Ellerton, Baldwin Qualify for Regional at EMU Twilight

Friday, April 16

Ypsilanti, Mich.

Michigan

Eastern Michigan Twilight

Ellerton, Baldwin Qualify for Regional at EMU Twilight

4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Sophomore Andrew Ellerton (Windsor, Ontario/Confederation HS) and senior Joe Baldwin (Petersburg, Mich./Ida HS) each collected individual victories and earned NCAA Regional qualifying marks to pace the University of Michigan men's track and field team at the non-scoring EMU Twilight Meet on Saturday (April 17).

After qualifying in the 1,500-meter run two weeks ago, Ellerton blazed a personal-best 1:49.05 in the 800m to collect his first win of the outdoor season and his second regional qualifying time. After hanging near the front through the first lap, the Wolverine sophomore made his move with 300 meter remaining, using a strong kick coming out of the final bend to finish 1.12 seconds in front of runner-up Brandon Jiles from Eastern Michigan. Ellerton's time was 0.01 seconds quicker than his previous personal record, a mark which he set in high school.

U-M also placed three additional runners in the top 10 of the 800-meter run with junior/sophomore Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS), fifth-year senior Dan Cooke (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney HS) and freshman Sebastien Lounis (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Seaholm HS) placing third, seventh and ninth, repspectively. Clocking a time of 1:51.23, Ruff shaved 2.70 seconds from his season best in the event.

Baldwin earned his first collegiate victory as a Wolverine, capturing first place in the long jump with a personal-best mark of 24-4 1/2. Baldwin, a transfer from the University of Toledo, bettered the qualifying standard by three and a half inches and added 3/4 inch to his previous best, a mark he set prior to coming to Michigan.

Sophomore Spencer Dowdall (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs HS) bettered his personal record in the pole vault for the second time during the outdoor season, clearing 15-7 1/4 to tie for second place. Dowdall added more than two inches to his previous best, which he set at the Florida State Relays (March 18).

Freshman Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) registered the Wolverines' fastest time of the season in the 400-meter dash, clocking 48.00 to win his heat and finish fifth overall. Waithe was just 0.16 seconds shy of his personal best in the event and 0.74 seconds away from the regional qualifying standard.

Juniors DarNell Talbert (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and David Battani (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) each recorded top-10 finishes in both hurdle events of the day, placing sixth and eighth in the 110-meter hurdles and second and third in the 400-meter hurdles, respectively. It was the season debut for both student-athletes in the 110 hurdles.

The Wolverines will split the squad again next weekend (Thursday-Saturday, April 22-24), sending several competitors to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., as well as the Hillsdale Relays in Hillsdale, Mich.

Event Winners/U-M Finishes

Friday's Results

1,500-meter Run 1. Paul McMullen, unattached 3:45.37 8. Dan Murray, U-M 3:55.99 17. Todd Iacovelli, U-M 4:02.49

Saturday's Results

100-meter Dash 1. Tanko Braimah, unattached 10.51 8. Brent Cummings, U-M 11.17 17. Francis Legasse, U-M 11.44 200-meter Dash 1. Pierre Vinson, Central Michigan 21.38 3. Stann Waithe, U-M 21.72 12. Chris Yee, U-M 22.40 22. Francis Legasse, U-M 22.88 24. Kaj Johansson, U-M 22.98 400-meter Dash 1. Soji Jibowu, Central Michigan 47.16 5. Stann Waithe, U-M 48.00 7. John D'Arcy, U-M 48.53 16. Chris Yee, U-M 49.84 17. Kaj Johansson, U-M 50.37 800-meter Run 1. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:49.05# 3. Rondell Ruff, U-M 1:51.23 7. Dan Cooke, U-M 1:52.74 9. Sebastien Lounis, U-M 1:52.95 11. Joe Schramski, U-M 1:53.39 110-meter Hurdles 1. Abdaliah Mohamed, Eastern Michigan 14.16 6. DarNell Talbert, U-M 15.17 8. David Battani, U-M 15.25 400-meter Hurdles 1. Nick Stout, Central Michigan 52.56 2. DarNell Talbert, U-M 53.09 3. David Battani, U-M 53.24 4x400 Relay 1. Eastern Michigan 3:12.14 2. Michigan 'A' 3:16.07 (John D'Arcy, DarNell Talbert, Rondell Ruff, Andrew Ellerton) 6. Michigan 'B' 3:32.84 (Sebastien Lounis, Chris Yee, Dan Cooke, Todd Iacovelli) High Jump 1. Jeff Kus, Central Michigan 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) 2. Adam Kring, U-M 6-8 (2.03m) 4. Brad Miller, U-M 6-8 (2.03m) Long Jump 1. Joe Baldwin, U-M 24-4 1/2# (7.43m) 4. Michael Whitehead, U-M 22-2 1/2 (6.77m) 5. Adam Kiesler, U-M 22-0 1/2 (6.72m) Triple Jump 1. Jason Evelyn, Western Michigan 44-4 3/4# (15.03m) 4. Brad Miller, U-M 42-6 3/4 (13.80m) Pole Vault 1. Dave Jones, Central Michigan 16-5# (5.00m) T2. Spencer Dowdall, U-M 15-7 1/4 (4.76m) T4. Craig Theissen, U-M 15-1 1/2 (4.61m) Hammer Throw 1. Mike Sidlauskas, Central Michigan 188-7# (57.48m) 4. Chris McHugh, U-M 173-1 (52.76m)