Michigan
Len Paddock Invitational (Day 1)
Wolverines Play Hammer Time at Len Paddock Invitational
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ferry Field)
Event: Len Paddock Invitational (Day 1)
U-M Team Standing: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 10 -- host Len Paddock Invitational (Ferry Field), 10 a.m.
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan track and field team displayed its dominance in the hammer throw Friday (May 9), posting three NCAA Mideast Regional qualifying marks and two personal records on the first day of competition at the annual Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry Field.
The Wolverines placed three among the top four finishers in the final hammer throw standings, led by junior/sophomore Sean Pruitt(Cato, Wis./Valders HS), who finished second with a regional mark of 196-10 (60.01m). Pruitt's distance was recorded on his second throw of the competition; he did not perform in the finals. Junior/sophomore Brendan Lodge(Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken HS) finished third with an NCAA regional and career-best mark of 195-8 (59.64m). Lodge was consistent leading up to the finals, posting two regional marks prior to his career best, which came on his last attempt of the day. Junior/sophomore Vince Belitsos(Leonard, Mich./Oxford HS) placed fourth with a regional mark of 192-10 (58.77m), marking the first time this season three Wolverines each posted throws over 190 feet. Senior/junior Dan Bedoya(Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer HS) also competed in the event with a personal-best mark of 181-6 (55.32m) to take seventh.
Senior/junior Dan Harmsen(Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS), who already holds an NCAA regional-qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles, registered his second-quickest career performance in the event, clocking a time of 51.19 to finish second in the 14-man field. Running in the middle of the track, Harmsen quickly made up the stagger down the backstretch and came out of the turn a step behind Josef Robertson, who won the event with a time of 50.96. Freshman Carl Buchanon(South Bend, Ind./Clay HS) and junior Rob Fiorillo(Holly, Mich./Holly HS) finished third and fourth in the event with a personal-best times of 52.80 and 53.11, respectively.
Junior/sophomore Chris Baldwin(Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) posted a career-best performance in the pole vault, claiming fourth place with a clearance of 15-9 (4.80m). The Wolverine hit the mark, a two-inch improvement on his previous best, on his second attempt at the height.
In the 1,500-meter race, the only other running event of the first day, junior/sophomore Brandon Fellows(Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island HS) and freshman Craig Forys(Howell, N.J./Colts Neck HS) claimed second (3:48.45) and third (3:49.69), respectively, both missing the NCAA regional-qualifying standard by less than a second. The race began with junior/sophomore Sean McNamara(Elmhurst, Ill./York HS) setting the early pace in the second heat and putting a sizable gap between the leaders and chase pack. The two other U-M representatives and Olympian Grant Robison kept on their own tempo before making their moves at 1,200 meters as McNamara stepped off the track. Fellows sprinted into first around the bend, but Robison responded down the final stretch and kicked ahead to a three-second victory (3:45.16).
Redshirt freshman Grant Till(Wayne, N.J./Wayne HS) was able to pin down seventh in the javelin with a toss of 173-11 (53.00m).
The Wolverines will return to competition tomorrow (Saturday, May 10) for the second and final day of the Len Paddock Invitational at Ferry Field. Action will kick off at 10 a.m. with the men's shot put and women's discus, while running events are slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. with the 4x100-meter relay.
Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day 1)
400-meter Hurdles 1. Jeff Robertson, Otm 50.96 2. Dan Harmsen, U-M 51.19# 3. Carl Buchanon, U-M 52.80 4. Rob Fiorillo, U-M 53.11 10. Stevann Waithe, U-M 55.67 1,500-meter Run 1. Grant Robison, Playmakers TC 3:45.16 2. Brandon Fellows, U-M 3:48.45 3. Craig Forys, U-M 3:49.69 4. Ciaran O'Lionaird, Unatt. 3:49.91 16. Mark Pokora, U-M 4:06.11 Pole Vault 1. Marcus Breidinger, Unatt. 16-3 1/4 (4.96m) 4. Chris Baldwin, U-M 15-9 (4.80m) Javelin Throw 1. Mike Harber, Yutc 218-0 (66.46m) 7. Grant Till, U-M 173-11 (53.00m) Hammer Throw 1. Casey Fechter, Unatt. 204-3# (62.26m) 2. Sean Pruitt, U-M 196-10# (60.01m) 3. Brenden Lodge, U-M 195-8# (59.64m) 4. Vince Belitsos, U-M 192-10# (58.77m) 7. Dan Bedoya, U-M 181-6 (55.32m) # NCAA regional qualifier
Q U O T E S
Michigan Associate Head Coach Fred LaPlante
On Dan Harmsen... "It was a good race for Harmsen, one week after a setting a PR at the Jesse Owens Classic and one week before the Big Ten Championships. It was hard for him to have a goal this week, but it was good for him to have the chance to race with some good competition and he ran well."
On Carl Buchanon... "I think he is very close to running big time. He won his heat, he was out there, he lost a little in the end, but I think if he gets in the right race he will run really fast."
Contact: Jeremiah W. Hergott (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
