U-M to Begin 2016 Campaign at Grand Valley State
12/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Dec. 3, 2015
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THIS WEEK
Friday, Dec. 4 -- at GVSU Holiday Open (Allendale, Mich.), 3 p.m.
Live Results | GVSU Track and Field Home | Event Schedule 
| Meet Information
Coming off the program's best indoor season since 2009, the University of Michigan men's track and field team is ready to open the 2016 season with an in-state meet at Grand Valley State University's Kelly Family Turf Building in Allendale, Michigan. There, 14 U-M entries will compete in eight events against athletes from a number of other Great Lakes area programs, including in-state rival Michigan State.
Last winter, the Wolverines finished fifth in the Big Ten Conference, with two individual champions in fifth-year seniors Mason Ferlic (5K) and sprinter Chris Maye (60-meter dash). U-M was the only program to score in every middle-distance and distance event and earned a one-two finish in the 60-meter dash. That conference success produced a pair of All-Americans in fifth-year senior shot putter Derek Sievers (2nd Team; 11th) and junior heptathlete Steven Bastien (1st team; 8th).
U-M will open up this season by easing into action this weekend at GVSU, where the team will return to compete next month (Jan. 15) for the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open.
THINGS TO KNOW
• U-M begins its third year under head coach Jerry Clayton and his staff, including assistant head coaches Kevin Sullivan (middle-distance, distance) and Steven Rajewsky (sprints, hurdles). Last winter, the trio led U-M to its first top-five conference finish since 2009.
• The Wolverines broke four program records last year (indoor 400-meter dash, heptathlon, shot put; outdoor shot put) and produced three Big Ten Titles. U-M will look to build on last year's steady season with another strong indoor campaign.
• U-M returns nine athletes who scored at last year's indoor conference championships, bringing back Big Ten-level scorers in each of the following seven events: 60-meter dash (three athletes); 800-meter run; 3,000-meter run; 5,000-meter run; distance medley relay (DMR); shot put and the heptathlon.
• U-M is coming off the team's most successful cross country season since 1998. The Maize and Blue swept the Big Ten and NCAA Great Lakes Regional titles before earning a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
• Reigning NCAA Cross Country Great Lakes Regional champion Mason Ferlic will be joined by fellow all-Big Ten teammates Ben Flanagan and Tony Smoragiewicz in the 5K on Friday. Cornell transfer Joanthan Phillips will also run in that race.
• After setting the new U-M indoor shot put record (19.50-meters; 63-11.75 ft.) last winter, Derek Sievers will throw both the shot put and weight throw on Friday, along with junior/sophomore Grant Cartwright.
• A trio of Wolverines will be making their Maize and Blue debuts this weekend: freshman Nicholas Burkhalter (Pole Vault), sophomore/freshman Joseph Ellis (Weight Throw) and transfer senior Joanthan Phillips (5,000-meters). Pole Vaulter Kevin Haugh and High Jumper Alasgar Mammedov are also competing in-uniform for the first time on an extended try-out.
A LOOK AHEAD
Saturday, Jan. 9 -- at Doug Raymond Invitational (Kent, Ohio)
Fri-Sat., Jan. 15-16 -- at Commodore Invitational (Nashville, Tenn.)
Friday, Jan. 15 -- at GVSU Bob Eubanks Open (Allendale, Mich.)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
We can't wait to get back on the track and in the circle this weekend at @GVSU_XC_TF!
#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/sMqn050Gjp
-- Michigan Track&Field (@umichtrack) December 1, 2015
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
