Monday, May 24, 1999 - The Michigan Day- 13

Leaders of the pack
Although neither the men nor the women could capture the Big Ten team
title this past weekend in West Lafayette, several Wolverines topped the
field in individual events. Michigan's Big Ten champions:
Men Event
Jay Cantin 1,500 meters champion
Women Event
Angie Stanifer 800 meters champion
Katie McGregor 5,000 meters champion
Brandi Bentley Long jump champion
Nicole Forrester High jump champion
Men sixth at B1 Tens'
Cntin champ in 1,500

Victory thrills even proven champs


By Ryan C. Moloney
Daily Sports Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE - It was a
scene that epitomized the highs and lows
of a three day "marathon," known as the
Big Ten women's track and field meet.
Angie Stanifer
had just won a TRACK
wrenching 800-
meter run at the COmmmenntay
wire, and no soon- - -~~~~~~~~.~~~~
er had she looked up smiling than
Nicole Forrester swooped down from
the high jump pits with a congratulatory
hug.
Forrester is taller than most men, so
Stanifers' bulging gave away some dis-
tress.
"I looked out from the corner of my
eye and this huge girl just came running
toward me and I thought, 'oh god, please
don't knock me down."
Mix some pair, triumph, fear and a
dash of comedy and you get a team

which probably never had a legitimate
chance to win this weekend, but always
believed they could.
Brandi Bentley's electrifying victory
in the long jump was easily upstaged -
by her joyful celebration.
After sticking her final jump, Bentley
began to jog as if about to leave the
track, then whirled around and sprinted
back towards the judges for the verdict.
A few seconds later, Bentley turned
around raised her arms and screamed,
sending the Michigan faithful into a
fren
It looked as if Bentley would break
into hand spring at any moment.
Katie McGregor's victory in the 5,000
meters, her first Big Ten outdoor track
title, was akin to Dale Earnheardt final-
ly winning a Daytona 500 for most track
observers.
"McGregor finally won one' was
repeated so many times by various spec-
tators, one would think the scoreboard

was subliminally flashing the prase.
"I was happy with it," McGregor woe-
fully understated.
Don't let McGregor's steely demeanor
fool you - she was thrilled.
Arch rival Jeanelle Deatheradge and
Jenni Westphal stunned McGregor in the
previous 3,000 and 1,500 meters, draft-
ing off of McGregor until overtaking her
in the final lap with Dudley kicks.
This is a tried-and-true track tactic,
but you got the feeling that McGregor
deserved a more respectable efl't from
her counterparts.
Finally, McGregor dropped her own
hammer in the 5,000 meter turning on
the burners in the last 300 meters and
not letting up until her first place trophy-
was ensured.
"It epitomizes all of the work I've put
in and I finally have something to show
for it," McGregor said.
That may as well speak for the entire
Michigan team.

By Chris Langrnll
Daily Sports Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE - Coaching
in the final meet of his storied career as
Michigan men's track and field head
coach, Jack Harvey watched as his
Wolverines turned in a middle-of-the-
road performance at this year's Big Ten
Championships - at Purdue's Rankin
Track and Field, the Wolverines fin-
ished sixth out of 10 represented teams.
The Wolverines, finishing up with
5 points, fell short of the 150.5
points that charrpion Minnesota gar-
nered. Between the Gophers and
Wolverines were squads from Iowa
(115), Wisconsin (89), Illinois (77), and
Purdue (68.5).
Excuses could easily be made for
why the Wolverines finished as they
did. To start, the weather- was terrible on
the third and final day of the champi-
onships, a day on which more than three
 uarters of men's final events were
ld. Rain poured down on yesterday
almost constantly, forcing distance ath-
letes to run through deep puddles and
field competitors to fend off the accom-
panying wind.
Secondly, the Wolverines were with-
out two of their important senior leaders
going into the competition - John
Mortimer and Todd Snyder. Mortimer
sat out of both the indoor and outdoor
*sons while he recovered from knee
surgery. Then Snyder decided to red-
shirt midway through the indoor season
as an "investment" for next year.
But Harvey wouldn't have any of
these excuses.
"You've got to go with what you
got;' Harvey said. "If somebody is not
running, they are not running - every
team has probably got someone who is
sidelined."
Several Wolverines noted how the
nditions forced them to race more
ategically in the longer distance
races. This was especially true for dis-
tance runners Jay Cantin and Steve
Lawrence. Cantin took home the only
individual title for the Wolverines by
winning the 1,500 meter run with a time
of 3:51.43. Cantin's closest competitor,
1998 cross country champion Matt
Downin of Wisconsin, came in at
3:52.89.
OThe conditions definitely played a
part with the rain and wind making it a
slow, tactical race ... I thought that kind
of played into my hands" Cantin said.
"iI thought I was the fastest guy after


800 meters, so I kind of put the pressure
on myself to win"
- Lawrence, while tie didn't take
home any individual titles, finished a
respectable third in the 10,000 meter
run (29:26.68) and fourth in the 5,000
meter run (14:25.99).

r

"I was looking to win in the 10,000,
but it was a tough year with good com-
petitors... it wasn't shameful to lose to
any of those guys," Lawrence said. *U
Lawrence, running in sixth place for
most of the 5,000 meters, made his
move in the last two laps for fourth__ _
place.
"It was a slow race to start with the
conditions," Lawrence said. "But I T-S H IR .
kicked very well at the end, which defi-
nitely helped me out." PR I INsCI
Other Wolverines to turn in impres- LOWEST PRICES!
sire performances included freshmen HIGHEST OUALITY U
Derek Applewhite and Oded Paden.
Applewhite placed second in the 110 ® FASTEST SER VICE! E
meter low hurdles (14.35), and Paden * 1002 PONTIAC TR. *
finished third in the triple jump with a 994.1367
mark of 15.39 meters. Performances
such as these, along with the return of U U U U U U U
leaders Mortimer and Snyder, may point U U U U U U U U
to better results at next year's Big Tens.
"You want to win, but we did about
what we expected with what we had this
year," Lawrence said. "We've got a
great chance to win next year though."
Harvey agreed, implying that assis-
tant coach Ron Warhurst will step in
and should be succesful as head coach
next year. 5ondon.$577
"We'll be in good hands for the"""""""
future," Harvey said.
Athes...........a s. an.$89 1
a l l Amsterdam..........$637
Brussels............$713
MEXICAN CAFE
333 E. Huron " Ann Arbor Alt fares are round-trip. Tax not included.
Some restrictions apply
ANN ARBOR'S FINEST
MEXICAN STYLE FOOD! (800) 777-0112
VOYE ANEMNES
MEXICAN RESTAURANTi
Miim, Daily redlers
WRTTVELI
6u -E'0"tE BEE-.EE

s®-COr #
Share a rewarding experience
working with and
mentoring high school students
this summer in a dynamic fast-paced
environment. We direct popular
residential pre-college programs at
6 universities:
U of Michigan
Georgetown U
U of Vermont
Participation in activities such as, whitewater rafting,
camping, amusement parks, baseball games,
etc. Must be 21 by June 20th & hold a valid driver's license.
Info @ 800-645-6611,
staff@summerfun.com or
www.summerfun.com-