The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 12, 1998 - 13A
Women's track tries divide-
and-conquer appro
By Kevin Rosenfield in Nebraska will offer some of the
Daily Sports Writer best sprinters, hurdlers, quarter-mil-1
Throughout the season, the ers and jumpers in the country.
chigan women's track and field "All year long we've pretty much
team has displayed impressive con- dominated things, so it's important
sistency and depth - as a whole
team.
This weekend, the ---....---..
Wolverines will show Weekendi
just how deep they are
by splitting themselves What: Cannon
between two meets. Husker Invitati
Part of the
Wolverines will com- i ndn
te in the Cannonr
assic in When:$ p.m.
Indianapolis. The rest
of the Wolverines will Notable:Thed
head to Lincoln, Neb. rinners will be
for the Husker Classic,while0
Invitational. be atthe Husk
By splitting up a
team that has recently been largely
uncontested, Michigan coach James
Henry expects to face some of the
lffest challenges of the season this
Wekend.
Michigan's top distance runners
will be facing a highly competitive
field in Indianapolis, while the meet
that we get kids in positions where
>nCl
diet
catt
thet
k 'r
they're not at the head of the pack
.------ and see how they'll
et respond," Henry said.
"There's going to be
:lassic; some very tough compe-
ial tition for our top athletes
this weekend."
iohs; Michigan once again
blew away its competi-
h.6 tion at last weekend's
Meyo Invitational in
ta=ce South Bend, winning 12
the Cannon events and getting solid
others will efforts across the board.
Inrvtational. While regular winners
Nicole Forrester, Tonia
Longe and Katie McGregor contin-
ued their season- long dominance for
Michigan, Olive Ikeh in the pen-
ach
Big Ten time of the season and set-
ting a Meyo Invitational record.
Victories were also posted by
Maria Brown in the 200-meter, Sarah
Hamilton in the 800, Brandi Bentley
in the long jump and Nicole Keith in
the shot put.
Michigan also captured the dis-
tance medley relay and the 440-
meter relay.
"So far things have gone as
planned," Henry said. "We've man-
aged to stay healthy, the top kids
have been consistent, and every
week we've had additional people
step up and perform well."
Yet despite the successes of the
past several weeks, the team is fully
aware that, with the Big Ten
Championships just more than two
weeks away, far more crucial tests
still await.
"We're looking at this weekend as
a dress-rehearsal for the Big Ten
Championships," Henry said.
"We're going to face some chal-
lenges unlike we've had all year, but
if we can handle them this weekend
it should give us even more confi-
dence."
tathlon and Ndu Okwumbua in the
triple jump posted their first career
victories.
McGregor handily won the mile
with 4:49.59, bettering the fastest
FILE PHOTO
The Michigan
women's track
team splits up
this weekend for
split-squad com-
petitions in
Indiana and
Lincoln, Neb.
Men's track takes an easy weekend
By Josh Borkin
Daily Sports Writer
Although Saturday's Central Collegiate
Championships are one of the most prestigious
indoor track meets, Michigan's men's track
team will not double-up in most events. The
Wolverines will use the Central Collegiates as a
practice meet.
Saturday and will be doubling and tripling up
all of their runners in hope of gaining enough
points to earn a first-place team finish.
"We will place second overall," Michigan
co-captain Brian Theisen said. Jay "Cantin,
Sullivan and (John) Mortimer are all concerned
with their performances in the nationals, and by
running in multiple events we would tire them
out for more important races."
Many of the sprinters will be running in sev-
eral events, but it is the distance runners -
- ------ who produce most of the points
eets on a weekly basis - who need
this week for rest.
Colegiate The "big three" of Sullivan,
Mortimer and Cantin are the
Saturday's championship will feature several
schools from the Midwest, including the talent-
ed and deep Eastern Michigan.
While the Wolverines have -----
trained for this meet as seriously Weekend
as any, Michigan coach Jack
Harvey has elected to place some What: Centr
of his best runners in just one or Championsh
two events. Where: Traq
"I think this is an important Building
meet," Harvey said. "But the team
is on the right track, and for us to When: Troo
win this meet, we would have to dv Sat.
double up all of our runners."
Kevin Sullivan, a runner who Notable: Th
undoubtedly has done his share for " II
the Wolverines this season, agreed Mict bratc
with Harvey and his decision to let -
some runners rest.
M4
-lpC
hips
ck and Tennis
orrow night, all
e Wolverines
in-state rivals -
-hian and,
tate.
favorites to win the nationals in
their respected events.
Sullivan has proved to be dom-
inant in the 3,000, mile, and 800
meters. He owns several NCAA
records in every event in which he
has run. This week's rest should
most likely provide some insur-
ance towards victories at the Bigd
Ten's and NCAAs in March.
Cantin, a sophomore and the youngest of the
"big three," has been one of the strongest dis-
tance runners. His victory over Mortimer in last
week's Meyo Mile showed the kick and
endurance Cantin maintains late into a race. If
Cantin is to provide the Wolverines with points
in the postseason, this weekend's rest should be
useful to him.
Sullivan will be running in the distance med-
ley on Saturday. He will run anchor on one df
the best medleys in the country. Cantin will run
the first 1,200 meters of the medley. Following
him will be Dwayne Fuqua in the 400 and Don
McLaughlin in the 800.
"I hope that Eastern will be able to put up a
good (medley) team for us to run against,'
Sullivan said. "If they aren't able to put a good
medley team in the race, we will probably be
running alone in front."
