Wins by Porter, Switzer Pace Wolverines at EMU Invite

Saturday, January 14

Ypsilanti, Mich.

Michigan

Eastern Michigan Invitational

Wins by Porter, Switzer Pace Wolverines at EMU Invite

1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Junior Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) and freshman Justin Switzer (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) were victorious in their season debuts to lead the University of Michigan men's track and field team at the non-scoring EMU Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 14) at Bob Parks Track.

Porter outleaned Tino Ngoy at the finish line to claim the 60-meter hurdles individual crown, posting a time of 7.989 to defeat the unattached runner by just 0.008 seconds. It is Porter's fifth career win in the indoor high-hurdles event. Freshman Rob Fiorillo (Holly, Mich./Holly HS) also registered a strong performance in the race, placing fourth with a time of 8.39.

In his collegiate track debut, Switzer paced the 23-man field in the 800-meter run, posting the top performance of the afternoon with a time of 1:54.20. Running in the third and fastest heat, the Wolverine beat runner-up Erik Reichenbach of Eastern Michigan to the finish line by 0.12 seconds. Switzer led a quartet of U-M runners among the top 10. Freshman Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS) also made a strong career debut with a fifth-place showing at 1:56.31, while freshman Mike Luginbill (Troy, Mich./Troy HS) and senior/junior Andrew Bauer (West Bloomfield, Mich./Lahser HS) rounded out the group in ninth and 10th place, respectively.

Several U-M sprinters claimed standout performances in their respective events. Freshman Adam Harris (Wheaton, Ill./North HS) made his 60-meter dash debut with a time of 7.00 and a third-place showing. Junior Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven HS) took the runner-up spot in the 200-meter dash to pace three Wolverines in the top five. He posted 21.92 to lead freshman Andre Barnes (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) and fifth-year senior Darren Adams (Mentor, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS) in fourth and fifth place, respectively. In the 400-meter dash, sophomore/freshman Dan Harmsen (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) and junior/sophomore Chris Stowe (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) took third and fifth, respectively.

Adams also earned runner-up honors in the high jump, matching the height of event winner Joe Dugal at 6-8 but clearing the bar on a later attempt. It is Adam's best career finish at the EMU meet.

The Wolverines boasted strong performances in the throwing events as freshman Sean Pruitt (Cato, Wis./Valders HS) posted a shot put mark of 49-9 3/4 to claim fourth place in his collegiate debut, and a pair of U-M athletes finished among the top five in the weight throw. Freshman Brendan Lodge (Narrangansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken HS) tossed a season-best 55-1 in fourth place, followed closely by junior Chris McHugh (Bonita Springs, Fla./Bishop Hendricken HS) in fifth place with a 54-10 3/4 in his season debut.

The Wolverines return to Ann Arbor next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 20-21) to host the Red Simmons Invitational at the U-M Indoor Track Building. Friday will feature multi-event action and start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday's competition is slated to begin with the field events at 9 a.m. while track events start at noon.

Event Winners/U-M Finishes

60-meter Dash 1. Tanko Braimeh, unattached 6.85 3. Adam Harris, U-M 7.00 200-meter Dash 1. Roy Shavers, Eastern Michigan 21.78 2. Stann Waithe, U-M 21.92 4. Andre Barnes, U-M 22.43 5. Darren Adams, U-M 22.64 9. Adam Kiesler, unattached 23.10 400-meter Dash 1. Jameel Jones, Siena Heights 48.90 3. Dan Harmsen, U-M 50.24 5. Chris Stowe, U-M 50.55 12. Marc Cooks, U-M 52.14 15. Stevann Waithe, U-M 52.69 800-meter Run 1. Justin Switzer, U-M 1:54.20 5. Lex Williams, U-M 1:56.31 9. Mike Luginbill, U-M 1:59.37 10. Andrew Bauer, U-M 1:59.64 Mile Run 1. Boaz Cheboiywo, Nike 4:02.59 6. James Reichardt, U-M 4:19.05 7. Seth Thibodeau, U-M 4:23.04 3,000-meter Run 1. Ryan Sheehan, Hansons 8:24.08 3. Rondell Ruff, unattached 8:34.71 60-meter Hurdles 1. Jeff Porter, U-M 7.99 4. Rob Fiorillo, U-M 8.39 High Jump 1. Jon Dugal, McComb CC 6-8 (2.03m) 2. Darren Adams, U-M 6-8 (2.03m) Pole Vault 1. Fairbanks Geoff, unattached 16-5 1/4 (5.01m) 3. Kevin Peterman, U-M 15-5 1/2 (4.71m) 9. Spencer Dowdall, U-M 13-11 3/4 (4.26m) Shot Put 1. Dave Adamek, Easern Michigan 57-6 1/4 (17.53m) 4. Sean Pruitt, U-M 49-9 3/4 (15.18m) 6. Paul Sarantos, U-M 48-2 (14.68m) 8. Dan Bedoya, U-M 42-8 1/4 (13.01m) 9. Vince Belitsos, unattached 42-7 (12.98m) Weight Throw 1. Dave Adamek, Easern Michigan 58-1 1/4 (17.71m) 4. Brendan Lodge, U-M 55-1 (16.79m) 5. Chris McHugh, U-M 54-10 3/4 (16.73m) 6. Dan Bedoya, U-M 47-5 3/4 (14.47m) 14. Vince Belitsos, unattached 36-8 1/2 (11.19m)