Weekly Release #11
3/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Sat-Sun., March 25-26 -- at Stanford Invitational (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Fri-Sat., April 7-8 -- at Duke Invitational (Durham, N.C.)
Wolverines Travel West for Stanford Invitational
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will compete in its second meet of the outdoor season at the Stanford Invitational on Saturday (March 25, 8:30 a.m. PST) and Sunday (March 26, 9 a.m.) in Palo Alto, Calif. Wolverine athletes will be competing against several top athletes from dozens of schools across the country. Stanford, the 2000 indoor national runner-up, is one of three teams which finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The other top-25 finishers competing in the Stanford Invitational are Idaho (tie-19th place) and Washington (tie-24th).
Mortimer Debuts
One of the most decorated long distance runners in Michigan track history will return from injury to run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational. John Mortimer (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry HS), who has not competed in the steeplechase as a Wolverine since placing runner-up at the 1998 NCAA Championships, is a two-time All-American (1997-98) and two-time Big Ten champion (1997-98) in that event. Mortimer's personal-best time in the steeplechase is 8:33.35.
Padan Back to Double Duty
Michigan long and triple jumper Oded Padan (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance HS), a qualifier for the 1999 NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump, is rounding back into form after an injury-riddled 2000 indoor campaign. Padan is slated to compete in both the long and triple jumps at the Stanford Invitational. Padan is the second-seeded athlete in the triple jump, with a personal-best leap of 51-8 1/2.
Applewhite Ready for Double Dip
Michigan sophomore hurdler Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS) is set to run in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles at the Stanford Invitational. Applewhite finished as the Big Ten runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles (14.35) at the 1999 Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Pair of Sprinters Debut with Double Duty
Michigan senior sprinters Steve Jenkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech HS) and Steve Molnar (Menominee, Mich./Menominee HS) are set to make their 2000 outdoor debuts in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Stanford Invitational. Jenkins and Molnar are the only Wolverine sprinters competing in those two events this weekend.
Derr Makes 2000 Debut
Michigan javelin thrower Andrew Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) opened up his 2000 campaign at the Florida State Relays (March 17-18) with a third-place finish in the javelin throw (196-11). Derr is currently No. 2 on Michigan's all-time list in the javelin.
| 1. Stan Johanning | 1992 | 232-11 |
| 2. Andrew Derr | 1999 | 211-2 |
| 3. Warde Manuel | 1990 | 196-6 |
| 4. Alex Sarafian | 1991 | 193-4 |
| 5. Scott Faculak | 1995 | 192-8 |
DeWildt Wins in Outdoor Opener
Sophomore hurdler Derek Applewhite was not the only Wolverine to come away from the Florida State Relays (March 17-18) victorious. Junior pole vaulter Charles DeWildt (Wyoming, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) won the pole vault with a mark of 17-0 3/4. DeWildt's vault of 17-0 3/4 is a personal best outdoor mark and places him fourth on Michigan's all-time list for outdoor pole vaults.
| 1. Brad Darr | 1992 | 18-0 1/2 |
| 2. Toby Van Pelt | 1992 | 17-3 |
| 3. Jim Stokes | 1978 | 17-1 1/4 |
| 4. Charles DeWildt | 2000 | 17-0 3/4 |
| 5. Dave Irvine | 1989 | 17-0 |
| 6. Brent Sheffer | 1999 | 16-8 |
Johansson Opens Outdoor Season Strong
Michigan thrower Patrik Johansson (Karlstad, Sweden/Tingvalla Gymansiet HS) showed his versatility by placing in the top five in three different events at the Florida State Relays (March 17-18). Johansson placed runner-up in the hammer throw (180-0), fourth in the discus (155-2) and fifth in the shot put (48-4 3/4). Johansson was the only Wolverine to place in the top five in three events at the Florida State Relays.
Applewhite Notches Career Best in Win
Sophomore sprinter Derek Applewhite notched a career-best 52.88 in his win in the 400-meter hurdles at the Florida State Relays. Applewhite's previous career best in the 400-meter hurdles was 53.31, which he earned finishing third in the second heat of that event at the 1999 Len Paddock Invitational in Ann Arbor.
Career Debut
Michigan freshman multi-event athlete Ryan Stevenson (Harrison, Ohio/St. Xavier HS) made his Michigan outdoor debut in the decathlon at the Florida State Relays (March 15-16). Stevenson responded by placing seventh with 6,133 points, which places him fourth on Michigan's all-time list in that event. Michigan's top five all-time decathlon scores:
| 1. Sean Clancy | 1993 | 7,147 |
| 2. Dave Hall | 1985 | 7,034 |
| 3. Blair Yonkoski | 1999 | 6,329 |
| 4. Ryan Stevenson | 2000 | 6,133 |
| 5. Charles DeWildt | 1999 | 5,633 |
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
