Weekly Release #14
4/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, April 22 -- at EMU Twilight Meet (Ypsilanti, Mich.), 11 a.m.
Thu-Sat., April 28-30 -- at Penn Relays (Philadelphia, Pa.), 10 a.m./9 a.m./7 a.m.
Fri-Sat., May 6-7 -- host Len Paddock Invitational (Ferry Field), 11 a.m./10 a.m.
This Week: EMU Twilight Classic
The University of Michigan men's track and field team will continue outdoor competition at the EMU Twilight Meet on Friday (April 22) at the Olds/Marshall Track in Ypsilanti, Mich. The non-scoring meet will begin with several field events at 11 a.m. while running events are slated for a 3 p.m. start.
Triple Threat
Sophomore Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area HS) broke his own U-M outdoor school record in the triple jump at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16), claiming third place in the event with a mark of 51-3 1/2. The Wolverine sophomore added two and a half inches to his previous record, which he set at last season's Big Ten Conference Championships. It was the third NCAA regional-qualifying performace in as many weeks for Whitehead, who now ranks sixth in the event in the Mideast Region.
Just For the Record
Adding Whitehead's weekend triple jump performance, current Wolverine competitors own six of Michigan's school indoor and outdoor records. Senior Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) holds three individual marks -- indoor 800m, outdoor 800m and indoor mile -- while junior Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley HS) boasts top time in the indoor 3,000-meter run. Brannen and Willis -- along with senior DarNell Talbert (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) -- also own the collegiate record in the distance medley relay.
Andrew It Again
Junior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation HS) -- in his first appearance since contributing to the Wolverines' NCAA champion distance medley relay -- nabbed a pair of regional-qualifying standards with top-10 finishes in the 800- and 1,500-meter events at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). Ellerton earned runner-up honors in the 800m with a time of 1:50.29 and returned two hours laters to clock 3:46.17 in a sixth-place 1,500-meter effort.
Four to Score
Demonstrating their depth in the 1,500-meter run, the Wolverines posted a quartet of NCAA regional-qualifying times in the event at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16) as all four U-M competitors claimed top-10 finishes. Leading Ellerton in the sixth spot was freshman Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS), who placed second with a time of 3:44.52 -- just 0.48 seconds behind winner Aaron Aguayo of Arizona State. Freshman Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) and senior/junior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) placed ninth and 10th, respectively, with times of 3:46.75 and 3:47.09. It is the first NCAA-qualifying performance of Gras' collegiate career.
Good Things Come to He Who Waithe
Sophomore Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) trimmed 0.25 seconds from his 400-meter personal best at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16), claiming ninth place with a time of 46.70. It marks the second consecutive meet that the Wolverine sophomore registered a career best performance, adding to a 21.33 in the 200-meter dash at the Raleigh Relays (March 26). Last season, Waithe did hit his qualifying mark until the Big Ten Championships.
Good Things Come to He Who Waits
Placing ninth with a time of 52.47, senior Seth Waits (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego HS) becomes the second Wolverine to earn an NCAA Mideast regional-qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles this season, joining sophomore/freshman Chris Stowe (Traverse City, Mich./North HS).
Miller's Crossing
Junior Brad Miller (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion HS) registered the first NCAA regional-qualifying mark of his collegiate career, hitting the high jump standard dead on with a leap of 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) to claim fourth at the Sun Angel Classic (April 16). The performance marked the Wolverine's best outdoor height of his career and missed his personal best by just 1/4 inch. Since the start of the indoor season, Miller has hit an average of 6-8 3/4 -- more than two and a half inches better than his 2004 average.
Going Back to Cali
The Wolverines registered nine NCAA Mideast Regional qualifying performances at last Saturday's Sun Angel Classic (April 16), giving U-M a total of 12 qualifying standards in 2005, two more than last season. Leading the way for Michigan with two qualifying times is junior Andrew Ellerton, who recorded the necessary mark in both the 800m and 1,500m in his outdoor season debut. The 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Mideast Regional will be held May 27-28 at Robert C. Haugh Complex in Bloomington, Ind.
| Event (Qualifying Standard) | Name | Time/Mark | Date Set |
| 400-Meter Dash (47.26) | Stann Waithe | 46.70 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| 800-Meter Run (1:50.40) | Andrew Ellerton | 1:50.29 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| 1,500-Meter Run (3:48.21) | Mike Woods | 3:44.52 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| Andrew Ellerton | 3:46.17 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic | |
| Victor Gras | 3:46.75 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic | |
| Rondell Ruff | 3:47.09 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic | |
| 110-Meter Hurdles (14.33) | Jeff Porter | 14.12 | 3/26 Raleigh Relays |
| 400-Meter Hurdles (14.33) | Chris Stowe | 52.29 | 4/2 Yellow Jacket Invitational |
| Seth Waits | 52.47 | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic | |
| High Jump (2.10m) | Brad Miller | 6-10 3/4 (2.10m) | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| Triple Jump (15.08m) | Michael Whitehead | 51-3 1/2 (15.63m) | 4/16 Sun Angel Classic |
| Discus Throw (50.37m) | Joey Sarantos | 169-10 (51.76m) | 4/9 Duke Invitational |
On the Horizon
The Wolverines will head to the prestigious Penn Relays next weekend (April 28-30) in Philadelphia, Pa.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
