Webb Captures Big Ten Championship in 1,500 Meters

Sunday, May 19

Madison, Wis.

Michigan

Big Ten Outdoor Championships (Day 3)

5/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

MADISON, Wis. -- Freshman Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS) captured the Big Ten Conference title in the 1,500-meter run on Sunday afternoon (May 19) as the University of Michigan men's track and field team concluded the 2002 Big Ten Outdoor Championships in ninth place with 39 points. Host Wisconsin, with 27 points in the 5,000-meter run, won the 2002 Big Ten outdoor championship with 157.50 points at Dan McClimon Track.

Webb

With a time of 3:49.27, Webb became Michigan's lone champion of the meet, and he is only the third person in school history to win the 1,500-meter run at the Big Ten outdoor meet, joining Kevin Sullivan (1994-94-97-98) and Jay Cantin (1999). Webb is also the first Michigan freshman to win a Big Ten title since Sullivan accomplished the feat by winning the 1,500-meter run in 1994.

Webb, the American high school record holder in the mile at 3:53.43, was able to avoid a fall right before the third lap as Neil Hanson of Minnesota was tripped directly ahead of the Michigan freshman. After the incident, John Jefferson of Indiana took the lead and carried it until there were 200 meters left in the race. At that time, Jefferson and Martin Robeck of Minnesota made their move but were passed on the final turn by Webb, who outkicked his competition down the final home stretch.

Freshman Nathan Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) added Michigan's next highest finish by placing third in the 800-meter run. Brannen, who has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three outdoor meets in which he has run this season, posted an NCAA provisional time of 1:48.39. Freshman Dan Murray of Wisconsin took home the title in the closely contested event with a time of 1:48.20, followed by Toby Henkels of Minnesota (1:48.32).

In the 400-meter hurdles, Michigan placed two members in the finals and the duo combined for five points. Junior tri-captain Derek Applewhite (Brighton, Colo./Brighton HS) was the top representative for the Maize and Blue as he placed fifth with a time of 51.42, and sophomore Andrew Ochs (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) followed in eighth (52.45).

Two seniors closed out their accomplished careers for Michigan on Sunday as Ike Okenwa (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, while Brent Sheffer (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) established a new career best in the pole vault. Sheffer placed sixth after clearing a height of 16-10 1/4 and Okenwa had a seventh-place showing in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.75. In the 200-meter dash, Okenwa had a strong performance until pulling up with an injury right before the finish line.

Michigan closed the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The squad of junior Kevin Lamb (East Lansing, Mich./Haslett HS), Ochs and freshmen DarNell Talbert (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and Brannen finished in 3:11.61.

In the 4x100-meter relay, Michigan was in contention for a top-five finish before junior Brent Cummings (Belding, Mich./Belding HS) pulled up on the anchor leg with a hamstring injury. Joining Cummings on the relay team were sophomore Anthony Beal (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS), Okenwa and Lamb.

Michigan's last meet of the 2002 track season will be at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge, La. The Wolverines will be represented by Webb, Brannen and Wisniewski as events will be held from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1.

Final Team Standings

 1. Wisconsin 157.5 2. Minnesota 153 3. Purdue 113 4. Indiana 89 5. Penn State 72 6. Iowa 70 7. Michigan State 47.5 8. Ohio State 46 9. MICHIGAN 39 10. Illinois 30

Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day 3)

Shot Put 1. Dan Taylor, Ohio State 62-10# Pole Vault 1. Paul Terek, Michigan State 17-10 1/4# 6. Brent Sheffer, U-M 16-10 1/4 4x100-meter Relay 1. Minnesota 40.25 (Matt Taylor, Ben Taylor, Robb Merritt, Michael Jakobsson) -- Michigan DNF (Anthony Beal, Ike Okenwa, Kevin Lamb, Brent Cummings) 1,500-meter Run 1. Alan Webb, U-M 3:49.27 110-meter Hurdles 1. Jon Mungen, Wisconsin 14.02 400-meter Dash 1. Adam Steele, Minnesota 46.40 100-meter Dash 1. Jacques Reeves, Purdue 10.41 7. Ike Okenwa, U-M 10.75 800-meter Run 1. Dan Murray, Wisconsin 1:48.20# 3. Nathan Brannen, U-M 1:48.39# 400-meter Hurdles 1. Michael Jakobsson, Minnesota 49.87* 5. Derek Applewhite, U-M 50.25 8. Andrew Ochs, U-M 52.45 200-meter Dash 1. Ryan Olkowski, Penn State 20.59 8. Ike Okenwa, U-M 23.24 Triple Jump 1. Aarik Wilson, Indiana 54-0 1/2# 5,000-meter Run 1. Isaiah Festa, Wisconsin 14:20.09 18. Sean Moore, U-M 14:53.86 19. Mike Wisniewski, U-M 14:55.43 25. Tarn Leach, U-M 15:16.58 4x400-meter Relay 1. Minnesota 3:08.59 4. Michigan 3:11.61 (Kevin Lamb, Andrew Ochs, Nathan Brannen, DarNell Talbert) * NCAA automatic qualifying mark # NCAA provisional mark

Day 1 Results | Day 2 Results

Q U O T E S

Freshman Alan Webb
On becoming a Big Ten champion ... "It's an awesome feeling. Anytime you cross the finish line in first, it's great, but especially when it means you've won a Big Ten championship. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into nationals in two weeks."

Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423