Michigan men's track team splits, travels to separate meets to capture NCAA bids

For the first time this season, the Michigan men's track team will be split. The separation will determine whether the sprinters can hold their own without the top distance runners.

Michigan's sprinters, along with some of the younger distance runners, will travel down Washtenaw Avenue to participate in the Eastern Michigan Classic tomorrow at 1 p.m.

While the sprinters will stay close to home, the "Big Three" of Kevin Sullivan, John Mortimer and Jay Cantin, along with strong 800-meter runner Don McLaughlin, will travel to Boston for an invite-only meet.

After its defeat by Eastern Michigan last weekend, Michigan will attempt to capture several first-place finishes and a couple of NCAA bids.

The Wolverines have depended on the distance runners for most of their points this season. With Big Tens coming up next weekend, Friday's meet will test whether the sprinters can do it on their own.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily John Mortimer will be foregoing a trip to Ypsilanti this weekend. Mortimer and three teammates are going to Boston, having received invitations to a meet there.

"This is our last chance before Big Tens to show everyone that we are a strong sprint group," co-captain Brian Theisen said. "Many of our runners will use this weekend for one or two solid races, and try to get mentally prepared for next weekend."

A key component of the Wolverines No. 3 national ranking has been the distance team's week-after-week dominance. While the sprinters acknowledge that, several runners also believe the team needs contributions from other areas.

"Although the distance team is one of the best in the country and they have earned us valuable points, we can only succeed as a team," sprinter Martin Bowman said. "While the sprint squad has been molding and improving every week, the sprint and distance squads have realized the importance of each other."

Martin Bowman, the twin brother of sprinter Kevin Bowman, will sit out this weekend after pulling a hamstring in last week's Central Collegiate. The top sprinters - Kevin Bowman, Theisen, and Steve Jenkins, who will make his return Friday from a hamstring injury, will use the EMU Classic as the last warm-up before Big Tens.

Jenkins had the strongest start this season but recent injuries have hampered his performance. He had captured top-three finishes in several prominent meets.

Jenkins "has tremendous potential" according to Michigan coach Jack Harvey, and tomorrow night will be his last test before Big Tens, when he goes head-to-head with some of the best sprinters in the country.

Kevin Bowman and Brian Theisen have been the biggest surprises this season.

Last year, both recorded average times and were unable to compete with the premier runners in the Big Ten.

This season, however, Bowman and Theisen continue to record personal bests. Bowman has run a team best 22.08 in the 200 meters, while Theisen recorded a 48.89 400 time.

Cantin, Sullivan, Mortimer and McLaughlin will use the Boston invitational to build speed.

"Our workouts this season have been very demanding," Sullivan said. "We have worked a lot on endurance and conditioning, but just recently we have begun to do some intense speed workouts."

Sullivan will run in the 1,000, an event that is shorter and quicker than he is accustomed to.

"I am excited to run in this event," Sullivan said. "I have not really ran a 1,000 in a while and I think running a shorter race will help me build up my speed for Big Tens and NCAAs."

Boston will feature some of the best distance runners in the nation, from many eastern schools as well as several top-ranked teams, including Arizona, Arkansas and South Carolina.

02-19-98