Weekly Release #17
5/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Fri-Sat., May 12-13 -- hosts Len Paddock Invitational (Ferry Field)
Fri-Sun., May 19-21 -- at Big Ten Conference Championships (Iowa City, Iowa)
U-M Hosts Len Paddock Invitational to Cap Regular Season
The University of Michigan men's track and field team closes out the regular-season portion of its outdoor schedule as the Wolverines host the annual Len Paddock Invitational on Friday and Saturday (May 12-13) at legendary Ferry Field. Several top athletes representing NCAA Division I, II and III schools from throughout the Midwest will be competing against a full squad of Wolverines. Top Division I competition for the Maize and Blue will be Ohio State, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan and Bowling Green State University. The meet will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday (May 12) and at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday (May 13).
Johansson Looks for Back-to-Back Paddock Titles
Michigan senior thrower Patrik Johansson (Karlstad, Sweden/Tingvalla Gymansiet) is the only returning Wolverine who won an event at the 1999 Len Paddock Invitational. Johansson won the hammer throw with a toss of 193-8 1/2 and he will be back to compete in the hammer throw again in 2000. Johansson owns Michigan's 2000 season-best hammer throw of 188-6, which he delivered at the Stanford Invitational on March 25.
Michigan Goes for Repeat in 4x100
Michigan's other event title at the 1999 Len Paddock Invitational came from its 4x100-meter relay team, which set a 1999 Michigan season-best time of 40.70 in the process. Three of the four Wolverine athletes who made up the 1999 group return in 2000 to defend their Len Paddock title. Steve Jenkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech HS), Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) and Steve Molnar (Menominee, Mich./Menominee HS) will make up three-fourths of Michigan's top 4x100-meter relay team at the Len Paddock Invitational.
Trifecta for Rogers
Michigan junior thrower Nick Rogers (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm HS) won the shot put at the Toledo Invitational (May 6) with a toss of 52-4 3/4. The win marked the third straight for Rogers in the shot put. Rogers also delivered his best effort of 2000 in the discus when recorded a Michigan season best and personal record of 167-1 to place second at the Toledo Invitational. Rogers also owns the Michigan season best in the shot put with his mark of 53-7 3/4, which he delivered at the Duke Invitational (April 8).
4x100 Repeats at Toledo
Michigan's 4x100-meter relay team won the title at the Toledo Invitational for the second straight season, this time winning in a season-best time of 40.54. Michigan's new season best of 40.54 is almost four-tenths of a second faster than its previous best, much of which can be attributed to the return of senior Steve Jenkins to the lineup. Jenkins is joined by Steve Molnar, Ike Okenwa and Brad Haudan (Maumee, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit HS) in Michigan's 4x100-meter relay lineup, and with everybody healthy could be a force at the Big Ten Championships.
Other Season Bests
In addition to Nick Rogers in the discus and the 4x100-meter relay quartet, several other Wolverines set Michigan season bests this past Saturday (May 6) at the Toledo Invitational. Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS) won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.12, while Ike Okenwa placed third in the 200-meter dash with a season-best time of 21.23. Finally, Josh Sellers (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee HS) placed runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles as upped the season best to 51.59.
Vaulters Back on Winning Track
After struggling at the Penn Relays (April 29), Michigan pole vaulters Charles DeWildt (Wyoming, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) and Brent Sheffer (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) returned to their winning ways as they took the top two spots at the Toledo Invitational. Each Wolverine delivered a vault of 16-6, however, DeWildt won on a tiebreak. Sheffer's height of 16-6 was his best effort of the outdoor season, while DeWildt's mark of 17-1 at the Mt. SAC Relays (April 14) is still the season best.
Big Ten Conference Rankings
(Wolverines in top eight and leaders of those events)
200-Meter Dash 1. Mike Bennett, Wisconsin 20.66 7. Ike Okenwa, Michigan 21.23 400-Meter Dash 1. Andrew Pierce, Ohio State 45.49 8. Kevin Lamb, Michigan 47.77 5,000-Meter Run 1. Jay Schoenfelder, Wisconsin 13:38.87 4. Mike Wisniewski, Michigan 14:10.78 6. Jay Cantin, Michigan 14:23.41 10,000-Meter Run 1. Stetson Steele, Iowa 28:44.47 4. Mike Wisniewski, Michigan 29:05.12 5. Steve Lawrence, Michigan 29:07.43 110-Meter Hurdles 1. T.J. Nelson, Wisconsin 13.85 4. Derek Applewhite, Michigan 14.12 400-Meter Hurdles 1. Sherman Armstrong, Illinois 49.20 3. Josh Sellers, Michigan 51.59 5. Derek Applewhite, Michigan 51.69 4x100-Meter Relay 1. Wisconsin 39.77 4. Michigan 40.54 4x400-Meter Relay 1. Ohio State 3:06.33 2. Michigan 3:09.53 Pole Vault 1. Justin Norberg, Illinois 17-4 1/2 2. Charles DeWildt, Michigan 17-1 Hammer Throw 1. Chris Brown, Purdue 210-11 6. Patrik Johansson, Michigan 188-6 Javelin 1. Dan Ralph, Iowa 227-10 7. Andy Derr, Michigan 200-1
Wolverines in the NCAA Rankings
10,000-Meter Run 1. Brent Hauser, Stanford 28:23.37 17. Mike Wisniewski, Michigan 29:05.12 19. Steve Lawrence, Michigan 29:07.43
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
