Michigan
NCAA Mideast Regional (Day 1)
U-M Qualifies Quintet for NCAA Mideast Regional Finals
5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team qualified three individuals for the 1,500-meter run final and one each for the 400- and 800-meter event finals Friday (May 27) on day one of the NCAA Mideast Regional at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
Freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest) and senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) each qualified for the 1,500m final by finishing runner-up in his heat, with Woods running 3:45.52 in the first heat and Ruff clocking 3:48.76 in the second heat. As the field strung out through the final lap, Woods cut to the outside lane down the backstretch to gain on leader Sean Jefferson of Indiana. The U-M freshman maintained his advantage on the remainder of the field in the final 200 meters to pick up the second automatic spot. Entering the bell lap of the second heat in the middle of the pack, Ruff used the outside lane to move to the front of the nine-man pack in the final 200 meters. Ruff held the advantage down the final stretch but stepped off the gas five meters before the finish as the top three crossed the line within 0.10 seconds. Running with Woods in the first heat, freshman Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) was slightly clipped by another runner down the final stretch and fell back several spots but earned the final qualifying position, placing 12th overall with a time of 3:46.88.
Senior/junior captain Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS), largely considered the favorite to win the NCAA 1,500-meter title, did not compete in his preliminary race due to a mid-foot sprain sustained during the event final at the Big Ten Championships two weeks ago. Despite falling to the track with just 150 meters remaining in the conference race, Brannen managed a fourth-place finish after picking himself up and sprinting down the final stretch.
Sophomore Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven) advanced to the final of the 400-meter dash as he posted a personal-best 46.43 to claim the fastest time among individuals who did not win one of the five heats. Waithe started slowly but made up ground on the backstretch to come out of the final turn among leaders. The U-M sophomore maintained his position through the finishing kick, shaving 0.05 seconds from his previous best to earn runner-up honors.
Junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) easily picked up an automatic qualifer in the 800-meter event, working with Illinois' Zachary Glavash to claim the top two spots in the first heat. True to form, Ellerton remained near the back of the seven-man field before cutting to the outside lane and moving to the front down the final backstretch. Glavash stayed beside him coming out of the turn, and the pair crossed the line together -- with Ellerton clocking 1:49.81 in second place -- nearly 20 meters ahead of the competition.
Senior Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego) and sophomore/freshman Chris Stowe (Traverse City, Mich./West) failed to advance in the 400-meter hurdles, while sophomore Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) missed out on a chance to advance in the 110-meter hurdles. Waits closed out his U-M career on a high note, registering a season-best 52.18 to place third in the first heat; Stowe placed fourth in the third heat, clocking 52.08. Porter started strong in the high hurdles but faded down the stretch to claim fifth in his heat with a time of 14.38.
Junior Brad Miller (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) and senior/junior Joey Sarantos (Portage, Mich./North HS) represented the Wolverines in the field events. Miller claimed a share of ninth place in the high jump with a mark of 6-9, missing his season best by less than two inches, while Sarantos fouled three times in the discus and did not advance to the finals. Miller cleared the opening height on his first attempt and gave three looks at 6-11 -- his personal best in the event -- but could not clear.
Junior/sophomore Nick Willis' (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley) 5,000-meter run final was postponed due to lightning, as was the men's 200-meter dash. The 5,000m will start the men's action Saturday after the women's 5K race at 11 a.m. U-M will also have Saturday finals competitors in the triple jump, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 4x400-meter relay.
Top 10 Teams (After Day 1)
1. Arkansas 12.5 2. Southeastern Louisiana 10 Northwestern (La.) State 10 Auburn 10 Central Michigan 10 6. Wisconsin 9 7. Eastern Michigan 8 Akron 8 9. Ohio State 6 Kent State 6
Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 1)
High Jump (Final) 1. Steve Wolf, Central Mich. 7-3 1/4*# (2.22m) T9. Brad Miller, U-M 6-9 (2.06m) Discus (Final) 1. Edis Elkasevic, Auburn 188-5* (57.43m) -- Joey Sarantos, U-M Foul 110-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Alleyne Lett, LSU 13.88Q 5. Jeff Porter, U-M 14.38 400-Meter Dash (Prelims) Heat 4 1. Damion Barry, Auburn 46.14Q 2. Stann Waithe, U-M 46.43q 400-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Abe Jones, Illinois 50.11Q 3. Seth Waits, U-M 52.18 Heat 3 1. Bennie Brazell, LSU 50.88Q 4. Chris Stowe, U-M 52.08 800-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Zach Glavash, Illinois 1:49.75Q 2. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:49.81Q 1,500-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Sean Jefferson, Indiana 3:45.23Q# 2. Mike Woods, U-M 3:45.52Q 5. Victor Gras, U-M 3:46.88q Heat 2 1. Josh Spiker, Wisconsin 3:48.74Q 2. Rondell Ruff, U-M 3:48.76Q * Advanced to NCAA Championships Qq indicates qualification for finals # NCAA Mideast Regional record
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
