Michigan
Len Paddock Invitational (Day 2)
U-M Closes Regular Season with Three Paddock Wins
5/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Behind a trio of individual event victories, the University of Michigan men's track and field team closed out the regular season Saturday (May 7) on the second and final day of the Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry Field.
Sophomore Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) shaved 0.01 seconds from his 200-meter personal best to capture his third collegiate win in the event with a time of 21.32. Waithe, who already owns an NCAA regional-qualifying mark in the 400-meter dash (46.70), missed the qualifying standard in shorter event by just 0.13 seconds. Senior Nathan Taylor (Courtenay, B.C./Georges P. Vanier HS) registered a season-best 21.81 to place fifth in the final home meet of his career. He also claimed second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.88.
Junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS), who set the Ferry Field 800-meter record at last year's Len Paddock meet, defended his title with a season-best 1:48.25 to earn his second NCAA regional-qualifying effort of the season. After drifting back into third place during the second of two laps, Ellerton used the final 50 meters to kick past Kent State's Mike Inge and the Irish Milers Club's Thomas Chamney, nipping Inge at the line by 0.07 seconds.
Senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) recorded a milestone personal best in the 800-meter event, dipping below the 1:50 mark for the first time in his career. Ruff clocked 1:49.99 to claim the fourth spot.
Fifth-year senior Tom Greenless (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) made both his outdoor season debut and final appearance in front of a home U-M crowd in the 3,000-meter run, winning the event with a time of 8:25.75. With the performance, Greenless earned a trip to next weekend's Big Ten meet. Michigan was well-represented in the event with six Wolverine entrants among the seven-man field. Freshman Seth Thibodeau (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) and sophomore/freshman Brian Les (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) recorded career-best performances with times of 8:29.06 and 8:34.35 in second and fourth place, respectively, while junior/sophomore Todd Iacovelli (Kailua, Hawaii/Punahoa HS) set a season-best mark with 8:39.69 in fifth place.
The Wolverines will kick off the outdoor postseason next weekend (May 13-15) at the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Competition is slated to begin at noon on Friday with the multi-events at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Ron Warhurst
On Tom Greenless' debut ... "He earned his keep, and I told him to pack his bags. The one workout when I knew he was in pretty good shape was when he ran ten 400s in 63 with a 200. He was coming back and doing a lot of strength; that was one of only two workouts on the track. He said he felt really comfortable. He doesn't always look it, because he runs really rough, but that was fun."
On the 800-meter race ... "I expected [Ellerton] to run around 1:48, but I've given up trying to figure that one out. He's got an extreme amount of confidence in his finish. When he got passed, I thought, 'Well, he's just not feeling well. We've been training hard, and he must be feeling rough.' Then I look up, and here he comes again just like he did at Penn. The guy closed on him with 150 to go, but he's just got another gear. You know he's moving fast, but he just has the same look on his face. It was nice for Rondell to get under 1:50. Victor is not a half-miler; he's going to be a miler/5,000-meter runner, and that was his first 800 of the year; so, 1:51 is pretty darn good. He's not happy with it, and that's why he's going to be a great runner."
Junior Andrew Ellerton
On his 800-meter race ... "I wasn't sure how the race would go; we ended up not having a rabbit, but there were some decent competitors in it. The guy from Kent State got it out pretty hard, and then I took over at about 350 and took the lead for a bit. Rondell flew by me, and I just sat at the back after that and just kicked hard the last 100 and walked down a couple guys. I'm pretty happy with the time for the conditions, and I've been sick the last few days, so it was a good start for the 800."
On running at Ferry Field ... "I do run well at this track; in high school, this is where I ran my 1:49 too. It's always fun to have home meets; it fun to have a few more fans than just your teammates. It's nice to get some other friends out here."
On his preparation for the Big Ten meet ... "I'm pretty confident. I think that race gave me a better indication of where I'm at other than just basing it off workouts. I think I'll be right up there at the front at Big Tens and be set for the rest of regionals and nationals. Hopefully, I can have the same success I had last year."
Fifth-year senior Tom Greenless
On his outdoor season debut ... "I've only been running for three weeks after an Achilles injury with my left foot. It's been very inconsistent training, and it's been tough coming back. [The race] felt really good; I didn't know what kind of shape I was in coming into it. So, I just wanted to go out there and sit in the pack, get used to it and try to feel relaxed and comfortable and then just go from there. I wanted to give it my best shot; if I had it today, I had it, if I wasn't strong enough to come back, then that was just the way it would be. I was really happy with it. I feel great about my opener, and I just didn't want to open and close on the same day. I'm glad the season will last a little longer, and I'll be able to continue with it."
On winning in his final home appearance ... "It feels good to go out on top at home. I've had a lot of great races here, and to end it on a great note means a lot. I've had a lot of good memories on this track."
Day 1 Recap
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
