Women's track will run, sun in Arizona

For the Michigan women's track team tomorrow, it'll be like a family reunion.

After the sprint squad went to Jamaica last weekend, both the sprinters and the distance runners will meet and compete in the same place this time. The Wolverines, as a whole team, will head down to Tempe, Ariz., for the Arizona State Castillo Invitational.

The distance runners stayed behind to train in Ann Arbor last weekend, taking a week off from competition. This will be the first full team outdoor competition for the Wolverines.

"Our main goal is to get some good weather and start competing," Michigan coach James Henry said.

Aside from Michigan, Louisiana State is the marquee attraction at the invitational. The Tigers have won the NCAA outdoor championship for 11 consecutive years, and should provide the Wolverines with all they can handle.

A large Big Ten contingent will greet Michigan. Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio State will also be on hand to compete. Perhaps the most serious conference menace to Michigan is Illinois, and even the Fighting Illini failed to come within 20 points of the champion Wolverines at Big Tens Mar. 1.

"Illinois has an excellent group of sprinters, and Ohio State has a few good athletes too," Henry said. "But Louisiana State stands above everyone."

After tapering for the indoor championship meets, Michigan has been kicking up its training volume. The expected result, according to Henry, will be tired legs - not fast times.

"We may not be as sharp as we want to be for two or three meets," Henry said. "But we'll be competitive."

The immediate success of the Wolverines has been a pleasant surprise. With a solid but young sprint crew, hopes were high for the future, but solid performances from 400-meter dash runners Tamika Craig and Regine Caruthers, both freshmen, have provided some recent points in the indoor season.

Sophomores Maria Brown, Kenise Bocage and Olive Ikeh together comprised three-quarters of Michigan's 400 relay team at the Jamaica meet and helped the Wolverines to victory. There's no reason to believe that the young guns can't keep contributing on a daily basis during the outdoor season. Starting this weekend, they will get their chance.

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