Michigan
Akron Invitational
Wolverines Shine on Busy Day One of Split-Squad Weekend
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Feb. 6, 2015
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Loftus Center); Akron, Ohio (Stile Field House)
Event: Notre Dame Meyo Invitational; Akron Invitational (Day 1)
U-M Team Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 7 -- at Meyo Invitational - Day 2 (South Bend, Ind.), 10 a.m. [ Live Results ]; at Akron Invitational - Day 2 (Akron, Ohio), 10 a.m. [ Live Results ]
The University of Michigan men's track and field team was represented by student-athletes at two different meets today (Friday, Feb. 6), with the majority of the team competing the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational and select members participating in the Akron Invitational. Both meets will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. with running events.
Notre Dame Meyo Invitational
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- In the sprinting events, graduate student John Spooney furthered his place in the Michigan history books with his 6.70-second 60-meter dash -- the second-fastest time in U-M indoor history. Spooney won the semifinal qualifier to earn the first seed in tomorrow's finals. Fifth-year senior Ali Arastu will also compete in the 60m hurdles finals after his PR 7.91-second qualifying time in today's semis.
Six Wolverines ran the 5,000m race, led by a 22-second PR from sophomore/freshman Aaron Baumgarten (14:22.16) to earn the Williamston, Michigan, native a runner-up finish. Junior/sophomore Tony Smoragiewicz (7th place; 14:26.67) and senior/junior August Pappas (13th; 14:32.32) each missed PRs by a fraction of a second, while Pappas' classmate Nick Posada (11th; 14:30.75) bested his previous career best by more than 28 seconds, and all six competing Wolverines recorded top-25 finishes in a 40-man field.
Akron Invitational
AKRON, Ohio. -- Competing in his first heptathlon as a Wolverine, junior Steven Bastien got off to a great start, setting PRs in three of the day's four events. Bastien won the 60m dash with a PR time of 7 .00 seconds flat and earned a runner-up finish in the long jump with a distance of 23-8.75 ft. (7.23m) The Saline, Michigan, native came in seventh in the shot put (37-3 ft.; 11.35m).
Bastien sits in second place after day one with 3,149 points. Sophomore/freshman Austin Brenner and true freshman Charles DeJonge are also multi-eventers representing the Maize and Blue in their first heptathlons as Wolverines. DeJonge is in 13th place (2,415 points), and Brenner is in 14th place (2,382 points) heading into tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 7). The final three heptathlon events will begin tomorrow with the 60m hurdles at 11:30 a.m.
Fifth-year seniors Cody Riffle and Justin Gaumer as well as sophomore/freshman Grant Cartwright each made his indoor discus debut, finishing fourth, seventh and fifth, respectively.
PERSONAL RECORDS
John Spooney -- 60m dash (6.70 seconds)
Ali Arastu -- 60m hurdles (7.91 seconds)
Steven Bastien -- Shot Put (37-3 ft.; 11.35m) H; Long Jump (23-8.75 ft.; 7.23m) H; High Jump (6-8 ft.; 2.03m) H
Charles DeJonge -- Long Jump (20-7.25 ft.; 6.28m) H
Austin Brenner -- High Jump (6-3.25 ft.; 1.91m) H
Nick Posada -- 5,000m (14:30.75)
Aaron Baumgarten -- 5,000m (14:22.16)
H = Heptathlon
P = Prelims
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
