"Michigan's On-Line Running Source"

Site: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Event: 104th Penn Relays
Michigan Team Finish: No Team Scoring
Next Meet: Sunday May 3, 1998 -- at Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, OH

Mortimer Kicks Off Penn Relays For Wolverines With a Victory

Philadelphia, PA -- Junior John Mortimer (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry HS), the first Michigan competitor at the 104th running of the prestigous Penn Relays on Thursday evening, got the Maize and Blue off and running to say the least.

Mortimer grabbed a victory in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a pace of 8:36.73, which is also an NCAA automatic qualifying time. In addition to garnering a Penn Relay championship, Mortimer now owns the third best time in the nation this season in the 3000-meter steeplechase as well as the top time in the Big Ten.

Mortimer will also be part of the much anticipated Michigan foursome to run the 4xmile relay on Saturday afternoon at 12:50 p.m. Joining Mortimer will be fellow All-Americas Jay Cantin (Sarnia, ONT/St. Claire Secondary), Don McLaughlin (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer HS) and Kevin Sullivan (Brantford, ONT/North Park HS).

Also delivering a fine effort on the opening night of events was Junior Todd Snyder (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer HS) in the 10,000-meter run. Snyder finished 11th in a deep and talented field with a time of 29:43.79, which is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. That time places Snyder at the top of the Big Ten and 19th in the nation for the 10,000-meter run.

Notes:

-- Mortimer is the first Michigan distance runner to win at the Penn Relays since three-time national champion John Scherer won the 10,000-meter run in 1989.

-- Mortimer's pace of 8:36.73 was his best of the 1998 campaign, topping his previous best of 8:43.50, which he accomplished at the Michigan/USC/OSU/Arizona quadrangular meet on 4/4/98. Mortimer's personal record in the 3000-meter steeplechase is 8:33.35.

-- Mortimer's victory is the second individual Michigan win at the Penn Relays in as many years after Neil Gardner won the 400-meter hurdles a year ago.