Wolverines Hand Out 2011 Team Awards
6/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
June 13, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's track and field head coach Fred LaPlante announced on Monday (June 13) recipients of four team awards for the recently-concluded 2011 season. Redshirt junior Craig Forys (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) was named Most Outstanding Athlete, freshman Ali Arastu (Northville, Mich./Northville) was named Most Outstanding Freshman, sophomore Austin DeWildt (Wyoming, Mich./Catholic Central) was named Most Improved, and sophomore Aaron Taylor (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams) was named the recipient of the Spencer Dowdall Outstanding Scholar Award.
Forys concluded his season with a ninth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last Friday (June 10), earning USTFCCCA All-America second team. He won the second heat of the semifinals last Wednesday (June 8) to qualify for the final, finishing with a time of 8:41.59, putting him fourth on Michigan's all-time list for that event. Forys was also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and captain during the outdoor season.
Arastu became the first U-M freshman to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Mike Woods in 2005, running in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Arastu finished 24th at the national meet, earning USTFCCCA All-America honorable mention.
DeWildt tied for third in the pole vault at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on May 13, and shattered lifetime bests as a sophomore in 2011. This season, DeWildt improved on career marks in the pole vault by seven and three-quarter inches during the indoor season and by one-foot three-and-three-quarter inches during the outdoor season.
Taylor was a key contributor on U-M's 4x400-meter relay team during the outdoor season, as well as in the 200-meter dash. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection this spring with a 3.71 grade-point average.
Contact: Brad Rudner (734) 763-4423
