Wisniewksi Wins Big Ten Title in 10,000-Meter Run

Friday, May 19

Iowa City, Iowa

Michigan

Big Ten Outdoor Championships (Day 1)

5/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team jumped out to a fast start on day one of competition at the 2000 Big Ten Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Iowa's Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track. The Wolverines scored points in the only two event finals of the day, including a Big Ten championship in the 10,000-meter run from junior Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) in a time of 29:59.93.

Paced by Wisniewski, the Maize and Blue sit in third place (14 points) following the first day of competition, trailing first-place Iowa (24) and Purdue (22).

Michigan's other point scorer on the day was senior thrower Patrik Johansson (Karlstad, Sweden/Tingvalla Gymnasiet HS), who placed fifth in the hammer throw with a toss of 194-3. Johansson, who placed third in the hammer throw at the 1999 Big Ten Outdoor Championships, set a Michigan season best for 2000 with his toss of 194-3.

Wisniewski's victory in the 10,000-meter run is Michigan's 10th all-time in that event and first since teammate John Mortimer (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry HS), who is out due to injury, won a second straight 10,000-meter title in 1998. The win gives Wisniewski the first Big Ten title of his career. Wisniewski also owns Michigan's season-best time in the 10,000-meter run, with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 29:05.12, which ranks him 19th in the nation.

In addition, Michigan multi-event athlete Ryan Stevenson (Harrison, Ohio/St. Xavier HS) is in 12th place in the decathlon following the first day of competition. The decathlon will conclude tomorrow after the completion of the final five events -- 110-meter hurdles, discus, javelin, pole vault and 1,500-meter run.

The Big Ten Outdoor Championships continues through Sunday (May 21).

Team Standings (after Day 1)

 1. Iowa 24 2. Purdue 22 3. MICHIGAN 14 4. Minnesota 6 5. Penn State 5 6. Wisconsin 4 7. Illinois 2 8. Ohio State 1 9. Michigan State 0 Indiana 0

Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day 1)

Hammer Throw 1. Arno van der Westhuizen, Iowa 218-5 (66.58m) 5. Patrik Johansson, U-M 194-3 (59.22m) 10,000-meter Run 1. Mike Wisniewski, U-M 29:59.93 9. Steve Lawrence, U-M 31:01.72 Decathlon (Day 1) 1. Lyndon McDowell, Minnesota 3,826 pts. 12. Ryan Stevenson, U-M 779

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423