Zeller Posts National-Class Time in 2022 Indoor Home Finale

Friday, February 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

Silverston Invitational

Joshua Zeller (Michigan Photography)

Zeller Posts National-Class Time in 2022 Indoor Home Finale

2/18/2022 7:20:00 PM | Men's Track & Field

By: Kyle Terwillegar

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Indoor Track Building)
Event: Silverston Invitational
U-M Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 19 -- at Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational (South Bend, Ind.), 11:40 a.m.

• Complete Results (PDF)

ANN ARBOR -- With the 2022 winter indoor regular season coming to an end this weekend, hurdler Joshua Zeller took center stage as the Silverston Invitational on Friday (Feb. 18) as the University of Michigan men's track and field team hosted its final home indoor meet of the year.

After running a career-best 7.70 seconds in the preliminaries, Zeller was poised for a fast performance in the final an hour later, and he delivered. Zeller shaved another 0.02 seconds off his best as he clocked 7.68 for the victory.

In what was his last hurdles race ahead of the Big Ten Championships, Zeller moved to within 0.01 seconds of the conference lead held by Nebraska's Darius Luff. Nationally, the time ranks him 10th in NCAA Division I based on the descending order lists entering the weekend, and positions him well to be among the top 16 that will qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships next month.

The last man to qualify for nationals in the hurdles for Michigan was school record-holder and NCAA champion Jeff Porter, whose long-standing 7.64 record from 2007 is now within 0.04 seconds of Zeller's reach.

The time also put him just 0.01 seconds outside the all-time top-15 in British history.

Michigan also got a win at 400 meters by Lawrence Gilliam in 49.07 seconds, at 800 meters by Thomas Shilgalis in 1:52.84, and at 200 meters by Jacob Koerner in 22.00. Action in the field was headlined by a pole vault victory by Henry Sheldon.

Anthony DeKraker chopped nearly six seconds off his personal best in the mile, as he finished third overall and first among collegians in 4:04.08. Former NCAA champion and Olympian Mason Ferlic just missed breaking four minutes in 4:00.58.

Fans in the U-M Indoor Track Building also were treated to a strong performance from Paralympic T63 high jump champion and world record holder Sam Grewe, who is a medical student at the University of Michigan. Grewe, who has one leg amputated above the knee and wears a prosthetic, cleared 1.85m (6 feet, 0.75 inches).

After its distance medley relay squad chases an NCAA Championships qualifying performance Saturday (Feb. 19) at Notre Dame, the Wolverines will head to Geneva, Ohio, for the Big Ten Indoor Championships next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 25-26).

Michigan Results by Event

Q / q = qualified for final

200 meter dash
Final
1. Jacob Koerner / 22.00

400 meter dash
Final
1. Lawrence Gilliam / 49.07
2. Leo Gabaron / 51.43

800 meter run
Final
1. Thomas Shilgalis / 1:52.84

Mile
Final
3. Anthony DeKraker / 4:04.08 [New PR]
5. Michael Hancock / 4:13.51
6. James Gedris / 4:17.69
7. Jack Spamer / 4:17.80
9. Joe Meyers / 4:20.43