Whodunnit?
Much like the reader of a murder-mystery novel, the Michigan men's track team doesn't know how this weekend's meet will unfold. The Wolverines know little about their suspects and are traveling into uncharted territory.
Because the Wolverines only traveled a short distance to Ypsilanti last week, this meet is their first real road trip.
As for their opponents, Michigan knows little about them. Of the five other teams, Notre Dame is the only team the Wolverines have competed against this year.
Notre Dame is the host for the two-day Meyo Invitational to be held today and tomorrow. Big Ten foes Purdue and Ohio State are among a field that also includes Alabama and Missouri.
When the Fighting Irish visited Ann Arbor two weeks ago, they were left in the shadows as they witnessed Michigan and Eastern Michigan duke it out in the infield when a brawl ensued after the 4x400 relay. Because the Wolverines and the Eagles took all of the headlines, many don't remember that the Irish were even here. They did, however, take home three victories with them.
Notre Dame came up with winners in the 200, the 600 and the long jump. It also had several other strong second- and third-place performances.
The fact that Purdue and Ohio State will be at this week's meet is positive for the Wolverines. The more Big Ten teams to which Michigan is exposed, the better prepared it will be for the Big Ten championship at the end of February. The Wolverines will be able to gauge their progress and see how they stack up against other Big Ten teams.
The Wolverines finished a distant second last week in Ypsilanti, but some runners' fatigue and sickness forced coach Jack Harvey to pull his team from the 4x400 relay, one of its best events.
This week, Michigan will throw its best one-two punch at the Meyo Invitational in the 55-meter dash.
Senior Damon Devasher has finished first in the event the past two meets, but his closest competition has come from one of his teammates. Freshman Steve Jenkins has been steadily improving with each meet, and last week was no different. Jenkins finished second, only 1/100 of a second behind Devasher.
The success in this particular event was greater than anticipated at the beginning of the season. Michigan lost its top sprinter from last year, Felman Malveaux, to graduation. Devasher and Jenkins have successfully filled the void left from Malveaux's departure.
The 55 is not Devasher's only solid event. The senior is also an improving high jumper. Devasher won the high jump last week with a leap of seven feet. Devasher says his personal goal is to jump 7-feet-3.
Much like Devasher, Jenkins also has a second event. He has fared well in the 200, finishing last week with the team's best time this season. His time was good enough for third place.
The Wolverines will also take the always-dependable Neil Gardener with them to South Bend. He has yet to be beaten this season and will attempt to keep his streak alive. Michigan will be exposed to a lot of new talent this weekend and the mystery won't be solved until Saturday afternoon.
Who will it be? The Buckeyes, in South Bend with the candlestick?