Sprinter Okenwa Burns Up Track on Way to NCAA Time

Saturday, May 13

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan

Len Paddock Invitational (Day 2)

5/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team closed out the second day of competition at its Len Paddock Invitational with a bang, led by its sprint group. Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) starred for Michigan in front of a home crowd at Ferry Field on Saturday (May 13), setting his personal and season team best in the 100-meter dash by running in a time of 10.22. The mark is also an NCAA provisional qualifying time.

Michigan also received a solid effort from Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS), who finished second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.09). Applewhite's time is a personal record as well as a Michigan season best. Michigan's 4x400-meter relay squad also represented the Wolverine sprinting contingent well as the team of Kevin Lamb (East Lansing, Mich./Haslett HS), Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS), Ravi Smith (Southfield, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup HS) and Josh Sellers (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee HS) finished second (3:12.59).

Current Wolverines assistant coach and former team member Kevin Sullivan won the 800-meter run (1:51.02) competing for Reebok.

Okenwa is the third Wolverine to register an NCAA provisional qualifying mark during the outdoor campaign. Steve Lawrence (Consecon, Ontario/East Northumberland HS) and Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) are qualified in the 10,000-meter run.

The next test for the Maize and Blue comes at the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships Friday through Sunday, May 19-21, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Day 1 Results

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423