Michigan
EMU Triangular
Pair of Titles, PRs in Sprints Highlight EMU Triangular
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Site: Ypsilanti, Mich. (Bowen Field House)
Event: EMU Triangular
U-M Team Result: 4th Place of 4 Teams (44 Points)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 17 -- at Simmons-Harvey Invitational (U-M Indoor Track Building)
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team opened the 2015 indoor season on Friday (Jan. 10) by competing at Eastern Michigan's EMU Triangular inside the Bowen Field House. The Wolverines captured a pair of individual titles, from fifth-year senior co-captain Ali Arastu in the 200-meter dash and transfer senior John Spooney, whose time of 6.75 seconds in the 60-meter dash is good for fourth all-time at U-M.
With only a small pool of athletes competing, the Maize and Blue was not a factor in the team standings; however, Arastu, a four-time USTFCCCA All-American, and Spooney both led a group of Wolverines who finished 1-2-3-4 in their respective events. All four competitors in the 60-meter dash set personal bests.
Sophomore pole vaulter Michael Hovater scored for the Maize and Blue with his runner-up performance, clearing a height of 4.73 meters (15-6.25 ft.).
In addition to Spooney's first action as a Wolverine, sophomore/freshman Khoury Crenshaw also made the most of his debut after redshirting last season by finishing runner-up to Spooney's historic time in the 60-meter dash. Crenshaw crossed at 6.81, besting his personal-best mark from high school by a fraction of a second. He also finished runner-up to Arastu in the 200-meter dash (22.13).
True freshman Kaj Althaus also scored for the Maize and Blue, claiming fourth in the pole vault by clearing 14-6.25 feet (4.43-m).
PERSONAL RECORDS
Michael Hovater -- Pole Vault (4.73-m; 15-6.25 ft.)
John Spooney -- 60-meter dash (6.75 seconds)
Khoury Crenshaw -- 60-meter dash (6.81 seconds)
Codie Nolan -- 60-meter dash (6.82 seconds)
Chris Maye -- 60-meter dash (6.86 seconds)
N O T E S
• Ali Arastu and John Spooney both led groups of Wolverines who finished 1-2-3-4 in the 200-meter and 60-meter dashes, respectively. For Arastu, today's running of the 200 was his first since high school.
• A trio of Wolverines made their Michigan debuts today: transfer senior John Spooney, sophomore/freshman Khoury Crenshaw and true freshman Kaj Althaus.
• U-M will prepare for next weekend's Simmons-Harvey Invitational (Jan. 17), one of two events the Maize and Blue will play host to.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Jerry Clayton
On making the most of today's opportunities, as the team was unable to compete in its originally scheduled meet ... "Today was a good start. It is frustrating because we were unable to go to the meet at Kent State (Doug Raymond Invitational) due to weather, but that was a call we had to make because of safety. It is a dangerous situation out there. We made adjustments and for the guys to be able to compete at EMU today. They thought they were competing tomorrow and all of the sudden they had to compete today and they did an outstanding job. It was the first meet, so we were able to get a 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash in. In the pole vault, one hit a personal best and the other was jumping right at his personal best mark."
On the ability of today's competitors to adapt to the schedule change ... "During the training regiment of the week, we had things set up to compete on Saturday (Jan. 10) and that had to be altered, but it shows the mental toughness of those guys to be prepared to make that change. Obviously they were highly motivated to compete this weekend and we were able to attain that today."
On the benefits of getting one competition under some athletes' belts ... "The primary benefit of this weekend was getting on the 300-meter track at Kent State and we were unable to do that, so we had to make adjustments. We were not able to compete in all the events we preferred, but we will move on. It is the beginning of the year; we will move ahead because we have a lot of things to work on and improve. When we get our whole team competing and move into our first home meet, the Simmons-Harvey Invitational, it will be more interesting to see what happens."
On the performances of John Spooney and Khoury Crenshaw, who made their Wolverine debuts in sprints ... "It was a very good start for both of them. We need to build on it and we have to get better as we go, but this is certainly a good start."
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
