The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 20, 1990 - Page 13 Track in the Heartland Men runners hope that spring provides lift by Jared Entin Daily Sports Writer In the Heartland of America the Wolverines will find out just how much heart they really have when they face national competition at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kansas. Last weekend, the Michigan men's track team pulled together some strong individual perform- ances to beat Michigan State in poor weather conditions. "It was too bad the weather wasn't nice," coach Jack Harvey said. "We were primed and ready to do well." This weekend the weather looks better and the Wolverines hope that they will again be primed for the competition. As a matter fact, they will have to be ready for two competitions. Part of the team will compete in the Kansas Relays, while the other part will return to East Lansing on Saturday for the Michigan State Invitational. Leading the Wolverine squad Women to go separate ways Sara Dykesterhouse catches the final out to seal Michigan's 6-0 win over Central on Tuesday. Michigan plays host to Northwestern in the first of two doubleheaders today at Varsity Field at 3pm. Be softball squad hopes NU is elixir for championship jx by Tom Kent Daily Sports Writer Women's track and field coach, James Henry, has divided duties for his team this weekend. While cross country coach Sue Foster and the distance runners and throwers travel to Lawrence, Kansas for the Kansas Relays, the rest of the women's track team will travel to East Lansing for the Michigan State Invitational. The two sites are just two more stops on the road leading to the team's April finale, the Penn Relays. After enduring foul weather, illness, and injury for the first three weeks of the season, the team is healthy and in strong mid-season form. But Henry still believes there is work to be done. "I'm somewhat pleased at the way that the distance kids have been running," Henry said. "But the sprinters and quarter milers haven't quite put it together yet, I hope that they begin to do that this weekend at Michigan State." Because of the extra academic pressure at this time of year, Henry has been keeping a close eye on the team. While the distance runners are slowly working their way back into competition, the sprinters and hurd- lers have been going strong for sev- eral weeks. "I think this is a good time for my kids (sprinters and hurdlers) to use as a break," Henry will be senior captain Phil Fergu- son. Though twice missing out on first place by hundredths of seconds last weekend, Ferguson has an ex- cellent chance at qualifying for the NCAA's and should do very well in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Another team leader will be javelin thrower Warde Manuel. Al- though he finished first last week- end, Manuel will have to make large improvements if he wishes to place in the national competition. this weekend said. "But we're keeping them home mainly for academic reasons." The team competed in the Dogwood Relays last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee against East- ern Michigan, Indiana and Pitts- burgh, among others. Once again some familiar names registered their usual impressive performances. Lisa DeVries was the only individual winner of the day, with a high jump of 5'7 3/4". Julie Victor placed second while recording a personal and career best in the discus with a throw of 165'5". And not surprisingly, senior tri-captain Mindy Rowand gave another exceptional performance, placing second in the 3000 meters. by John Niyo Daily Sports Writer Despite a losing record (3-5) in the Big Ten, Michigan still harbors aspirations of a Big Ten softball championship. And these hopes 4would be greatly helped by a string of victories over last-place North- western this weekend. To finally break a championship jinx that has plagued the Wolverines for several seasons - they've finished second for three straight years - they will have to start winning this weekend. "We're not playing that bad, we just haven't gotten the breaks," senior first baseman Sara Dykster- house said. "Our chances for the title *',are still there, depending on what some of the other teams do. But we have to take a lot of games this weekend against Northwestern." The Wildcats have fallen from their glory days. From 1984-87, Northwestern dominated the confer- ence, finishing first each year and winning over 40 games three times. They also made three consecutive $appearances in the College World Series during that stretch. Now they are mired in last place with a 2-8 record in the Big Ten and a 10-19 mark overall with their only two wins coming against an equally hapless Michigan State squad (2-6, 6-24). The two cellar dwellers split a doubleheader. Meanwhile, the Wolverines have been a model of inconsistency - something that frustrates coach Carol Hutchins. Hutchins has said all year that "to win it we have to be consistent. That's the key for us." They lost three out of four to Ohio State last weekend and then followed that up with a doubleheader sweep of Central Michigan Wednes- day. Earlier this season they stormed through the Bud Lite Invitational in California winning the champion- ship with an 8-0 streak. But Michigan then lost six out of its next seven to destroy their momen- tum and have been looking to regain it ever since. One player who has been able to find a groove is Dyksterhouse. A second team All-Big Ten selection last year, she's making a case for first team honors this year. The Jenison, Michigan native has blister- ed opposing pitchers this year, batting .356 for the season. "I'm feeling good at the plate," Dyksterhouse said. "This is the most confident I've ever felt." Taking the mound for Michigan 'We're not playing that bad, we just haven't gotten the breaks' - Sara Dyksterhouse Michigan first baseman this weekend will be Andrea Nelson (6-5, 1.04 ERA) and Jenny Allard (6-6, 1.49). Allard, last year's Big Ten MVP, is also second on the team in hitting at .304. Northwestern relies on senior infielder Chinazo Opia for much of their offense while Amy Redmer (4- 7 1.67) anchors the pitching staff. Lacrosse set to take Big Ten by Rod Loewenthal Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's lacrosse club defeated the Chippewas of Western Michigan Wednesday night, 12-7, in what was their last regular season game before the Big Ten tournament this weekend at North- western. Coach Robert DiGiovanni, how- ever, was not pleased with the team's performance. "It was a nice tune-up going into the tournament," he said. "We won but we won ugly. The team played poorly since they may have been looking forward to the tournament." This Saturday and Sunday, all seven Big Ten club teams will compete, but the tourney at North- western should boil down to a two team race. "I speculate that Michigan and Wisconsin will meet in the finals," DiGiovanni said. "We've al- ready played everybody and had no trouble beating any of the other teams." Seedings for the tournament are yet to be determined; nonetheless, it seems certain that the Wolverines will be put in one division and Wisconsin in the other. The winner of each will meet Sunday afternoon in Northwestern's Dyche Stadium. Michigan compiled an impressive Big Ten record of 5-1 this season, good enough for a second-place fin- ish behind Wisconsin. Sophomore midfielder Denne Reed is confident about Michigan's chances this week- end against the Badgers. 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