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June 14, 2018 - Image 10

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The Michigan Daily

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10

Thursday, June 14, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS

When you think of an All-
American
track
and
field
athlete, what comes to mind?
Is it someone who has spent
their entire life committed to
perfecting their craft? Early
mornings and late nights spent
on the track, crafting the
perfect training routine? What
if it was someone who hadn’t
competed on a track throughout
their entire high school career?
Well, that is the legend of
Claire Borchers.
The senior opted to play
soccer in high school rather
than compete in track and field,
only running in the fall for her
cross country squad. While her
peers were becoming nationally
recognized
track
stars,
Borchers was trading in spikes
for cleats and running around
chasing a soccer ball.
But at the NCAA Outdoor
Championships, none of that
mattered. As she rounded the
last lap of the 3000-meter
steeplechase, Borchers reached
deep and tapped every last drop
of fuel she had left in the tank.
For most of the race, Borchers
was solidly positioned at the
back of the pack, not wanting to
exert any unnecessary energy
too early in the contest. She
played to her strengths and
waited for her moment to strike.
As she entered the final lap, the
senior was sitting in seventh
place, narrowly in contention

for All-American honors as the
top-eight finishers earn the
title.
Knowing the glory that comes
with a late-race surge, Borchers
saw her collegiate career flash
before her eyes before turning
on the burners. She advanced
an additional two spots before
entering into the final stretch
of the tight race, good for fifth
in the field.
Then in a desperate battle
for recognition, glory, fame
or whatever coveted feeling
that
comes
with
athletic
achievement, Borchers surged
to
a
fourth-place
finish,
narrowly
beating
out
Val
Constien of Colorado at the
finish line.
“I was really zoned in, just
kinda one straight at a time”
Borchers told MGoBlue.com.
“But still I was just realizing
that I still had something in the
tank, and that’s one of the best
feelings that you can have in a
race. I was definitely stressed,
physically a bit, but when you
have that gear it’s fun to just
channel it.”
After it was all said and done,
Borchers had run the fastest
final lap of any athlete in the
race, topping the field with a
time of 72.09 seconds and truly
embodying the ferocious spirit
that Michigan distance runners
have come to represent.
It’s no doubt that Borchers
drew inspiration from 2017’s
NCAA Outdoor Champion in
the 1,500-meter — and the

Wolverines’
first

Jaimie
Phelan. Through her relentless
running style and late-race
power, Phelan reigned supreme
over her peers and created a
culture of success at Michigan.
Phelan has also inspired the
likes of this year’s NCAA
Champion
for
Michigan

senior Ben Flanagan.
“I just thought about Jamie
Phelan for the first part of my
race,” Borchers said. “I mean,
I watched that race when she
sat in the back and had that
amazing kick, and not that I
was expecting to have that kind
of amazing kick, but I knew a lot
is possible if you can just keep
your head on your shoulders.”
Also
competing
for
the
Wolverines in Eugene, Ore.
were seniors Aaron Howell
and Haley Meier and fifth-year
senior Sarah Zieve.
Despite
displaying
an
admirableperformance in the
heptathlon,
Howell
finished
18th and just 100 points shy of
All-American honors. While
her place may not have been
where she wanted it, Howell
did add an Honorable Mention
award and personal bests in the
javelin throw and 800-meter
run to her resumé.
As Michigan heads back to
Ann Arbor to begin preparation
for next season, it can hold its
head high. The Wolverines who
competed left everything on the
track and can be proud when
reflecting back on the 2018
outdoor season.

Borchers earns All-American honors

The
Michigan
men’s
lacrosse team has pegged
Justin Turri to be its new
assistant
coach
for
the
up-and-coming program.
For a team in the process
of
laying
the
foundation
to become a powerhouse
club,
it
all
begins
with
personnel. Just a year ago,
the Wolverines added head
coach Kevin Conry to their
roster, stealing him from
Maryland where he served
as the Terrapins’ defensive
coordinator.
Maryland,
a
consistent
national
title
contender, has the pedigree
of a program that means
business.
At this point in the process,
gaining the mindset of a
title-contending
program
is the name of the game
for Michigan. Once a solid
coaching and recruiting core
is established, top talent will
follow. And with the hiring
of Turri, the Wolverines
are a step closer to reaching
their goals.
“We
are
thrilled
to
welcome
Justin
to
Michigan,” said Conry of
Turri’s appointment. “Justin
has an outstanding track
record of success and is a
true up and coming star in
the coaching world.”
Last season, Turri worked
as the offensive coordinator
for Harvard, coaching elite
collegiate
talent
such
as
All-American
and
All-Ivy
League star Morgan Cheek.
With such proximity to high-
productivity players, Turri’s
experience will greatly aid a
young Michigan team.
Under
Turri,
the
Crimson’s offense boasted
the
28th-ranked
scoring
offense
in
the
nation,
scoring
10.85
goals
per
game. Harvard’s rank marks
a 10 spot increase over the
Wolverines’ offensive unit
who comes in at 38 with
10.14 goals per game.
In addition, Turri looks
to help a Michigan lacrosse
team that went 8-6, 1-4 in
Big Ten play and narrowly
missed
making
the
Big
Ten
Tournament.
The

Wolverines scored 142 goals
on 485 shots on goal, good
for a .293 shot percentage —
second to last in the Big Ten.
For a team that drastically
needs
to
improve
its
offensive efficiency, Turri
could prove to be a valued
offseason acquisition.
Prior
to
joining
the
Crimson, Turri has worked
to
perfect
the
craft
of
coaching at Army West Point
and Providence. With the
Black Knights, Turri helped
sharpen the team’s faceoff,
offense and extra-man units
and worked in a similar
capacity with the Friars.
Turri’s collegiate lacrosse
experience truly began as a
player and four-year starter
for Duke. Quickly emerging
as a key member of the team,
Turri led the Blue Devils to
a national championship in
2010 and two ACC titles in
2009 and 2012.
Furthermore, Turri was
named a two-time USILA
All-American and finished a
dream lacrosse career with
70 goals and 52 assists. Turri
has a wealth of knowledge
when it comes to offensive
productivity as he can draw
sage guidance from his days
as a top-level player or coach.
After
leaving
Duke,
Turri ascended to the pros
where
he
continues
to
play at a high level with
the Boston Cannons. After
getting
drafted
by
the
Charlotte Hounds in 2012
and bouncing around a few
teams
in
Major
League
Lacrosse, the midfielder has
seemingly found a home in
Boston since he was named
the team’s MVP for the 2017
season, notching nine goals
in eleven games.
While
balancing
a
professional schedule and a
prominent coaching position
may seem like a daunting
task, Turri has proved he
is up to the challenge after
carrying
a
similar
load
the past few seasons with
Harvard and Army.
For a team with a young
core and and an exciting new
coach, Turri could prove
to be the missing piece to
finally get Michigan over the
hump.

JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor

JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor

MEN’S LACROSSE

ALEC COHEN / DAILY
Senior Claire Borchers owned her last lap in the 300-meter steeplechase and earned All-American honors by placing fourth

Turill hired as asst. coach

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