All-Time Weight Throw Marks Begin Weekend at SPIRE

Friday, February 12

Geneva, Ohio

2:00 PM

Michigan

SPIRE NCAA D1 Invitational

2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field

Feb. 12, 2016

Ellis
Joe Ellis

» In field events, U-M throwers set the No. 3 (Joe Ellis) and No. 4 (Grant Cartwright) throws in program history during the weight throw competition, led by Ellis furthering his previous place in the Wolverine record books.
» The Michigan pole vaulters also set a pair of PRs, led by multi-event specialist Steven Bastien.
» The Maize and Blue resumes action in Ohio on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the mile run.

• Results | Photo Gallery

Site: Geneva, Ohio (SPIRE Facility)
Event: SPIRE Collegiate Invitational (Day 1)
U-M Team Result: Non-scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 13 -- at SPIRE NCAA D1 Invitational - Day 2 (Geneva, Ohio.), 10:30 a.m.

GENEVA, Ohio -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team began a two-day meet at the future site of the Big Ten Championships on Friday (Feb. 12), competing at the SPIRE NCAA D1 Invitational with a number of field athletes setting the pace to start off the weekend at the SPIRE Facility. The highlight came in the weight throw, where two Wolverines set top-five all-time program marks.

THROWS
In the weight throw, sophomore/freshman Joe Ellis supplanted his own mark for the No. 3 throw in program history, landing today's best effort at 20.08 meters (65-10.5 ft.), while senior/junior co-captain Grant Cartwright earned the No. 4 mark at 19.71 meters (64-8 ft.).

Ellis's and Cartwright's throws earned them a four-five finish overall.

POLE VAULT
Multi-event athlete and senior/junior Steven Bastien set a new PR in the pole vault when he cleared 4.73 meters (15-6.25 ft.) to finish fifth overall, one spot behind sophomore/freshman Kevin Haughn. The personal-best comes shortly after Bastien's first heptathlon of the year last weekend at Akron. Freshman Nick Burkhalter also had a PR.

Senior Michael Hovater will compete in the Invitational portion of the event on Saturday, reserved for the top 12 competing athletes. The event is scheduled for a 12 p.m. ET start.

U-M remains in Geneva for day two action at the SPIRE Facility, with the opening gun of the Mile Run set to fire at 10:30 a.m. ET.

COLLEGIATE PERSONAL BESTS

Field Events

Pole Vault
Steven Bastien -- 4.73 meters (15-6.25 ft.)
Nick Burkhalter -- 4.58 meters (15-00.25 ft.)

Weight Throw
Joe Ellis -- 20.08 meters (65-10.50 ft.)
Grant Cartwright -- 19.71 meters (64-8 ft.)

* = University of Michigan Best

Communications Contact: Chad Shepard