Michigan
Penn Relays (Day 1)
Bauer, Williams Net NCAA Qualifiers at Penn Relays
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Senior/junior Andrew Bauer (West Bloomfield, Mich./Lahser HS) and freshman Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS) earned a pair of NCAA regional-qualifiying times to lead the University of Michigan men's track and field team during the annual Thursday Distance Night at the 112th Penn Relays today (Thursday, April 27) at Franklin Field.
Bauer blazed a personal-best 9:02.37 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to capture top prize in the college-division race and improve on his runner-up finish from last season's Penn Relays. It was the second steeplechase win in as many weekends for the Wolverine runner, who trimmed nearly three seconds from his previous best in the event. Bauer is the ninth different U-M student-athlete to punch his ticket to the NCAA Mideast Regional this season, earning a return trip after bettering the qualifying standard by almost five seconds on the same weekend that netted him his first career regional qualification a year ago.
In his first 5,000-meter appearance of the outdoor season, Williams similarly set a new personal standard, clocking a time of 14:07.18 to place fifth among the 29-man championship division. The Wolverine freshman, who also holds an NCAA regional qualifier in the 1,500-meter run, shaved more than 35 seconds from his previous best in the event, which he registered at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (Feb. 26). Senior/junior Todd Iacovelli (Kailua, Hawaii/Punahou HS) also competed in the race, taking the 19th position with a time of 14:28.83.
Sophomore Seth Thibodeau (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) followed suit in his 10,000-meter season debut, recording Michigan's third personal-best performance of the evening with a time of 30:40.41. It was a 22-second improvement on his previous mark as the Wolverine sophomore claimed 22nd place among the 43-man field in the event.
In early action at the prestigious meet, senior/junior Adam Kiesler (Rochester, Ill./Rochester HS) claimed fourth place in his career multi-events debut, earning a two-day point total of 5,211 in the decathlon, which ended Wednesday afternoon. Highlighting Kiesler's rotation were runner-up performances in the long jump, shot put and discus throw.
The Wolverines will return to the track tomorrow (Friday, April 28) for the second day of action at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. U-M's first event of the day will be the 400-meter hurdles, slated for a 9 a.m. start at Franklin Field.
Event Winners/U-M Finishes
Thursday Results
3,000-meter Steeplechase (College) 1. Andrew Bauer, U-M 9:02.37# 5,000-meter Run (Championship) 1. Josh McDougal, Liberty 13:55.59# 5. Lex Williams, U-M 14:07.18# 19. Todd Iacovelli, U-M 14:28.83 10,000-meter Run (Championship) 1. Corey Duquette, Virginia Intermont 29:05.07# 22. Seth Thibodeau, U-M 30:40.41
Wednesday Results
Decathlon 1. Devon Barry, Mount St. Mary 6,407 points 4. Adam Keisler, U-M 5,211 # NCAA regional qualifier
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