Brian Theisen has taken individual responsi-
bility for the success of the "mid-level" run-,
ners.
"Several individuals have already established:
themselves," Theisen said. "However, it is the
mid level runners, like myself, that need to step
up our performances and earn the team some.
points."
The Wolverines are currently ranked third:
overall after a record-setting day over the
weekend. The distance team for the
Wolverines, already established as one of the
nation's best, has propelled Michigan to No. 3
in the nation.
,j
FILE PHOTO
e Michigan men's track team faces intrastate rivals Eastern Michigan and Michigan State this week-
d for the Central Collegiate Championships.
"It's not worth sacrificing latter meets by
running in two or more events on Saturday,"
Sullivan said "We are more concerned with
having one solid performance, instead of sever-
al mediocre ones."
Eastern Michigan is the favorite to win on
Mortimer started the season off strong, earn-
ing a automatic bid to NCAAs in the 5,000
meters after one meet. Mortimer has also cap-
tured provisional bids in the mile and 3,000
meters. Mortimer's events require extreme
endurance and strength. This week's rest should
help him run strong late into March.
Former Princeton
coach is in Nagano
(U-WIRE) PRINCETON, N.J. --
Keeping focus through hours and hours
of grueling practice. Pushing your body
4ugh fatigue and frustration to perfect
ery move. Putting every aspect of life
on hold to pursue a goal that only a hand-
ful of people in the world will ever
accomplish.
This is the life of the Olympic athlete,
a life of hard work and sacrifice dedicat-
ed to the quest for a gold medal.
Former Princeton women's hockey
head coach Lisa Brown-Miller exempli-
fies this dedication, representing the
O ited States at the Winter Games in
Nagano, Japan, as the oldest member of
the American team. Unblemished.
Still undefeated in the Olympic debut
of women's hockey, Brown-Miller and
her teammates are expected to secure a
berth in the gold-medal game against
rival Canada. The team has already
soundly defeated China, 5-0, and
Sweden, 7-1.
But the road to Nagano and the
iknce for Olympic gold required
wn-Miller to live a life singularly
devoted to her sport, placing both her
professional and personal lives on hold.
A member of the National team since its
inception in 1990, the 31-year-old for-
ward from Michigan gave up her coach-
ing position at Princeton to train full-
time, and eventually won a position on
the Olympic team. Between coaching
Princeton and training, little time
S ains to spend with her husband of
ee years.
Because of Brown-Miller's sacrifice
and passion for the sport, she was a role
model for her young Tiger players. She
came to Princeton in 1991 after an out-
standing collegiate career at Providence
College where she was selected to the
All-Eastern College Athletic Association
team three times.
"She taught us about what you have to
give up to be on a college team," said
junior forward Erin O'Dea, who was a
freshman during the last year of Brown-
Miller's tenure at Princeton. "We got to
see someone do it instead of just say it.
You could see her dedication."
Brown-Miller led the Tigers to a 65-
45-5 overall record in seven seasons. As
a former college player, she could iden-
tify with her young team.
"I hadn't seen that many women play-
ers, O'Dea said. "She had so much
experience. She had been in the same
position as we were as college players."
Brown-Miller also understood the dif-
ference between men's and women's
hockey, a distinction that is surfacing
more recently in light of the women's
game's first appearance at the Olympic
Games. While very intense and physical,
the lack of bodychecking in women's
hockey creates more fluid play that uti-
lizes strategy and play development
more than forceful contact.
As a veteran on the Olympic team,
which includes several current ECAC
players, Brown-Miller will be relied
upon to fulfill a leadership role as the
team advances through the tournament
and toward its expected appearance in
the gold-medal game.
GOPH ERS
Continued from Page 10A
their matches. If the Wolverines hope
to notch an upset this weekend, they
will need victories from their cap-
tains.
"If you look at Minnesota's lineup
and our lineup, that match could go
down to the wire," Michigan coach Joe
McFarland said. "They have tough
matches, but our veterans are going to
have to come in and perform."
The only veteran who won last year
was senior Bill Lacure, who defeated
Chad Kraft 9-0. This year, Kraft is
ranked No. 1 at 150 pounds.
Considering the parity of the Big
Ten competition this season, the
Wolverines can't be counted out.
Minnesota has a 15-2 record, but both
losses have come against Big Ten
teams. Michigan is 3-2 in conference
dual meets and defeated the Gophers
the last time it traveled to Minnesota.
"It seems that a lot of Big Ten meets
have been pretty even,' McFarland
said. "A lot of the teams are beating
each other."
As usual, the Wolverines will need
wins in the lower weight classes to
upset the Gophers. Chris Viola will be
favored in his match at 118 pounds
and needs to give his team an early
lead. Joe Warren and Damion Logan
will be wrestling higher-ranked foes,
but both wrestlers have been impres-
sive of late and could provide key vic-
tories.
"If they're vulnerable, it's in the
lower weight classes," McFarland said.
"So we need to get started off right."
The Wolverines have enough talent
to beat any conference opponent if
they wrestle their best, McFarland
said,
Last weekend, when the Wolverines
faced Ohio State and Purdue, coach
Dale Bahr said his team was only
about 80 percent of their top form.
On Saturday, they will find out if
that last 20 percent is back.
LOUIS BROWN/Daily
The Michigan wrestlers take on Minnesota this weekend in a match featuring two
of the Big Ten's best teams.
Daily Sports.
We're going to the Final Four ..
How about you?
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Spoken Word performer and author of Eye Scream,
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