Michigan
Vanderbilt Invitational
Wolverines Off to Fast Start at Vanderbilt
1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Jan. 14, 2017
» U-M won Friday's DMR before coming back for the second day of action on Saturday. » The Wolverines now compete in a full-squad meet at the Notre Dame Invitational next weekend (Jan. 21).
• Complete Results 
| Vanderbilt Invitational Central
Site: Nashville, Tenn. (Vanderbilt Multi-Purpose Facility)
Event: Vanderbilt Invitational
U-M Team Result: Non-scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 21 -- at Notre Dame Invitational (South Bend, Ind.), 10 a.m.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team opened the 2017 campaign in two places this weekend, and it was the middle-distance and distance groups heading off to the Vanderbilt Invitational, held Friday and Saturday (Jan. 13-14) at Vanderbilt's Multi-Purpose Facility.
Running in the mile, and in 800-meter and 3,000-meter races while also running in Friday's distance medley relay (DMR), the Wolverines seized a prime opportunity to compete down south and start the 2017 season on the right foot.
MID-DISTANCE/DISTANCE
The action got started on Friday evening, when the DMR of graduate student Ned Willig (3:03.1; 1,200 meters), junior Brennan Munley (48.3; 400 meters), junior/sophomore Ryan Wilkie (PR 1:50.9; 800 meters) and sophomore Ben Hill (4:11.9) won its race.
Willig opened with a tactical first part of his race and split 55.2 over the final lap, and Hill held the lead for his entire leg, closing in 58.3 to hold off LSU. The final time of 9:54.14 was a great start to the weekend, and the season.
In the 800-meter run, Munley placed third in 1:49.53, one of three times under the 1:50 mark. The winner, UTEP's Emmanuel Korir, crossed the line in 1:46.50, which set a new facility record at the Vanderbilt Multi-purpose Facility.
In the mile race, U-M ran seven competitors and finished three-four-five, with four finishing in the top eight overall. The team displayed great pack running, with tight splits between the top-five finishers. Will Sheeran finished third in 4:02.71 to lead the way, a new PR. Connor Mora was fourth in 4:02.93, and Aaron Baumgarten was right behind him in fifth place at 4:03.52, another personal record.
The PRs didn't stop there. After Ned Willig ran 4:05.26 to place eighth, Ryan Wilkie shaved more than eight seconds off of his previous lifetime-best to finish 13th in 4:10.70. Ben Hill ran 4:11.72 for 14th and Micah Beller rounded out the Wolverine group in 16th in 4:13.22.
During Saturday's 3,000-meter run, senior/junior co-captain Ben Flanagan was the top-finishing Wolverine, timing 8:12.61 to finish seventh overall. It was a strong comeback for Flanagan, who was forced to sit out the cross country season due to injury. Junior/sophomore Kyle Kroon finished 12th in 8:19.28.
COLLEGIATE PERSONAL BESTS
Track Events
Mile Run
Will Sheeran -- 4:02.71 Aaron Baumgarten -- 4:03.52 Ryan Wilkie -- 4:10.70
3:03.1 (@WilligNed), 48.3 (@BMunley), PR 1:50.9 (@wilkster23) and 4:11.9 (Ben Hill). 9:54.14 with a win is a great way to open! pic.twitter.com/txHjR3vtbl
-- Michigan Track&Field (@UMichTrack) January 14, 2017
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
Players Mentioned
