10A The Michigan Daily -Thursday, February 8, 2001
'M' expects 'qualifier' at Penn State
By Rhonda Gilmer
Daily Sports Writer
Now it matters.
Speed and stamina are a must.
Possessing one of the top three
fastest NCAA tracks, Penn State
invites the Michigan women's track
team to the Nittany Lion Qualifier
tomorrow and Saturday.
As the first qualifying meet of the
season, competition could be fierce.
With Big Tens and the NCAA
Championships on the horizon, many
athletes are looking to qualify for
bigger competitions at this week-
end's meet.
What could be considered as a pre-
Big Tens, the Wolverines will get a
chance to see how they compare with
some higher-ranked conference
teams before they meet them in duals
later this year.
"The top four or five teams from
the conference will be at this meet,"
Michigan coach James Henry said.
"We have expectations that most ath-
letes will run their personal bests."
Hopefully, the Wolverines will not
remain in the shadow of last week's
disappointing performance. A loss to
Purdue might have adjusted the
Wolverines' outlook on how they'll
fare against other Big Ten teams this
season.
"We hope to be in the mix of it,"
Henry said regarding placement.
"Considering that it's a scoring com-
petition with 10 other teams, we are
trying to finish in the top three or
four. We've geared ourselves up for
this meet."
Keeping this in mind, time serves
as a greater focus this weekend.
What the Wolverines do not know is
how fast other teams are or might be.
Penn State is described as being an
improved team, but, how much, no
one knows.
. In track and field, teams are con-
stantly reevaluated and any differ-
ence could change their appearance.
"Penn State is an outstanding team
in the conference and they have a
brand new facility," Henry said.
Another team that could play a
factor is Georgetown.
Currently, the Bulldogs have a
strong distance and middle distance
program.
In comparison, the Wolverines
have a balanced program between
sprints and distance.
STATE COLLEGE
Who: Four of the top five teams from the Big
Ten along with select teams nationally.
When: 5 p.m. tomorrow, 11 a.m. Saturday
Latest: Michigan returns to full strength in a
meet that many runners will use to try to quali-
fy for the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
Having these similarities,
Georgetown will probably try to
upset the Wolverines during the dis-
tance portion. But Michigan should
be healthy enough to return many of
the runners who ran so strongly
through cross country season.
Factoring in Ohio State, the
Wolverines should expect a close
challenge during the 1600-meter
relay. Restoring experienced runners
back into the lineup, Henry might
lessen the load for each runner com-
peting in the racb.
"Ohio State's strength is in sprints
and hurdles," Henry said.
MARK
0
FRANCESCUTTI
C US AD ERSlot of zone, so we'll work on our zone,
offense and our running game," Guevara
Continued from Page 8A said.
the Wolverines an opportunity to see if One of the Crusaders' biggest threats1
they can execute against a zone defense. may be Amanda Abraham, who went to
"I have a feeling we're going to see a high school just minutes away from Ann
-r
Arbor at Plymouth-Salem. Abraham is
second on the team in scoring, averaging
11 points a game, and she is a long-ball
threat, nailing 38 percent of her shots
from behind the arc.
"Anytime a kid leaves the state and
then plays against a state school, they
always are jacked," Guevara said.
Michigan assistant coach Eileen Shea
sent a scout to check out the Crusaders'
strong points and gave the scoop to
Guevara.
"They're a very disciplined basketball
team' Guevara said. "They run a lot of
off-ball screens, they hustle and they're
very scrappy. I anticipate it's gonna be a
pretty rough game."
Winning for Michigan is important
because Guevara feels her team needs 18
wins to be a strong contender for a berth
in the NCAA tournament. Right now the
team has 14, and coming up are games
against a tough Illinois squad, a ranked
Penn State team on the road and a con-
test versus Iowa who clobbered the
Wolverines the last time they played.
H E DAILY GR IND
Th Cutti~g Edge Awards
W elcome to the first-annual Evanston unnoticed. But his key drop
Cutting Edge awards, devel- on fourth down could have made him
oped in the tradition of the a marked man in the lackluster sports
Oscars, Emmys and Grammys (but town. Thankfully for Anderson,
not in the tradition of the Blockbuster Michigan's Anthony Thomas outdid
Awards, TV Guide Awards and Teen Anderson's blunder, fumbling the
Choice Awards). game away. A high-tense, high-pow-
Tonight's awards pay respect to ered instant classic, the Michigan-
some of the notable people and events Northwestern game will go down as
of the past year in Michigan sports. one of the most sad, but entertaining,
Ok, the Joan Rivers fashion games in Michigan history.
preshow is over. Lloyd Carr has a WORST SCRIPT - Michigan baske
slick tuxedo on. ball's offense - The Wolverines are
Now on to the awards. so predictable that WJR just puts in
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Duke 34, old tapes to call their halfcourt
Michigan 2 - It's unbearable to even offense.
remember. Feel worse for ESPN, "Avery Queen dribbles the ball
which saw its ratings plummet when down, pass to Blanchard, back to
all of the television sets in Michigan Bernard Robinson. Ten seconds on ti
turned to "Martha Stewart Living's shot clock. Robinson can't get into ti
Saturday Night Special" on how to paint to Josh Asselin. Back to Queen
grow the biggest cucumber. One second on the shot clock, Queer
BEST DIRECTOR - Bill Martin - throws up a three that barely touches
The Athletic Department is in a much the rim." Rewind and repeat.
more healthy position both financially BEST COMEDY - Football's defen-
and internally. Coaches, players and sive backfield - The old Woodson
administrative staff, for the most part, days of superior coverage are gone.
have never been happier. Now, the Wolverines give up 243
LEAST SUPPORTING DIRECTOR - yards per game through the air. How
Bill Martin - Deadbeat dads show many times did Brandon Williams or
more support for their illegitimate Todd Howard fall down? It's no won
children than this athletic director der Justin Fargas left for USC. He
does for Michigan coach Brian probably didn't want to be a safety.
Ellerbe. After the embarrassing Don't worry, they'll be much better
blowout loss at home to Michigan next year.
State, Martin gave Ellerbe little c6nfi- BEST SONG -'N Sync's "Bye Bye
dence. Bye" - Lance, J.C., Justin, Joey anc
Betcha Martin is kicking himself Chris plan to sing their big hit at
for promising not to fire Ellerbe until Crisler Arena for Brian Ellerbe at the
the end of the season. end of the season.
BEST NEW DIRECTOR - Men's soc- BEST SUPPORTING ROLE -
cer coach Steve Burns - Burns took Football's offensive line - Drew
several club players, mixed them in Henson was able to balance his over
with varsity recruits and enjoyed a flowing checkbook in the pocket
fine inaugural season. His hard work thanks to Steve Hutchinson, Jeff
earned men's soccer its due status. A Backus and Maurice Williams (who
new field and greater exposure will should all be NFL first-rounders). Th
come. group definitely takes the cake as th
BEST DRAMA (WITH AN UNHAPPY best offensive line in Michigan histc
ENDING) - Football vs. Northwestern ry.
- Damien Anderson can walk down - Mark Francescutti can be reachi
the streets of less-than-football-savvy at mfrances@umich.e<
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