Weekly Release #1: Wolverines Host Michigan Open

This Week
Friday, Aug. 29, 4 p.m.-- Michigan Open (Dexter, Mich.)

The University of Michigan men's cross country team kicks off its 2008 season Friday (Aug. 29) as the host of the Michigan Open at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter, Mich., at 4 p.m.

The Maize and Blue return 13 letterwinners this season, led by senior captains Lex Williams(Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter), Brandon Fellows(Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island) and sophomore Craig Forys(Howell, N.J./Colts Neck), an All-Big Ten first teamer. Also returning for Michigan is junior/sophomore Ciaran O'Lionaird(Cork, Ireland/De La Salle), junior/sophomore Peter Christmas(Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer), senior/junior Sean McNamara(Elmhurst. Ill./York) and fifth year/senior Seth Thibodeau(Milford, Mich./Milford).

Top Returning Times
8,000-Meter Run	10,000-Meter Run
Sean McNamara 23:48.8	Lex Williams 30:53.27
Craig Forys 23:56.77	Craig Forys 31:07.73
Brandon Fellows 24:03.1	Brandon Fellows 31:11.11
Ciaran O'Lionaird 24:09.3	Sean McNamara 31:21.65
John Black 24:22.9	John Black 31:26.16
Justin Switzer 24:29.9	Ciaran O'Lionaird 31:42.74
Peter Christmas 24:51	Peter Christmas 32:18
Tony Nalli 24:41.1	Seth Thibodeau 32:20 (2006)
Lex Williams 25:01.01	Michael Dobmeier 32:27
Michael Dobmeier 25:05.9	Tony Nalli 32:29
Seth Thibodeau 25.37.8 (2006)	Justin Switzer 33:01
	Mark Pokora 34:00

Wolverine to Watch

Craig Forys, Sophomore
As a freshman last season, Forys was named First Team All-Big Ten after finishing seventh at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships. Forys will look to improve on last year's numbers and compete for a Big Ten Championship this season.

Building on Success
The Wolverines had a strong 2007 season, finishing 24th at the NCAA Championships, tied for first at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and never finished lower than fourth in any regular season race. It was just the first time since 1997 and the second time overall that the Maize and Blue has won the regional competition.

A National Presence Again
Michigan returned to the NCAA National Championships for the first time in three years in 2007. The three-year gap was the second-longest in team history. The Wolverines have competed in the NCAA Championships 25 times since 1974.

Olympic Caliber
Three former men's cross country runners competed this summer in the 1,500-meter race at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The trio was led by Nick Willis who earned the bronze medal for New Zealand in the event. Men's cross country volunteer assistant coach Nate Brannen and U-M alumnus Kevin Sullivan each competed for Canada in the event. This was the third straight Olympics in which a former member of the men's cross country team competed.

The Ron Warhurst File
This is U-M head coach Ron Warhurst's 35th season at the helm of the men's cross country program. Warhurst has won seven Big Ten Championships and two NCAA Regional Championships. He has 12 NCAA Championship top-10 finishes and 21 NCAA Regional Championship top-three finishes. In his 35 years, Warhurst has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year four times and the NCAA Regional Coach of the year three times, including last season. Warhurst has coached 39 NCAA All-Americans and has a record of 2,797-595-7 at Michigan.

Upcoming Schedule
The Wolverines will travel to East Lansing, Mich., on Friday, Sept. 12 to run in the MSU Invitational.

Contact: Joe Arancio (734) 763-4423