For the second time in three weeks, members of the highly touted No. 18 Michigan men's track and field distance squad will follow the setting sun west to California. A select group of Wolverines, led by All-American Kevin Sullivan, will compete in the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., this weekend.
| Sullivan |
Hosted by Mt. San Antonio College, the meet boasts the most prestigious collegiate and amateur competition in the nation. Among those participating in the invitational division are Olympic gold medalists Carl Lewis and Mike Marsh.
The Relays will also include an open university division, which will feature teams such as UCLA and Mississippi.
For Sullivan, who will compete in the invitational mile run, the world-class competition is a long-awaited challenge. After winning his first three races of the outdoor season, the senior captain is looking forward to testing himself.
"I think I will do pretty well," Sullivan said. "I have been training well, and I'm in great shape. I think I am at the same caliber as the rest of the field."
Assistant coach Ron Warhurst will accompany the group of runners which, along with Sullivan, consists of Brian Theisen, Jay Cantin, Don McLaughlin, Todd Snyder and All-American John Mortimer. Each of the Wolverines have bright prospects for the weekend.
"Everyone should fare very well," Sullivan said. "They all have had good workouts, so it's all about being in the right mindset and having the right conditions."
Mindset does not figure to be a problem for Michigan, which will use the intense atmosphere of the Relays to prepare for the championship meets at the end of the season. For the Wolverines, the Relays mark the first of six straight weekend meets leading up to the NCAA Championships, to be held June 4-6.
"This meet is the closest thing to the NCAAs that we'll see all season," Sullivan said. "It's a great atmosphere, very competitive and intense. If you are into track and field, this is the meet."
The rest of the team will go with coach Jack Harvey to the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Saturday in East Lansing.
The meet will feature only local competition: Toledo, Western Michigan and the Spartans. Although the level of competition will be much lower, the invitational will provide Michigan's inexperienced sprinters and field athletes a valuable opportunity to gain experience.
"Local meets, like these, are fairly low-key," Harvey said. "They are just a good chance to get on the track and run. They are not all that competitive."
For the sprinters, getting on the track is important, especially for Steve Jenkins. The sophomore is the Wolverines' best sprinter, but has been plagued by injuries since the indoor season.
"Jenkins is just now getting back to form," Harvey said. "For him it's just a matter of getting more races."
A healthy Jenkins should help bolster a Michigan sprinting corps that has struggled of late.
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