Don't expect Erik Estrada, of "CHIPs" fame, or the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant to be rolling out the welcome mat for the Michigan women's track team this Saturday.
They'll probably leave that job to USC, which will be hosting the quadrangular meet in Los Angeles this weekend. Arizona and Ohio State also will compete in the four-team war.
If the Wolverines were starting to fall into a rut after running in two straight invitationals, this weekend's format should spice up the atmosphere.
The meet will be scored in two different ways. The first and most important to Michigan, is individual team scoring. So, in essence, the Wolverines will be competing three different times - once against each squad.
In a twist, the meet will also be scored in a "Rose Bowl-imitation" format. The two Big Ten conference teams will combine forces to take on the Pac-10's representatives. Michigan coach James Henry is eager to take part in the modern-style event.
"This is a unique situation," Henry said. "Hopefully, this will lower some of our aggressiveness toward Ohio State."
The Wolverines will have added incentive to be on the top of their game with Fox Sports West 2 televising the event, putting the spotlight on all four teams, including the sport of women's track in general.
Having four teams participate should yield both positive and negative effects on the Wolverines, Henry said. Because of the number of squads, each school will only be allowed to enter two athletes per event. Michigan's trademark depth, sometimes as hefty as three or four athletes strong, will be somewhat neutralized by the rules of the meet.
Henry admits that the format may hinder a balanced team like the Wolverines.
"I think we're a very balanced team," Henry said. "So that might hurt us a little."
There is an upside, though. The acceptance of only two athletes from each school will allow Michigan to focus its top athletes on a few select events, rather than spreading them out. That should benefit the performances of multi-event specialists like Tania Longe and Katie McGregor.
Michigan's young sprint team will surely get a tough test on Saturday.
Ohio State's Donica Merriman had her way at Big Tens, winning the 55-meter hurdles. Henry indicated that USC and Arizona also sport very strong sprint lineups.
Despite a schedule full of invitationals, the Wolverines have had dual-meet experience. They opened up their indoor campaign Jan. 17 in Bloomington with an 82-67 dispatching of Indiana.
This weekend's four-way meet also affords three injured Michigan distance runners the opportunity to take another step towards full strength.
Julie Froud made her debut at the Arizona State Castillo Invitational last weekend, finishing 12th in the 3,000 meters. Froud had battled Achilles tendinitis since the start of the indoor season. Junior Marcy Akard also ran the 3000, virtually pacing with Froud, and finishing only two seconds behind her.
Allison Noe's return was the most impressive, though. The junior took third in the 5000 meters with a time of 17:50. The threesome's return is good news for the Wolverines, as they were all contributing parts of last fall's NCAA-qualifying cross country squad.
04-02-98
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