CHAMPAIGN - The Michigan men's and women's track teams have both reached watershed moments - times of change and new direction.
Unfortunately for the men, newer doesn't always mean better.
At the Big Ten championships, the women's team missed first place by a mere 10 points, while the men were behind by 48 points.
Most importantly, the supporting casts of the men's and women's teams are at radically different points.
The men's team is facing what is commonly referred to as "a rebuilding year."
The Michigan men are losing some of the greatest athletes of the program's history, including two national champions - Neil Gardner and Kevin Sullivan.
After the Big Tens ended on Sunday, senior Scott MacDonald immersed himself in the Illinois track's steeplechase pit. The impromptu bath may have been nothing more than a way for him to cool down, but it might as well have been a kind of dual baptism - marking a new stage of life for the graduating Wolverines, as well as a new period of struggle for the Michigan men's team.
Of course, new recruits will probably make an impact, but even a good freshman class would have a hard time making up for such a large void of talent.
With two exceptions, all of the women's point scorers are returning next year. This, along with the graduation of Wisconsin's top scorer, Kathy Butler, means the Michigan women are in ideal position to win the Big Tens next year.
"My expectations for this team were as veterans," Michigan coach James Henry said. "I can't complain too loudly - the only reason why we didn't do as well as we should've is experience."
Distance runner Katie McGregor described why the women Wolverines' second-place finish was so disappointing.
"It was just disappointing that we did just about anything anyone could ask for, and we got a slap in the face - we didn't get anything for it," McGregor said.
Next year, the very element that made losing so disappointing - the overall team effort - will make victory inevitable for the Michigan women's team. On the other hand, the men's team, which undoubtedly worked just as hard, will be harmed because key portions of its respective core will not be back.
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
Senior Scott MacDonald and his fourth-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at Big Tens will be sorely missed by the Michigan men's track team next year.