Michigan
Alex Wilson Invitational
Wolverines Close Out Regular Season with Solid DMR
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Feb. 18, 2017
» The time will put the Wolverines on the bubble for NCAA Championships qualifying.
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Loftus Sports Center)
Event: Alex Wilson Invitational
U-M Team Result:Non-scoring
Next U-M Events: Fri-Sat, Feb. 24-25 -- at Big Ten Indoor Championships (Geneva, Ohio)
SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The University of Michigan men's track and field team turned in a strong performance in the distance medley relay at Saturday's (Feb. 18) Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational to wrap up the regular season.
The team of Ned Willig, Taylor McLaughlin, Brennan Munley and Connor Mora joined forces to clock 9:32.13 in the 4000-meter relay race for third in their section and eighth overall, putting them on the outside of the bubble for NCAA Indoor Championships qualification.
The Wolverines' only meet remaining prior to the March 10-11 NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas, is next weekend's Big Ten Championships on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 24-25) in Geneva, Ohio.
With seven teams in these Notre Dame standings and three more from today's UCS Invitational in North Carolina ranked ahead of them nationally -- plus three from meets contested earlier this season -- the Wolverines may find themselves ever so narrowly on the outside looking in.
Only 12 teams will advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10-11 in College Station, Texas.
Willig, the ninth-fastest miler in the nation and a likely NCAA qualifier in his individual event, set the tone early for the Wolverines, coming through his 1200-meter leg with the lead in approximately 2:54.
Indoor 400-meter U-M record-holder McLaughlin took over from there, maintaining the Wolverines' lead on his quarter-mile leg with a split between 46 and 47 seconds before handing off to Munley.
Munley, the Maize and Blue's best half-miler, fell as far back as a close third during his 800-meter section of the relay, but was able to move up to second on the final straightaway before giving the baton to Mora for the 1600-meter anchor leg. When the dust settled, Munley had split between 1:47 and 1:48 for his leg.
Mora, one of the Wolverines' three sub-four milers, battled with Jack Keelan of Stanford for much of the leg while they both chased Indiana's Kyle Mau. The two held pace with one another until the final quarter mile when Keelan started to pull away and challenge Mau for the win.
Indiana ultimately got the win in 9:28.14 in a narrow win over Stanford, while Mora crossed the line for the Wolverines with an approximate 4:05 split.
In the lone individual action of the day for U-M, Desmond Melson won his section of the 400 meters in a career-best 48.94, finishing eighth overall.
Desmond Melson wins his 400m section in a career-best 48.94!
That's a wrap on the men's regular season. Up next: @bigten Championships!-- Michigan Track&Field (@UMichTrack) February 18, 2017
Communications Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
