Brannen Leads Michigan to First Place at Sykes-Sabok

Saturday, February 14

State College, Pa.

Michigan

Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup (Day 2)

2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Using a combination of standout individual performances and team depth in several events, the University of Michigan men's track and field team captured first place at the Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup on Saturday (Feb. 14). Earning 118 points in the team competition, Michigan jumped two places after holding the third position after the first day of action. Central Michigan was runner-up with 116.5 points. Seventeen different U-M competitors earned points for the Wolverines by placing among the top eight in their respective events and contributed in the Michigan victory.

Junior Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) boasted the top individual performance on the second day, earning an NCAA automatic qualifying time in his second-place showing in the 800-meter run. Brannen, who was a member of the U-M distance medley relay squad that automatically qualified during yesterday's competition, clocked the nation's third-fastest time of the season in the 800 at 1:48.16. The reigning NCAA indoor champion in the event was 0.14 seconds better than the qualifying standard.

Sophomore Andrew Ellerton (Windsor, Ontario/Confederation HS), also a member of the Michigan DMR team, crossed the line just steps behind his Wolverine teammate in the 800-meter run to earn a fourth-place finish. With his time of 1:49.13, Ellerton recorded an NCAA provisional time, 1.07 seconds under the qualifying standard.

The Wolverines received solid performances in the 600-meter run with four U-M runners finishing in the top seven, including the first and second spots. Freshman John D'Arcy (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont HS) claimed his fourth win in just five collegiate appearances, clocking a season-best time of 1:19.40. Junior Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego HS) finished right on his heels, registering a personal-best 1:19.49.

In the field events, U-M collected wins in the high jump and triple jump as junior Adam Kring (Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern HS) and freshman Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) each notched his second collegiate win with a season-best mark. Kring out-jumped the competition in the high jump by nearly two inches and was 1 1/4 inches shy of his personal best with a mark of 6-10 3/4. Whitehead, competing in just his third collegiate meet, hit a mark of 49-4 1/2 in the triple jump, besting the field by 4 1/2 inches.

The Wolverines will host their final home meet of the indoor season with the Harold Silverston Invitational next Saturday (Feb. 21). Field events are scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. start, while track competition is set to begin at noon at the U-M Track Building.