Michigan Men Post World, NCAA Leaders in 2021 Debut

Saturday, January 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

10:00 AM

Michigan

Simmons-Harvey Invitational

Ayden Owens (left) passes the baton to Vail Hartman (Michigan Photography)

1/16/2021 2:45:00 PM | Men's Track & Field

Photo Gallery

By: Kyle Terwillegar

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Simmons-Harvey Invitational
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 23 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), TBA

• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery

ANN ARBOR -- In the return to competition for the University of Michigan men's track and field team, the Wolverines looked as sharp as ever and posted world- and NCAA-leading performances at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 16) at the U-M Indoor Track Building.

Newcomer Tom Dodd posted the fastest mile time in the world, returner Tom Brady ran the race of his life to take the NCAA lead at 3,000 meters, and both newcomers -- including highly touted transfer Ayden Owens -- and returners combined for an NCAA-leading performance in the 4x400 relay.

All rankings may change as more results come in throughout the weekend.

Though the 2021 indoor season is still in its infancy, Dodd posted the mile time for the rest of the globe to beat as he clocked a world-leading 4:03.27 in a mostly solo effort after pacer Anthony Berry stepped off the track.

The Englishman took over not just the global lead, but also the NCAA and Big Ten leads, from Minnesota's Alec Basten by hundredths of a second.

Dodd came through halfway at just over two minutes, still on sub-four minute pace. Through all eight laps, he was nearly metronomic in his pace, only once deviating by more than a second off the 30-second laps required for a four-minute mile.

Teammates Austin Remick (4:05.93) and Colton Yesney (4:08.21) rode the momentum to personal records of their own to complete the Michigan 1-2-3 sweep.

The Wolverines got another NCAA leader from Brady, who unleashed a strong kick in the final 300 meters to clock 7:58.06 over 3,000 meters.

Brady hung near the front of the race throughout with teammates Devin Meyrer, Jacob Lee and Oli Raimond -- all of whom also achieved new personal records -- and made his move to the lead wide around Meyrer and Purdue's Curtis Eckstein, and never looked back. He covered the 200-meter lap in just under 29 seconds to seal the victory.

In addition to the NCAA leader, Brady also broke the facility and meet records in the event. In doing so, he established a new personal record by 28 seconds.

Meyrer, Lee and Raimond were impressive in their own rights, clocking personal-best times of 8:00.95, 8:04.45 and 8:05.71, respectively, to take places third through fifth.

The results bode well for the Wolverines' distance squad, which will compete at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Shelbyville, Ind., on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The Wolverines capped off the day with another NCAA-leading performance, this time in the 4x400 relay. The squad of Austin Lin, Dubem Amene, Owens and Vail Hartman -- the first three of whom made their Michigan debuts on the day -- combined to go 3:11.19 in a narrow victory over Ohio State at the line.

After Lin opened with a 50.67 split, Amene sprinted to a team-best 46.75 split in the second leg to keep pace with the pack, handing off to Owens in a close third. Making passes 225 meters in and right at the relay exchange, Owens clocked 46.83 to hand off to anchor Hartman with the Michigan baton in the lead.

Hartman sealed the deal with a 46.98 split, holding off a hard-charging Ohio State squad by one-tenth of a second.

Owens' performance in the relay was just the finale in a series of excellent results in his debut outing. He opened the day as part of a 1-2-3-4 Michigan finish in the 60-meter hurdles final, placing second as the top collegian in 7.88. Only teammate Roland Amarteifio, who has only outdoor eligibility remaining, bested him in the final with a winning 7.86 effort.

Owens also clocked 7.87 in the prelims, just .04 seconds off his career best in the event.

Job Mayhue (8.12) and Josh Zeller (8.16) completed the finals sweep. Zeller also posted a 7.98 performance in the prelims.

Headlining the action in the field for the Wolverines was high jumper Cassidy Henshaw, who just missed his career best by a centimeter with a 2.09m (6 feet, 10.25 inches) clearance to take the win in his competition.

Competing unattached without any remaining indoor eligibility, shot putter two-time Big Ten Champion and 2020 NCAA Indoor leader Andrew Liskowitz claimed his signature event with a heave of 19.04m (62-5.75).

Full Michigan Results be Event

q = qualified for final

60 meter dash
Final
7. Noah Stallworth / 7.07

Prelims
7. Noah Stallworth / 7.00q

200 meter dash
Final
5. Noah Stallworth / 21.92
10. Vail Hartman / 22.18 [New PR]

400 meter dash
Final
5. Austin Lin / 49.13
9. Leo Gabaron / 50.79

600 meter run
Final
4. Dubem Amene / 1:20.90

800 meter run
Final
3. Derrick Simmons / 1:52.52
4. Cole Johnson / 1:52.89
5. Thomas Shilgalis / 1:54.75

Mile
Final
1. Tom Dodd / 4:03.27
2. Austin Remick / 4:05.93 [New PR]
3. Colton Yesney / 4:08.21 [New PR]

3,000 meter run
Final
1. Tom Brady / 7:58.06 [New PR]
3. Devin Meyrer / 8:00.95 [New PR]
4. Jacob Lee / 8:04.45 [New PR]
5. Oli Raimond / 8:05.71 [NEW PR]
8. Christian Hubaker / 8:15.11 [New PR]
13. Jack Spamer / 8:23.69
14. Michael Hancock / 8:24.25
15. James Gedris / 8:24.86 [New PR]
20. Zach Stewart / 8:31.35
23. Nick Trevisan / 8:33.72
26. Joe Meyers / 8:39.37