Webb Makes Collegiate Track Debut at Mt. SAC Relays

Friday, April 19

Walnut, Calif.

Michigan

Mt. SAC Relays (Days 1-2)

4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

WALNUT, Calif. -- Freshman Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS), the American high school record holder in the mile (3:53.43), made his debut for the University of Michigan men's track and field team on Saturday night (April 20) at the Mt. SAC Relays and finished ninth in the University/Open 1,500-meter run. Webb posted an NCAA provisional time of 3:44.74 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, roughly three seconds off the pace set by Adrian Blincoe of Villanova. Blincoe, who hails from New Zealand, anchored the distance medley relay team that captured the 2002 NCAA indoor title.

Alan Webb posted an NCAA provisional time in the 1,500 meters.

After redshirting the indoor track and field season with Achilles tendinitis, Webb was making his first appearance in a Michigan uniform since placing 11th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 19, 2001, in Greenville, S.C. Webb took the early lead in Saturday's race and held onto it for the first 800 meters before falling back into the middle of the pack. A late push on the next-to-last turn put Webb in the top three before a group of competitors, including three from Stanford, were able to pass the Sullivan Award finalist.

Michigan had two representatives in the University/Open division of the 400-meter dash with juniors Jeremy Schneider (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Andover HS) and Kevin Lamb (East Lansing, Mich./Haslett HS). Lamb posted the fastest time of his career and the quickest time by a Wolverine runner this year in the event with a mark of 47.15, which placed fourth in Heat C and was the sixth fastest time of the day. Schneider ended up with a time of 49.30 to place 28th overall.

On Friday (April 19), senior tri-captain Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) was the first member of the Maize and Blue to compete at the Mt. SAC Relays. With a time of 14:37.60 in the 5,000-meter run, Wisniewski placed 25th in the University/Open division.

The Mt. SAC Relays will conclude on Sunday (April 21) with a start time of 9 a.m. PDT. The Wolverines will have seven people competing on Sunday, including two California natives in senior tri-captain Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) and freshman DarNell Talbert (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Bedford HS). Okenwa is expected to compete in the 200-meter dash and both the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays, while Talbert is scheduled to run in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles.

Event Winners/U-M Finishers

Friday Results

5,000-meter Run (University/Open) 1. Edwardo Torres, Colorado 13:59.84# 25. Mike Wisniewski, U-M 14:37.60

Saturday Results

400-meter Dash (University/Open) 1. John Kelly, Nebraska 46.96 6. Kevin Lamb, U-M 47.15 28. Jeremy Schneider, U-M 49.30 1,500-meter Run (University/Open) 1. Adrian Blincoe, Villanova 3:41.85# 9. Alan Webb, U-M 3:44.74# # NCAA provisional mark

Q U O T E S

U-M Freshman Alan Webb
On his race ... "I thought that I felt better than I did, but you never know what's going to happen. It's kind of late for my body because of the time change, but I can make all the excuses I want, the thing is it just wasn't there tonight. The good thing is I have my first race under my belt and school is almost over so I should be able to focus 100 percent on running."

Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423