2005 TFM at Penn Relays -- Day 2 Notes & Quotes
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
N O T E S
The Wolverine foursome -- Nate Brannen, Stann Waithe, Andrew Ellerton and Nick Willis -- captured the 41st relay crown at Penn Relays in U-M program history and eighth in the distance medley relay. Michigan has won the DMR three times in the last eight years (1998, 2003, 2005).
With a time of 9:22.57, Michigan registered the fastest DMR performance at Penn Relays since Arkansas clocked 9:22.24 in 1991. When the Wolverines won in 2003, they posted a time of 9:32.65.
Michigan and Arkansas have won seven out of the last DMR titles at Penn Relays. Connecticut captured the title in 2000 and Villanova won in 2001.
Brannen, Ellerton and Willis all own a stake in both the Wolverines' indoor (9:27.77) and outdoor (9:22.57) school records in the distance medley relay.
Former Wolverine standout Ralph Rose was inducted to the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in a Friday-evening award ceremony. Rose, a six-time Olympic medalist in the throws, won the 1904 shot put title in his only appearance at the Penn Relays. Registering an American and collegiate record of 48-2, Rose's mark remained the Carnival record for 27 years and ranks as the longest-standing record.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Ron Warhurst
On the race ... "We wanted Nate to get out, maintain and finish hard. Stann needed to hold it, and he did. If Ellerton was going to be challenged early, he would have let him go and just sit on him and give the baton second to Willis. It turned out that he pulled away pretty strong. In the relay, it's key because the guy that's going out is going a lot faster than the guy coming in. Nick went out in 57-point and Ahmed was probably going about 56-point, and I knew that was going to hurt. He stayed as long as he could. Nick maintained the pace, and the other fellow from Arkansas just couldn't stay with him."
On U-M's rivalry against Arkansas ... "It wasn't a grudge match. The (disqualification) call at the NCAA (indoor) meet was a fair call. It's great for track and field. If you get one team that dominates all the time, it can get boring. When there's an opportunity for another team to challenge a perennial power, I think it makes it exciting for track and field and the people involved in it. Today we had the upper hand, but tomorrow's a different day. Penn Relays is the greatest track meet in the world -- except for the Olympics -- to showcase your talents. It's great for the sport."
Senior Nate Brannen
On his opening 1,200-meter leg ... "I got off the line a little slow. I kind of got pushed right to the back. Through the first lap, I was probably third or fourth last and getting bumped around a bit. At that point, I knew I'd better start moving up. I found a gap after about 800 to move up into fourth; with about 220-230 to go, I took it and ended up in the lead. It was a little anticlimactic."
On beating Arkansas ... "We definitely came here to beat them fair and square. We're 4-1 against them -- with this team. Everyone keeps talking about a rivalry; I don't really see it. They beat us once, and that was our first race as a team together. It's nice to come here and clearly win."
Sophomore Stann Waithe
On his 400-meter leg ... "I knew Nate would give it to me with the lead; I just didn't want to look too bad. I thought they might catch me, and I would have to put us back in first, but they never caught me. So, I guess I did what I had to do."
On returning for the 4x400-meter relay 20 minutes later ... "I was a little scared. My head hurt a little bit, but my legs felt fine. I knew that I'd have my legs straight, but I didn't know how the race would turn out. Once I started, I felt good, but I don't know what I was thinking about. I stepped on the rail and almost fell. I thought I was going to be out of it, but I thought, 'I'm going to give all I have for the rest of it,' and I just started running all out and put us into second. I think I did pretty well with it."
Junior Andrew Ellerton
On his 800-meter leg ... "My leg felt pretty good. I switched it up a bit this year. In all the other relays, I'd just try to sit and keep it close for whoever was anchoring for us; so, I was really just running for second place. This year, Hatch from Arkansas reversed it around, so I had to lead it. It felt pretty good. I closed hard and was able to put some ground down; I was happy with it."
Junior/Sophomore Nick Willis
On his anchor leg ... "I always pretty confident in my abilities when training is going well. So, I had reasons to believe that I'd be the strongest miler there. At the same time, I've never really been a frontrunner with someone sitting on my tail the whole way. I was a little curious as to how I would approach the last 600 meters. I knew that if I kept the pressure on the bottom bend, before I had the wind in the home straight, he might start getting doubts in his own ability to hang in. I think he might have let up a bit when he realized he wasn't going to win."
On the confidence the performance gives him ... "Ellerton dug in the last 70 meters and got enough of a cushion to make me think it was worth pushing it. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, because it gave me the belief that I can do it again tomorrow (in the 4 x mile relay) -- when I'll basically have to do the same thing. I think it gives the other guys the same belief, so it kind of opens up new windows that we weren't sure were available. I had a little doubt during the race how I would maintain that same pace -- that uncomfortableness is more a mental thing than physical. It felt pretty good. I got to jog to the finish line with my arms in the air; it was fun."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
