Wolverines Finish First Day of UNC Invitational

Friday, March 30

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Michigan

UNC Invitational

3/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A portion of the University of Michigan men's track and field team completed day one of competition at the University of North Carolina Invite at Fetzer Field. The Wolverines also sent 12 members of the team to compete in the Stanford Invite this weekend (March 30-31) in Palo Alto, Calif.

Senior Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) won the triple jump with a mark of 51-3. The mark improved his NCAA regional qualifying mark by almost two feet. Whitehead's closest competitor in the event was more than four feet shy of his mark.

The 110-meter hurdles was a strong event for the Wolverines, as freshman Frank Shotwell (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and sophomore Rob Fiorillo (Holly, Mich./Holly) finished second and third, respectively. Shotwell clocked a time of 14.94, while Fiorillo crossed the line in 15.11.

Junior/sophomore Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) and freshman Mike Dobmeier (East Amherst, N.Y./ Williamsville North) represented the Wolverines in the 1,500-meter run. Gras clocked a time of 3:57.75 to place eighth, and Dobmeier's mark of 4:02.45 was good enough for 15th in the 43-person field.

Senior Chris McHugh (Bonita Springs, Fla./Bishop Hendricken) and sophomore/freshman Brendan Lodge (Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) both did well in the hammer throw. McHugh placed third with a mark of 173-0, while Lodge landed a personal record of 171-4 to take fourth place.

In the 100-meter dash trials, both sophomore Andre Barnes (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield) and Fiorillo qualified to run in the event final tomorrow. Barnes won his heat with a time of 10.80 -- the second-fastest mark overall. Fiorillo finished third in his heat with a time of 11.46 to grab the last of the 16 qualifying spots for the final.

The Wolverines will continue the action with day two of the University of North Carolina Invite Saturday (March 31) at Fetzer Field and Belk Track. Action begins at 11 a.m.

Event Winners/U-M Results

100-meter Dash (Trials) 1. Jordan Vaden, Adidas 10.65 q 2. Andre Barnes, U-M 10.80 q 16. Rob Fiorillo, U-M 11.46 q 110-meter Hurdles 1. Kevin Watson, unatt. 14.73 2. Frank Shotwell, U-M 14.94 3. Rob Fiorillo, U-M 15.11 8. Adam Kiesler, U-M 17.38 -- Jeff Porter, U-M DNF 1,500-meter Run 1. John Hinton, Carrboro AC 3.53.88 8. Victor Gras, U-M 3:57.75 15. Mike Dobmeier, U-M 4:02.45 Pole Vault 1. Jon Fay, Duke 15-7 (4.75m) 6. Chris Baldwin, U-M 13-7 1/4 (4.15m) Hammer Throw 1. Nick Owens, North Carolina 228-8 (69.70m)# 3. Chris McHugh, U-M 173-0 (52.73m) 4. Brendan Lodge, U-M 171-4 (52.22m) 8. Vince Belitsos, U-M 154-7 (47.13m) Dan Bedoya, U-M 154-7 (47.13m) 10. Paul Sarantos, U-M 153-10 (46.90m) Javelin Throw 1. Justin Ryncavage, North Carolina 240-6 (73.30m)# 8. Grant Till, U-M 165-7 (50.46m) 9. Adam Kiesler, U-M 162-9 (49.62m) # NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark q indicates qualification for event final