"Wolverines
Dominate Home Meet"
Ann Arbor -- Although the University of Michigan run Silverston
Invitational was non-scored and low-key, the Wolverine athletes
managed to dominate on Saturday, February 19.
The U of M athletes competed with other track athletes from such
schools as Michigan State University, Akron University, University
of Waterloo, Hillsdale and club teams as the local Ann Arbor Track
Club and the newly formed Athletics America Olympic Training development
club. The emphasis for the Wolverines was to remain relatively
low-key.
"This is just a low-key tune-up for the Big Ten meet next week,"
Michigan men's head coach Ron Warhurst said. "We've done a little
bit of tapering and now we're getting rested and ready."
The Wolverine men seemed ready as they succeeded in winning nine
events of the meet. Outstanding performances were turned in by
athletes as Michigan distance runner Steve Lawrence, as he bested
his time in the 5000 meters by three seconds to 14:05.40, a strong
NCAA provisional qualifying time. Almost making provisional standards
were Wolverine pole vaulters Charles Dewildt and Brent Scheffer,
who took first and second in the event. Their heights of 17 feet
(5.18 meters) were a mere two inches off of the qualifying standards
for NCAA Indoor nationals.
Other strong performances were turned in by Michigan in the sprint
events. Derek Applewhite ran away with the 60-meter hurdles in
a time of 8.02 seconds. Steve Jenkins took the 60-meters in 6.92
seconds, and the Wolverines grasped the top three spots in the
400-meter dash, with Jeremy Schneider taking first in 50.25 seconds,
and Tom Wisehart and Brad Hauden in second and third, running
50.47 and 50.8, respectively.
The Wolverines shared the field events with other talented Michigan
athletes, as Nick Rogers won the shot in 53 feet 3 1/2 inches
(16.24 meters) and Patrik Johansson threw a toss of 56 feet 3
1/4 inches to win the 35 pound weight throw. Michigan State University
athlete Okie Giwa-Agbomierle jumped 24 feet 3/4 inches (7.33 meters)
and Mark Wilcox of Hillsdale won the triple jump in 39 feet 10
3/4 inches (12.16 meters).
Similarly, the Michigan women took control of their home meet
and turned in noticeable performances across the fields. Middle-distance
runner Lisa Ouellet finished runner-up in a heart pounding 800-meter
dash. Attempting to make NCAA provisional qualifying standards,
Adidas athlete and former Michigan runner Karen Harvey set the
pace in a blistering 2:08.4. Ouellet finished in 2:08.73, which
cleared provisional standards. A confidant Ouellet commented,
"It'll make it."
Brandi Bentley of the Wolverines also made provisional standards,
leaping 20 feet 6 1/4 inches (6.25 meters) in the long jump. Bentley
visited the NCAA Indoor Championships last year in the long jump
but failed to advance to the finals.
Head women's Wolverine coach James Henry said that Ouelett and
Bentley were outstanding, and their posted marks are strong contenders
for going to the NCAA Indoor Championships this season.
Wolverine sprinters such as Maria Brown and Tasha Phillips also
turned in respectable performances. Brown was the only athlete
to win two events in the invitational, finishing first in both
the 60-meter dash in 7.55 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 24.89
seconds. Brown also anchored Michigan's team in the 4 x 200 meter
relay, sailing past the Waterloo team to finish in 1:41.27. Phillips
won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.62 seconds, only two tenths of a
second off of provisional qualifying standards in the event.
Michigan runner Erica Murdock won the 600-meter dash with a time
of 1:33.04, just edging out Athletics America athlete Beth Bayser
who ran 1:33.64.
The Wolverine women also dominated the throws as April Phillips
won the shot put with a toss of 44 feet 8 3/4 inches (13.63 meters)
and Julie Presley threw 50 feet 6 1/4 inches to win the 20-pound
weight throw.
Maryea Pike of Hillsdale was the only athlete representing a school
in the state of Michigan other than the University of Michigan
to win an event. Pike won the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.22
seconds.
"Our focus today was really a tri-fold," Coach James Henry said.
"We wanted to rest some kids who had been performing well in the
past meets, get a final performance in some events for better
seeding in the Big Ten and to not get hurt."
The dominance of the Wolverines will travel to Minnesota for the
Big Ten indoor championships February 26 and 27.
Shawn Kemp is a freshman at the
University of Michigan. She enjoys running at all levels and is
an aspiring journalist.
