Michigan
Wolverine Invitational
Michigan Men Earn Three Wins in 2020 Season Opener
1/11/2020 6:33:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Wolverine Invitational
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 18 -- host Simmons-Harvey Big Ten Invitational (U-M Indoor Track Building), 11 a.m.
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team kicked off its 2020 indoor campaign with three event wins and more than a dozen and a half top-five finishes inside at the Wolverine Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 11) in the confines of the world-class U-M Indoor Track Building.
Sophomore shot putter John Meyer picked up where he left off during a record-breaking 2019 freshman season cut short by injury as he claimed the victory in his signature event, with distance runner Colton Yesney and pole vaulter Eric Harris also picking up wins on the day.
They were among 19 total top-five finishes for the Wolverines, spanning all across the spectrum of disciplines (sprints, distance, jumps and throws).
Meyer was strong in his first collegiate competition since winning the 2019 Simmons-Harvey Big Ten Invitational and breaking the Michigan freshman record. His saved his best heave of the day for last, going 18.79m (61 feet, 7.75 inches) in the final round to secure the victory, coming from behind during the final three throws.
After taking a few rounds to find his groove, Meyer exceeded 18 meters on each of his final four throws, culminating with his best in the sixth-and-final round. The mark was an improvement by five centimeters over his best from the two meets he competed in as a freshman in 2019, and ranks No. 14 nationally with the performance.
Competing for the first time as a Wolverine after transferring in from Davenport, Harris started his Michigan career with a win and a career best. He cleared 4.75m (15-7) on his second attempt.
Yesney earned his victory at 3,000 meters, racing down the homestretch edging out second place by one-third of a second in 8:34.50.
Though he did not get a W, weight thrower Manning Plater did get a personal record in his signature indoor event as he finished runner-up overall. Coming in with a PR at 19.48m (63-11), Plater surpassed that mark on all four of his measured throws, including the 20.69m (67-10.5) heave on his second attempt.
While the performance did not move him up from his slot as the No. 5 weight thrower in school history, it did make him just the fifth man in program history to go farther than 20 meters.
His other throws on the day that crossed that threshold measured 20.34m (66-8.75), 20.14m (66-1) and 20.03m (65-8.75).
Also finishing runner-up for the Wolverines were Joe McCarthy, who clocked 22.08 for second at 200 meters, and Austin Remick, who posted a 4:12.26 in the mile behind the 4:02.36 by winner U-M alum and 2020 Olympic hopeful Mason Ferlic. Led by Remick, Michigan notched four of the top five spots in the mile standings.
Michigan grouped up well in several other events, most notably the 60-meter hurdles. Job Mayhue opened his season with a third-place finish in 8.07, followed by fifth-place Sierra Hendrix-Williams in fifth (8.18), Heath Baldwin in seventh (8.30) and Noah Caudy in eighth (8.37).
Matching Mayhue's third-place effort were Cole Johnson at 600 meters and Max Wagner in the high jump.
Johnson nearly came up with the victory in the 600, finishing second in his heat in a three-wide sprint to the line by less than a half-second in 1:20.31, and exactly one second off the overall fastest time.
Wagner started his 2020 indoor campaign on a high note, clearing 2.05m (6-8.75) on his third-and-final attempt. Teammate Alex Klemm was fourth.
The regular season will ramp up in a big way next Saturday (Jan. 18) when the Wolverines welcome rivals Michigan State and Ohio State for the Simmons-Harvey Invitational. The meet, which will be Michigan's only scored competition of the regular season, will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network starting at 11 a.m.
Collegiate Career-Best Performances
Career debuts not included
Eric Harris -- 4.75m (15-7) / Pole Vault (I)
John Meyer -- 18.79m (61-7.75) / Shot Put (I)
Manning Plater -- 20.69m (67-10.5) / Weight Throw (I)
Austin Remick -- 4:12.26 / Mile (I)
Michigan Results by Event
60 Meters
Prelims
7. Roland Amarteifio / 7.01q
12. Joe McCarthy / 7.18
200 Meters
2. Joe McCarthy / 22.08
9. Vail Hartman / 22.58
--. Desmond Melson / DQ
600 Meters
3. Cole Johnson / 1:20.31
6. Thomas Shilgalis / 1:21.41
7. Derrick Simmons / 1:22.46
11. Roland Amarteifio / 1:23.49
800 Meters
4. Benjamin Jacobs / 1:58.58
--. Alex Schwedt / DNF
Mile
2. Austin Remick / 4:12.26
3. Anthony DeKraker / 4:12.67
4. Dominic Dimambro / 4:17.05
5. John Florence / 4:17.89
7. Tom Brady / 4:20.78
11. Luke Wallace / 4:26.25
12. James Gedris / 4:26.38
3,000 Meters
1. Colton Yesney / 8:34.50
3. Nick Trevisan / 8:43.45
4. Jared Hill / 8:48.08
--. Ryan Robinson / DNF
60-Meter Hurdles
FINALS
3. Job Mayhue / 8.07
5. Sierra Hendrix-Williams / 8.18
7. Heath Baldwin / 8.30
8. Noah Caudy / 8.37
PRELIMS
2. Sierra Hendrix-Williams / 8.09Q
3. Job Mayhue / 8.08q
7. Noah Caudy / 8.34q
8. Heath Baldwin / 8.37q
13. Mason Mahacek / 9.39
4x400 Relay
3. Caudy, Schwedt, Melson, Mayhue / 3:19.50
4. Shilgalis, Johnson, SImmons, Jacobs / 3:24.58
High Jump
3. Max Wagner / 2.05m (6-8.75)
4. Alex Klemm / 2.00m (6-6.75)
Pole Vault
1. Eric Harris / 4.75m (15-7)
Shot Put
1. John Meyer / 18.79m (61-7.75)
9. Heath Baldwin / 12.41m (40-8.5)
10. Mason Mahacek / 11.44m (37-6.5)
Weight Throw
2. Manning Plater / 20.69m (67-10.5)
Players Mentioned
