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Men head to Purdue for Central Collegiates

Scoring meets determine team success. Invitationals determine individual success. On Saturday, the Michigan men's track team will get its chance to show how successful it is.

The Central Collegiate Championships will take place in West Lafayette, and the anticipation makes this more than an average meet.

"(The Championships) have a lot of history behind them," Michigan distance runner John Mortimer said.

That history, along with the prestige associated with the Championships, makes this an important meet for the Wolverines. Michigan will face off against schools from across the Midwest, with improvement as the main goal.

"This is an opportunity to put the pieces together and improve as a team," Mortimer said.

The team encounters three championship meets in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. The Championships are the first opportunity for the Wolverines to get an indication as to where they stand against quality competition.

At the end of February, the Big Ten Championships will be held in Columbus, where Michigan will look to extend its tradition of track success.

Thus far, Michigan has competed in a number of invitationals, which do nothing for team comparisons. This team meet should also increase the competitive fire of the athletes.

"This meet is much more intense because of the scoring," Mortimer said. "I'm looking to get a personal record (in the mile)."

Mortimer is building his season towards the Big Ten meet, where he hopes to qualify for the state meet in the 3,000-meter event.

"Right now, we are a couple weeks before we are at our best," Mortimer said.

For now, though, the team is working out its kinks and refining its specialties. For example, Mortimer will run the mile race this weekend at Purdue.

The mile is a race that is only half the distance of the 3,000-meters, but it provides good preparation for the longer event.

This weekend, the Wolverines must focus their attenion on numerous performances which will add up to points.

It will be individual contributions, like those of Mortimer, which should make the difference as to where the team finishes now and in the upcoming weeks.