Michigan Distance Runners Shine at EMU Twilight Meet

Friday, April 18

Ypsilanti, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

Eastern Michigan Invitational

4/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team earned five NCAA Regional qualifying times Friday (April 18) at the Eastern Michigan Twilight Invitational on Olds-Marshall Track. The Wolverines had a strong evening overall with four event titles and 12 other top-five finishes.

Freshman Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS), the 2003 Big Ten Conference indoor 3,000 meters champion, made his first appearance of the outdoor season and posted a win in the 1,500-meter run with a NCAA Regional qualifying time of 3:46.28. Willis' mark stands as U-M's top result this season.

In the 800-meter dash, freshman Andrew Ellerton (Windsor, Ontario/Conferderation HS) led a pack of seven Wolverines across the finish line with a time of 1:49.39. Michigan placed seven athletes among the event's top 10 finishers. Ellerton, junior Brian Turner (Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS), senior/junior Dan Cooke (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney HS) and redshirt freshman Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) all posted NCAA Regional qualifying marks in the 800.

Freshman high jumper Adam Kring (Port Huron, Mich./Northern HS) won his first event of the outdoor season with a leap of 6-9 3/4, which also stands as a season best. Elsewhere in the field, sophomore Craig Theissen (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny HS) eclipsed his career best in the javelin by 13-10 with his fourth-place throw of 141-11.

Sophomore Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Otsego HS) had a solid performance with his win in the 400-meter hurdles, posting a career-best time of 53.11. Classmate DarNell Talbert (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and junior David Battani (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) placed second and third in the event, respectively.

The Wolverines will take to the track for the 109th running of the Penn Relays next Thursday through Saturday (April 24-26) at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa.

Event Winners/U-M Finishes

100-meter Dash 1. Will Hills, EMU 10.80 6. Nathan Taylor, U-M 11.04 200-meter Dash 1. Josh Weber, Northwood 21.86 9. Nathan Taylor, U-M 22.93 400-meter Dash 1. Josh Weber, Northwood 47.23# 3. Jeremy Schneider, U-M 48.87 5. Chris Yee, U-M 49.51 7. Kaj Johansson, U-M 49.92 800-meter Run 1. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:49.39# 2. Brian Turner, U-M 1:50.32# 3. Dan Cooke, U-M 1:50.63# 5. Rondell Ruff, U-M 1:50.99# 7. Phil Stead, U-M 1:51.43 8. Tom Greenless, U-M 1:51.59 10. Joe Schramsky, U-M 1:53.16 1,500-meter Run 1. Nick Willis, U-M 3:46.28# 4. Alex L'Heureux, U-M 3:50.59 7. Tarn Leach, U-M 3:53.43 8. Sean Moore, U-M 3:54.78 9. Ryan Hesselink, U-M 3:55.72 11. Dave Cook, U-M 3:57.34 12. Nick Stanko, U-M 3:59.39 110-meter Hurdles 1. Tino Ngoy, EMU 14.40# 7. Nick Meter, U-M 15.43 400-meter Hurdles 1. Seth Waits, U-M 53.11 2. DarNell Talbert, U-M 53.50 3. David Battani, U-M 54.41 7. Nick Meter, U-M 56.25 High Jump 1. Adam Kring, U-M 6-9 3/4 (2.08m) Long Jump 1. Julien Williams, MSU 22-9 (6.93m) 2. David Malonson, U-M 22-3 1/2 (6.79m) Triple Jump 1. Brad Miller, unattached 41-1 (12.52m) T2. David Malonson, U-M 40-8 1/4 (12.40m) Shot Put 1. Steve Manz, MSU 56-6 3/4 (17.24m)# 3. Brad Hoffman, U-M 46-11 3/4 (14.32m) Hammer Throw 1. Marc Keast, EMU 175-3 (53.42m) 11. Nick Vander Ploeg, U-M 143-6 (43.74m) Javelin 1. Josh Swift, Findlay 163-5 (49.80m) 4. Craig Theissen, U-M 149-11 (45.70m)