Michigan
Len Paddock Invitational
McNamara, Wolverines Kick Off Len Paddock Invite
5/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore/freshman Sean McNamara (Elmhurst, Ill./York) of the University of Michigan men's track and field team earned his first NCAA regional qualifying mark Friday evening (May 4) on the first day of competition at the annual Len Paddock Invitational on Ferry Field.
McNamara placed third in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:47.34 to qualify for the Mideast Regional in Columbia, Mo. The mark was a new personal record for McNamara and was less than three seconds shy of former U-M star Nick Willis for the fastest time of the event. Junior Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest) finished right behind McNamara with a time of 3:49.07 for fourth place.
Competing in the last home event of his career, senior Michael Whitehead (East Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) landed a season-high mark in the triple jump. Whitehead's mark of 53-4 1/4 was just seven inches short of his school record of 53-11 1/4.
Sophomore/freshman Chris Baldwin (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview) won the pole vault for the Wolverines, topping nine other competitors. Baldwin cleared a height of 15-1 to set a new outdoor personal record. The mark was 5 3/4 inches higher than the second place finisher.
Junior/sophomore Dan Harmsen (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) was just 0.14 seconds shy of claiming victory in the 400-meter hurdles. Harmsen clocked a regional time of 52.22, while freshman Frank Shotwell (Medina, Ohio/Medina) took fourth (54.03). Freshman Matt Wheeler (Atherton, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) won the second heat of the event with a personal record of 54.86.
In the hammer throw, sophomore/freshman Brendan Lodge (Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) recorded the third longest distance in school history. His mark of 178-10 was good enough for a third-place finish in the event. Senior Chris McHugh (Bonita Springs, Fla./Bishop Hendricken) finished right behind in fourth place with a season-high mark of 178-7.
The other three Wolverines competing in the hammer throw -- each setting a new career best. Sophomore/Freshman Vince Belitsos (Leonard, Mich./Oxford) took fifth (174-3), fifth-year senior Paul Sarantos (Portage, Mich./Northern) placed sixth (170-7) and junior/sophomore Dan Bedoya (Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) finished seventh (169-10).
The Wolverines will return to competition Saturday (May 5) for the second and final day of the Len Paddock Invitational. Action will kick off at 10 a.m. with the women's discus throw, while running events are slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. at Ferry Field.
Contact: Tim Trunzo (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
