior Nate Brannen owns the top ranking at 1,500 meters while junior/sophomore Nick Willis lists third at 5,000 meters and junior Andrew Ellerton holds the eighth spot the 800-meter run.
Trackwire 25 Ranking (5/18/05)
Rank, Team Points 1. Arkansas 62 2. Florida 44 3. Oregon 43 4. LSU 41 5. Florida State 36 6. Arizona State 32 Nebraska 32 8. Stanford 31 9. Indiana 30 10. Arizona 29 Tennessee 29 12. USC 24 Auburn 24 14. Wisconsin 23 15. UCLA 22 Mississippi State 22 17. Texas 21 18. Texas Tech 20 19. Georgia 19 20. Boise State 18 21. MICHIGAN 17 22. Virginia Tech 14 23. BYU 13 24. Baylor 12 25. UTEP 11
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will wrap up the 2005 campaign at the NCAA Championships, scheduled for June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
