Weekly Release #20
6/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Upcoming Schedule
Wed-Sat., June 7-10 -- at NCAA Outdoor Championships (Sacramento, Calif.)
This Week: NCAA Outdoor Championships
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will send three competitors to the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships Wednesday through Saturday (June 7-10) in Sacramento, Calif. Competition will begin with the multi-events at 10 a.m. PDT Wednesday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium. For more information, including a complete schedule of events, visit the official meet website.
Schedule for U-M Athletes (Times PDT)
| Wednesday, June 7 | |
| 5:50 p.m. | 400 Meters (prelims) |
Thursday, June 8 | |
| 6:15 p.m. | 1,500 Meters (prelims) |
Friday, June 9 | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Triple Jump (qualifying) |
| 5:35 p.m. | 400 Meters (semifinals) |
Saturday, June 10 | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Triple Jump (final) |
| 1:20 p.m. | 400 Meters (final) |
| 2:04 p.m. | 1,500 Meters (final) |
Michigan at the NCAA Championships
Michigan has one NCAA Outdoor team title to its credit, capturing the top honor in 1923 under head coach Stephen Farrell. U-M boasted a pair of individual champions that season with James Booker winning the pole vault competition and DeHart Hubbard claiming the long jump crown. The Wolverines have produced a total of 42 NCAA event titles, including two relay titles, in its storied history.
Last season, the Wolverines sent its largest contigent to the NCAA Championships in nearly 20 years with a five-man crew and ended up with a pair of All-Americans as junior/sophomore Nick Willis claimed third in the 5,000-meter run and junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) took fifth in the 800m. Also representing the Maize and Blue were senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS), sophomores Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) and Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) and freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS). The latter three Wolverines make up Michigan's 2006 NCAA outdoor squad.
Holly-Woods
Sophomore Mike Woods matched his performance from last season's NCAA Mideast Regional (May 26-27), claiming fourth place in the 1,500-meter run to earned an automatic qualifier for his second consecutive NCAA Championships. Woods registered a time of 3:45.95 in the event but owns a season best of 3:45.89 -- which he posted at the Big Ten Championships (May 12-14) -- to rank 23rd entering the national meet.
1,500-Meter Run 1. Stephen Pifer, Colorado 3:40.70* 23. Mike Woods, U-M 3:45.89* * automatic qualifier
If You Can't Stann the Heat
Junior Stann Waithe added his name to the Wolverines' travel list after securing an at-large selection in the 400-meter dash for the second straight year. The Wolverine blazed a personal-best 46.15 en route to a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships (May 12-14), shaving 0.21 seconds from his previous best. The performance lists Waithe 17th among the 26-man NCAA field in the event -- the third-highest standing for those without at automatic bid. Waithe took eighth place in the 400-meter final at the NCAA Mideast Regional (May 26-27).
400-Meter Dash 1. Xavier Carter, LSU 44.84* 17. Stann Waithe, U-M 46.15^ * automatic qualifier ^ at-large selection
A Hop, Skip and a Jump
Junior Michael Whitehead will also make his second appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships by virtue of an at-large selection in the triple jump. Whitehead's best season performance came at the Big Ten Championships (May 12-14) where the U-M junior posted a mark of 51-11 3/4 to earn third place. Whitehead's action has been limited during the 2006 outdoor slate with just five appearances, and the Wolverine has not yet neared his own U-M school outdoor record (52-7 1/4), which he registered at last season's NCAA Mideast Regional. He claimed seventh place at the this season's regional meet (May 26-27).
Triple Jump 1. Rafeeq Curry, Florida State 53-11 1/4* (16.44m) 20. Michael Whitehead, U-M 51-11 3/4^ (15.84m) * automatic qualifier ^ at-large selection
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
