INDIANAPOLIS - In a weekend dominated by NCAA basketball, the most exciting and emotional victories were supplied by the men's and women's Michigan track and field teams.
Both the men's and women's teams competed in a memorable NCAA meet this past weekend. The Michigan men finished in sixth place, while the women took fifth. The men recorded their second-best finish since they placed fourth in 1994.
"When you come into a meet like this you expect to win everything that you have entered," head coach Jack Harvey said. "We came away with a great win by Sullivan and several top finishes all around. I am pleased with our finish, but some things could have gone a little better."
The men's team earned six All-America honors, but only placed first in one event. The men's distance medley led Friday night off for the Wolverines.
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| LOUIS BROWN/Daily Kevin Sullivan celebrates after winning the NCAA title in the mile this past weekend. |
With Sullivan anchoring the relay, Michigan was considered a favorite to win the national championship in this event. But the Wolverines did not have enough to keep up with first- and second-place finishers Washington St. and Arkansas.
"We really have one of the strongest teams in the nation," Harvey said. "Some things just didn't go right, and Washington State won the race in an amazing time. By the time Sullivan got the baton we were too far behind to catch up."
John Mortimer, who qualified for the 5,000 in a Michigan record earlier this season, was a favorite to finish in the top three. Mortimer is well known for his great endurance, but he lacks a strong finishing kick.
Mortimer, who was expected to gain some valuable points for his team, did not perform as well as some hoped he would. He earned a fifth-place finish, but still garnered All-America status.
"I would have liked to done a lot better," Mortimer said. "However, when you leave as an All-American you really cant call the weekend a disappointment."
The highlight of the weekend, and possibly the season, came on Saturday night. Sullivan and Arkansas All-American Seneca Lassiter were the favorites in the mile. It was the featured race this past weekend - and it fit the billing as expected.
The unusually slow mile time of winner Sullivan was 4:03.54, while Colorado St. runner Bryan Berryhill finished second at 4:03.55, and Lassiter finished in 4:03.60.
"By the last lap I knew it would be a dogfight to the finish," Sullivan said. "Surprisingly, I felt good on the last lap. I had a lot left in my legs and was ready for the sprint to the finish."
All five athletes on the men's team earned All-America honors - Sullivan collected two.
The women started off the weekend on a higher note than the men. The distance medley consisted of Sarah Hamilton, Adrienne Hunter, Lisa Oullet and Katie McGregor. Like the men's team, the women had their star - McGregor - running the anchor.
The women, who qualified three weeks ago with the nation's best time, turned in the strongest and most dominating performance of the meet. The Wolverines ran an 11:03, which broke the NCAA championship meet record. Michigan finished seven seconds in front of second-place Wisconsin.
"By the time that Sarah handed off to Adrienne we had established a sizable lead," assistant coach Mike Mcguire said. "I am so proud of the girls. They ran a flawless race, and their results could not be any better."
McGregor's running mate, Elizabeth Kampfe, also garnered All-America status as well. Kampfe finished seventh in 16:35. Kampfe, like Mortimer, finished with a time that was not up to the standards of past performances.
Unlike the men, the women sent two field participants to the NCAA meet. Junior high jumper Nicole Forrester finished in a tie for sixth with a leap of 5-11 1/2, and earned All-America honors as well. The only Wolverine competing this weekend not to earn All-America honors was senior Tania Longe, who competed in the triple jump and finished 15th with an effort of 40-4 3/4.
Just as Sullivan ended the night for the men with a tremendous victory in the mile, McGregor captured first place honors in the 3,000.
"My whole strategy was to run an evenly paced race," McGregor said. "However, near the end I had a lot in me, and a lot of determination to win. Coming around the final turn, I just sprinted right through the line. This weekend, in whole, was just amazing."
03-16-98
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