Michigan
NCAA Mideast Regional (Day 1)
U-M Qualifies Quartet for NCAA Mideast Regional Finals
5/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team qualified two individuals for the 1,500-meter run final and one each for the 400- and 800-meter event finals Friday (May 27) on day one of the NCAA Mideast Regional at Tom Black Track and LaPorte Stadium.
Sophomore Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest) and freshman Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS) each qualified for the 1,500m final out of the first and quicker of two preliminary heats. Woods claimed runner-up status in the eight-man section after using the final bend to move up through the tightly-bunched lead pack and pick up an automatic bid with a time of 3:47.87. Williams slightly dropped off around that same bend to finish sixth in the heat but earned a qualifier on time, clocking 3:50.70 for the 10th quickest performance of the afternoon.
Junior Stann Waithe (Towson, Md./Loch Raven) claimed first place in his 400-meter preliminary heat to earn a spot in the event final for the second consecutive season. Holding the middle of the track, Waithe came out of the final turn in the third position -- approximately 10 meters behind the leader -- but gained the necessary ground down the straight to outlean the competition for the automatic bid. Waithe posted a time of 46.71, nipping runner-up Nathaniel Browning of Kentucky at the line by 0.04 seconds.
Fifth-year senior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) registered the third-best 800-meter performance of his career to advance to the event final as his time of 1:49.93 held up to secure the final qualifier. Ruff hung to the inside curb in the fifth position entering the bell lap before gradually moving into the top three down the backstretch. Jackson State's Joel Williams used the outside lane to push to the front, and Ruff responded in kind but was tripped up with 200 meters remaining to impede his efforts. The U-M runner succeeded in his second attempt, climbing into second place around the bend but was caught by a pair of competitors down the home straightaway to just miss an automatic bid. It is Ruff's second trip to the NCAA regional finals. Last season, he qualified in the 1,500-meter event.
Sophomore/freshman Dan Harmsen (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) just missed the eight-man final in the 400-meter hurdles, registering a time of 52.14 to claim the ninth fastest preliminary clocking. Running near the inside of the track in lane four, Harmsen quickly made up the stagger and pulled into good position down the backstretch. The Wolverine held third place out of the final bend and maintained his ground to the finish line. The performance marked the second-fastest career time for Harmsen.
Junior Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin HS) scored a personal best in the 110-meter hurdles but failed to qualify for the event final after taking fourth place in his heat. Running in the inside lane, the Wolverine junior remained just a step behind from the start and was unable to catch the leaders down the stretch. He trimmed 0.01 seconds from his previous best to post the 13th quickest time of the preliminaries.
Freshman Adam Harris (Wheaton, Ill./North HS) came into a similar scenario in the 100-meter dash as the Wolverine rookie suffered a slow start out of the block and could not catch the field down the straightaway. Harris posted a time of 10.55 -- his second-fastest effort of the season -- in his NCAA regional debut to place seventh in his preliminary heat.
The Wolverines will return to the track tomorrow (Saturday, May 27) for the second and final day of action at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Michigan will open its events with the high jump competition at 11 a.m. at Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium.
Top 10 Teams (After Day 1)
1. Louisville 25 2. Akron 18 3. Arkansas 17 4. Missouri 13 5. Kent State 12 6. Southern Illinois 11 McNeese State 11 8. Michigan State 10.75 9. Ohio 9 Louisiana Tech 9
Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 1)
100-Meter Dash (Prelims) Heat 4 1. Chauncey Harris, Alabama 10.20Q 7. Adam Harris, U-M 10.55 400-Meter Dash (Prelims) Heat 3 1. Stann Waithe, U-M 46.71Q 800-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 2 1. Joel Williams, Jackson State 1:49.26Q 4. Rondell Ruff, U-M 1:49.93q 1,500-Meter Run (Prelims) Heat 1 1. Vincent Rono, South Alabama 3:47.36Q 2. Mike Woods, U-M 3:47.87Q 6. Lex Williams, U-M 3:50.70q 110-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 3 1. Clarence Glenn, Central Michigan 13.60Q 4. Jeff Porter, U-M 13.92 400-Meter Hurdles (Prelims) Heat 2 1. Isa Phillips, LSU 50.61Q 3. Dan Harmsen, U-M 52.14 Qq indicates qualification for finals
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
