Wolverines Sign Three to National Letters of Intent
5/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's track and field head coach Ron Warhurst announced today (Thursday, May 18) that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent for the 2007 season. Sprinter Kyle Terpack (Riverview, Mich./Riverview HS), intermediate hurdler Frank Shotwell (Medina, Ohio/Medina HS) and middle-distance specialist Ciaran O'Lionaird (Macroom, Ireland/De La Salle College) will join the Wolverine roster in the fall.
A talented two-sport athlete from Riverview High School, Terpak earned a pair of top-four finishes in the sprint events at the 2005 Michigan state track and field meet after capturing league and regional titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He owns six school records, including a 48.6 personal best at 400 meters.
"I've grown up in a Michigan family my entire life," said Terpak. "I never thought about too many other colleges. Michigan has been in my blood since I was little. After everything was laid out and Michigan was still on top, it was an easy choice. Michigan had the most welcoming track program. The university offers a lot of benefits to their student-athletes, and they have a excellent engineering program. I'm sure it will take a little while to adjust, but everyone around the program is friendly and helpful, and if I need any help or questions answered, they will be available to provide it for me. I feel confident that I will be able to fit in quite well."
Shotwell, who antipates the multi-events as his collegiate focus, took fourth place in the pentathlon at the 2006 Nike Indoor Nationals last March in his first such multi-event competition. With his specialty lying in the hurdle events, Shotwell owns personal bests of 13.7 in the 110-meter highs and 37.9 in the 300-meter intermediates. He took fifth place in the 300-meter event at the 2005 Ohio state meet.
"What really stood out at first was the outstanding academics that the university offered, "said Shotwell, "as well as the athletics in general and the track team in specific. They have great coaching, and the team seemed really close. It felt like a place where I could really see myself. I'll be starting over again next year as a freshman. I just want to get to know the guys and really start to train hard. I want to push other people to train harder and, at the same time, have some the veterans who have been around push me and just make me a better athlete."
O'Lionaird, a member of the Leevale Athletic Club that produced Irish standouts Marcus O'Sullivan and Mark Carroll, claimed 10th place in the 1,500-meter run at the 2005 IAAF World Youth Championships and bronze at the 2005 European Youth Olympic Festival. He owns personal bests of 3:48.72 in the 1,500m and 1:55.52 in the 800m. At the Boston Indoor Games in February, O'Lionaird took second place in the junior mile event with a 4:09.41.
"The choice was really easy for me," said O'Lionaird. "It came down to the chance to be coached by Ron Warhurst, who is the best coach for middle-distance runners in the United States. I was really attracted by the opportunity to train with great guys and by the traditition that has been established at Michigan over the last few years. Ronnie prepares runners not only for college competition but for their careers later on, and that is very important to me. I want to continue internationally, and I felt Ronnie would be the best to help reach that goal. Michigan combines a great education with the ability to train with an excellent team. I hope to help them win NCAA titles in the next several years, boost an already great reputation, continue the tradition, and repay the university for the opportunity they've given me."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
