Wolverines Kick Off 2005 Campaign with Michigan Open

Monday, September 5

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan

Michigan Open

9/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's cross country team made its 2005 debut at the Michigan Open on Monday (Sept. 5) with a majority of the Wolverine squad competing unattached in the non-scoring, four-mile event.

Six Wolverine competitors donned the Michigan uniform for the early-season meet with senior/junior Andrew Bauer (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS) and sophomore/freshman Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) taking top billing in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, crossing the finish line together at 19:50.

Former Wolverine All-American Nate Brannen, currently an undergraduate assistant coach for the U-M program, won the event with a time of 19:35, finishing 14 seconds ahead of a pair of Michigan newcomers -- freshmen Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS) and Justin Switzer (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) -- who placed second and third, respectively, each clocking 19:49 in his collegiate debut.

Running in a tight pack of eight runners, the Wolverines worked together, alternating front-running duties through much of the race. With sophomore Seth Thibodeau (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) in the lead, the group passed through the halfway, two-mile point at 10:02. Brannen pushed to the front soon after and did not relinquish his advantage, pulling away from the field with 1,200 meters remaining to establish a sizable gap. The pack clocked 4:50 over the last mile.

Several other U-M freshmen made their collegiate debut at the season-opening event as John Black (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS) claimed sixth in 19:51, Tony Nalli (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS) took 11th place in 20:14, Roger Billhardt (Elmhurst, Ill./York HS) placed 16th in 20:48 and Brandon Fellows (Mercer Island, Wa./Mercer Island HS) claimed 19th in 21:01.

The Wolverines will have a two-week hiatus before returning to action on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing, Mich. Hosted by Michigan State, the non-scoring event is slated to begin at 2 p.m. at Forest Akers Golf Course.

Michigan Open Results (Top 15)

 1. Nate Brannen, Reebok 19:35 2. Lex Williams, unatt. 19:49 3. Justin Switzer, unatt. 19:49 4. Andrew Bauer, U-M 19:50 5. Victor Gras, U-M 19:50 6. John Black, unatt. 19:51 7. Seth Thibodeau, U-M 19:53 8. Todd Iacovelli, unatt. 19:56 9. Mike Woods, unatt. 20:02 10. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 20:05 11. Tony Nalli, unatt. 20:14 12. Rondell Ruff, U-M 20:34 13. James Reichardt, unatt. 20:34 14. Ethan Brown, unatt. 20:40 15. Aaron Metler, unatt. 20:46