Michigan
NCAA Mideast Regional
Five Wolverines Qualify for NCAA Regional Finals
5/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Site: Columbia, Mo. (Audrey J. Walton Stadium)
Event: NCAA Mideast Regional (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Team Standing: No Place (0 Points) After Day 1
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 26 -- at NCAA Mideast Regional (Columbia, Mo.)
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team qualified two individuals in the 1,500-meter run and one individual in the 100-meter dash final, 800-meter run final and the 110-meter hurdles final on day one of the NCAA Mideast Regional at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Sophomore/freshman Brendan Lodge (Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) was the only Wolverine to compete in an event final on the first day, taking 16th place in the hammer throw with a new personal record of 189-3. The mark is the second longest in school history, behind Patrick Johanssons' 195-4 in 1999. Lodge came into the event ranked 32nd in the region and was just 9-5 shy of a scoring performance.
Fifth-year senior Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario/Confederation) and senior John D'Arcy (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) both ran in the second heat of the 800-meter run prelims. Ellerton crossed the line first in the heat with a new stadium record of 1:47.43, which is more than a second ahead of last year's regional champion Thomas Chamney of Notre Dame (1:48.55). Ellerton's time was a new season high and was the fastest mark in the field. Ellerton was in third place at the halfway mark of the race before he began to close out the other competitors. Ellerton passed Chamney on the final turn and was able to pull away comfortably. D'Arcy clocked a time of 1:55.87 to finish 24th overall. Ellerton will try for the third regional crown in the event during his last three seasons at U-M Saturday (May 26).
In the 110-meter hurdles prelims, senior Jeff Porter (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) placed second in the third heat with a time of 13.97. He was edged out by Auburn's Tyron Akins (13.90) for the automatic qualification to the event final. However, Porter's time was tied for the fourth-fastest overall, earning him a spot in tomorrow's final.
Junior Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest) was the only one of three Wolverines to advance to the 1,500-meter run final. Woods took fifth in the first and fastest of the two preliminary heats, crossing the line in 3:45.00. His time was the fifth-fastest overall as well and is a new season low. Woods was battling for the third and fourth position for the majority of the race before being passed on the final turn. Sophomore/freshman Sean McNamara (Elmhurst, Ill./York) and sophomore Justin Switzer (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) each ran in the second heat, placing 14th (3:48.69) and 18th (3:52.55) overall, respectively. However, Switzer protested his result and has been added to the field in the final.
Sophomore Adam Harris (Wheaton, Ill./North) was the only Wolverine to compete in multiple events at the meet, running in both the 100- and 200-meter dash prelims. Harris set a new personal record in the 100-meter dash, clocking 10.45 to finish third in his heat. Harris' time was good enough for the final qualifying spot in tomorrow's event final. The mark is .01 faster than his previous career low and is the fourth-fastest 100-meter dash time in school history.
In the 200-meter dash, it appeared that Harris set a new personal record of 21.14 -- a mark good enough to qualify him for the event final -- but an official disqualified him because he took five steps inside of the line.
In his first-ever individual appearance at the NCAA Mideast Regional, junior Andrew Wechter (Shelby, Ohio/Shelby) competed in the 400-meter run prelims, finishing with the 27th fastest time (47.91). Wechter came into the meet ranked 33rd in region.
In addition to today's qualifiers, Michigan will have a 4x400-meter relay squad compete, as well as senior triple jumper Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area). The Wolverines will return to the track Saturday (May 26) for the second and final day of action at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbia, Mo. Michigan will open its events with the triple jump competition at 4 p.m. at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Top 10 Teams (Through four events)
1. Louisville 31
2. Kent State 28
3. Wisconsin 18
Auburn 18
5. Mississippi 14
6. Indiana 9
7. Illinois 8
Arkansas 8
9. Purdue 6.5
10. Akron 6
Event Winners/U-M Finishes (Day 1)
Hammer Throw 1. Cory Martin, Auburn 226-7* (69.06m) 16. Brendan Lodge, U-M 189-3 (57.68m) 100-meter dash (prelims) 1. Orlando Reid, Middle Tenn. St. 10.31Q 8. Adam Harris, U-M 10.45q 200-meter dash (prelims) 1. Rubin Williams, Tennessee 20.61Q -- Adam Harris, U-M DQ five steps inside line 400-meter dash (prelims) 1. Luisa Luna, Kentucky 46.15Q 27. Andrew Wechter, U-M 47.91 800-meter run (prelims) 1. Andrew Ellerton, U-M 1:47.43Q! 24. John D'Arcy, U-M 1:55.87 1,500-meter run (prelims) 1. Jake Watson, Notre Dame 3:43.90Q# 9. Mike Woods, U-M 3:45.00q 14. Sean McNamara, U-M 3:48.69 18. Justin Switzer, U-M 3:52.55q% 110-meter hurdles (prelims) 1. John Yarbrough, Mississippi 13.75Q 5. Jeff Porter, U-M 13.97q * Qualified for NCAA Championships Qq indicates qualification for finals # NCAA Mideast Regional Record ! Audrey J. Walton Stadium Record % qualified for final after protest
Players Mentioned
