14 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 21, 2001 Michigan track takes fourth in Big Ten Championships By Shawn Kemp Daily Sports Writer Three's company for the Michigan women's track team. The trio of Katie Jazwinski, Rachel Sturtz and Nicole Denamur led the Wolverines with three first- place finishes, helping Michigan to a fourth-place finish overall at this weekend's Big Ten Champi- onships in Bloomington. Michigan's 99 1/4 points trailed Indiana (140), Purdue (122 1/5) and Min- nesota (101 1/4). Jazwinski defended her title as Big Ten 3,000- meter champion from last year, making her the first Michigan athlete to win consecutive conference titles in the event. Clocking a time of 9:35.43, Jazwinski finished over nine seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Just a sophomore, Rachel Sturtz ran a blistering 2:07.76 to win the 800-meter dash. Her time broke the previous existing Big Ten record set by Wiscon- sin's Laurie Rabideau in 1987 by over five seconds, and was 1.08 seconds faster than the next competitor. Michigan assistant coach Mike McGuire, who works with the distance runners on a daily basis, labeled Sturtz and Jazwinski as "the kind of people who have been leading the parade all year long, and it's no different here." On the field, Denamur's effort of 5-8 1/2 in the high jump tied those of Penn State's Jen Aylward and Iowa's Kacey Childs, but Denamur, also a soph- omore, prevailed as champion as she had the least amount of misses. In addition to three first-place finishes, the Wolverines had enough depth in other events to fin- ish in the top half of the Big Ten. "The goal is to beat bodies," Michigan coach James Henry said. "The more bodies we beat, the more points we get." An efficient way to score more points is to place in the top eight of more than one event. Michigan had three athletes score in double events to advance in the team score. Sophomore Carly Knazze finished fourth in b the 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, ru ning 53.46 and 23.47, respectively, while soph more April Phillips tossed 174-0 to finish fourth the hammer throw, and finished third in the shot with an effort of 50-4. Jazwinski also finished rn ner-up in the 1,500-meter run. Also performing well for the Wolverines w Tasha Phillips, who finished third in the heptl' with 4,807 points, Teyonna Simpson, who fire third in the triple jump with a leap of 41-01 1/4, a Melissa Bickett, who's toss of 171-03 in the disc was good for third olace. Emotions high for Blue captain Buckeyefans share their love with the Wolverines through a song By Jim Weber coach Geoff Zahn. On Thursday Team for their contributions to Michi- Daily Sports Writer night, Tousa hit a homerun in both the gan's success in the tournament. seventh and eighth inning of Michi- Thirdbaseman Brock Koman and COLOMBUS - Senior Scott gan's 10-2 victory over Purdue to pitcher Bobby Korecky were named Tousa left everything out on the field double his homerun output on the second team All-Big Ten players for in his final game for Michigan. His season. the regular season earlier in the week. all-out effort against Minnesota was Tousa totaled three hits, three runs, GOOD Woon: Michigan pitcher captured in a ninth-inning moment as and four RBIs in five at bats against Bobby Wood struck out a career-high he almost fell over while desperately the Boilermakers. 10 batters against Purdue, including trying to beat out a throw to first base WITH HONORS: Secondbaseman all three batters he faced in the first in the final frame of the game. After- Scott Tousa, catcher Jake Fox and inning. "That first inning - it just wards, Tousa was visibly emotional in pitcher Bobby Wood were all selected seems like it set the tone," Wood said. the dugout, hugging teammates and to the 2001 Big Ten All-Tournament He credited his teammates with part of his success after they posted 10 runs in support. "It's good having runs," he said. "It makes it a lot easier to pitch - takes ANN&off the pressure." FEEL THE HATE: Like last week's sx series against Ohio State, the Wolver- / ,, ' , ,ines were heckled by Buckeye fans in their 8-4 loss on Thursday. Although they focused much of their heckling on coach Geoff Zahn, he barely even noticed them. "I couldn't tell you what they are saying because I lock in on the game, lock in on my guys," Zahn said. The Buckeye fans were y. a aquiet when Michigan tied the game 4- 4 but were re-energized by Ohio State's 8-4 victory, singing a rendition of "We Don't Give a Damn About the Whole State of Michigan" after the game. GETTING TO KNOW OHIO: With the series against Ohio State two week- ends ago and the Big Ten Tournament starting on Thursday, Michigan spent MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daiy 10 out of the last 11 days in Colum- Michigan's senior secondbaseman and tri-captain, Scott Tousa, played in his last bus. The inclement weather heavily game for the Wolverines yesterday against Minnesota. delayed the tournament and left Michigan with the day off on Friday * and Saturday. *I"We just basically hung out at s hotels, went to the mall a little bit, played some cards. Just tried to do whatever we could to pass the time," New At Bell's: Tousa said. Milkshakes $3.25 Everyday special of Vanilla, - u -- Strawberry, Two Medium Cheese Pizzas $1099 Chocoiate, Extra Items $1.20 each per Pizza Recehy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, nwo Coffee, B7.99 Monday thru Thursday Special nt r'OneLarge Pizza with Raspberry Cheese &1Item Pineapple, and Banana Extra Items $1 30 Eachl The bar was a bit higher this weekend for the Michigan men's track team. The Wolverines finished in a tie for eighth at the Big Ten Championships. Okenwa, Wisniews pace 'M' at By Shawn Kemp Daily Sports Writer When Michigan junior Mike Wis- niewski came out of his season's slump to win the 10,000-meter run at the Big Ten Championships this past weekend in Bloomington, many people wondered what helped him to a conference win. Michigan coach Ron Warhurst had the answer. "I threatened him, plain and simple;' Warhurst joked. Wisniewski's win was the sole first- place finish for the Wolverines, who fin- ished tied for eighth with Michigan State in the championships with 43 points. Wisconsin defended its title from last year with 135 points. Although Wisniewski didn't qualify for nationals, his race was one of the most exciting of the meet. His time of 29:49.65 was just .01 seconds faster than the next competitor as he edged out Pur- due's Donnie Fellows for the win. we $25 for a one-time, o-and-a-half hour session. V Volunteers should he UM students between ages 18 and 29. Big Tens "There was no point in trying to fy for nationals,"Warhurst said. "It's a much better situation for him repeat as Big Ten champion than would be to get third or fourth in a ra and goto the nationals to be unheard o Wisniewski also became the thi Wolverine to win consecutive titles in I event, following in the tracks of Jo Scherer (1988-89) and John Mortir (1997-98). Another junior who made a showing in the meet was Ike Okens Okenwa scored for the Wolverines int events, running 10.52 to finish fourth the 100-meter dash and he finished fi in the 200 meters with a time of21.07. Okenwa's times were an accurate rt resentation of his season so far, as he within hundredths of a second of his st sonal best in each event. Said Okenwa: "Every race I just go there thinking that it is the Big T meet" That mentality helped himt actual meet. Also scoring for the Wolverines w Oded Padan, who finished third in triple jump with a leap of 49-07 a Andy Derr, who's toss of 204-08 led h to a fifth-place finish in the javel. Brain Turner, the only freshman to sce for the Wolverines in the championshi ran 3:51.08 to finish fourth in the 1,5 meter run, while Phil Stead ran eighth-place finish in the 800-meter s clocking 1:52.07. Brent Sheffer roun out the scoring for the Wolverines, jur ing 16-04 3/4 to finish seventh in pole vault. OPEN UNTIL 4 A.M. Purchtasrmust pa s ts fos is a Corner of State and Packard upo expires 8i t 7/i t995-0232 Phone #936-0640 for more information.