Although he easily won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last week's Big Ten
championships, John Mortimer will face his toughest competition of the season at
the NCAA championships, starting today in Bloomington.
RA "For nationals, I shouldn't even be
worried about not making six feet;"
Continued from Page 12 Forrester said. "If I do what I'm sup-
"If I do my job, as far as running my posed to do, I should be able to perform
race plan, I'll be tough to beat," well. It depends on the weather, it
Gardner said. "Right now, compared to depends on how everyone else does -
last year, I'm running much faster in sometimes everyone's having a bad day,
practice than I was at this time last year, and sometimes everyone's having a
so I expect I should run faster." good day."
Rounding out the men's team is Junior Tania Longe had a surprising-
sophomore John Mortimer. Although ly poor performance in the indoor
Wis will not be Mortimer's last colle- NCAA championships earlier this year.
giate race, the pressure to perform in Longe placed 15th in the triple jump
the 3,000 steeplechase is still there. indoors, but expects to do much better
Having just won Athlete of the in the final outdoor meet.
Championship for his dominant perfor- Considering that last week Longe set
mance at last week's Big Ten champi- a new Big Ten record in the long jump
onships, Mortimer has a tough act to and a Michigan record in the hep-
follow - himself. tathlon, she seems well on track to peak
"My goal for the weekend is top in the two events in Bloomington.
three, Mortimer said. "I have yet to be "I'm prepared in outdoor more than
ushed in the steeplechase this year, so indoor," Longe said. Indoors, "I guess
'm looking forward to running with the crowd kind of got to me, and enter-
guys that are pretty quick.' ing an event (the triple jump) that was
Representing the distance crew of the new to me - I lost some confidence.
Michigan women's team are sopho- But I've done the long jump and the
mores Katie McGregor and Marcy heptathlon since I was 11, and they're
Akard, who will run the 5,000. just events that I'm more comfortable
McGregor was considering running the with."
3,000 instead, but decided to join her Michigan coach James Henry said
teammate in the same race. that Forrester and Longe have different
"I chose the 5,000 because I think I factors to consider in trying to optimize
have a lot of room for improvement in their performances.
," McGregor said. "I've only run it "Longe is such a team person,
wice this year, and I was basically run- Henry said. "Her team and the environ-
ning it by myself. We're going to go ment motivates her. She will be alone
there and run with a high level of com- with three other athletes, and there
petition - unbelievably good runners. won't be that crowd saying 'Let's go.'
Hopefully we'll just go along with That is going to be a barrier, but she's
them, finish as fast as we can and come going to have to bring it out from with-
out winners?' in.
Sophomore high jumper Nicole "Nicole is used to being out and
Forrester adds an element of uncertain- competing by herself. Her biggest
ty to the NCAAs. Still seemingly gain- enemy is herself. She tries too hard.
tag confidence in her ability, Forrester Both of them have the opportunity to be
as demonstrated the potential to jump national champions. It just depends on
as high as 6-foot-2 3/4 - or as low as a the day, a good early start, and luck as
no-height - all in the same season. well."