Michigan Track upsets #3 Arkansas, beats OSU & MSU
The world-class New U-M Indoor Track Building had its first meet a week ago. It was the Wolverine Invitational, a nice invite-style meet and a good first event for the building.
Today is where it got interesting. Michigan hosted its first team meet against other opponents in 6 years.
The #24 ranked Wolverine Men and the #12 ranked Wolverin Women took hosted 3 opponents today in the Simmons-Harvey Quad.
Michigan State, Ohio State and Arkansas. The only ranked team was Arkansas, #3 on the Men's and #2 on the Women's side.
Michigan flexed its distance muscle today, sweeping the 800 and 3,000 races on BOTH the Men's and Women's sides. It was the field strength on the Men's side the powered them to the team title and 3 wins on the day.
The Wolverine Men beat all 3 teams, including edging out Ohio State by just 1 point.
There was some late drama. Michigan took the 4x400 but was disqualified for "interference". However, there was another heat on the race that featured a 'B' relay team for Michigan that finished high enough to bring home 6 points, enough to pass the Buckeyes and win, 147.5-146.5
Final scores-
MEN
Place | Teeam | Points |
1. | #24 Michigan | 147.5 |
2. | Ohio State | 146.5 |
3. | #3 Arkansas | 97 |
4. | Michigan State | 96 |
- Weight Throw- Joe Ellis
- Shot Put- Andrew Liskowitz
- 400 M- Taylor McLaughlin
- 800 M- Matt Plowman
- 3,000 M- Micah Beller
WOMEN
Place | Teeam | Points |
1. | Ohio State | 145 |
2. | #2 Arkansas | 118 |
3. | #12 Michigan | 106 |
4. | Michigan State | 96 |
- High Jump- Claire Kieffer-Wright
- 1 Mile- Gina Sereno
- 400 M- Jade Harrison
- 800 M- Haley Meier
-
3,000 M- Erin Finn
If you haven't been out to the New U-M Indoor Track Building, I suggest you check it out. It blows its predecessor away tenfold. Some photos I took-
January 20th, 2018 at 6:50 PM ^
approves your OP.
January 20th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
Anyone know how he fared? Discus, weight throw, and shot. Former student of mine here in central Ohio.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^
Just browsing very briefly it looks like he was runner up in both weight throw and shot, didn't see anything about discus.
http://mgoblue.com/news/2018/1/20/mens-track-field-michigan-clinches-si…
January 20th, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
Grant did great, him and Joe Ellis are arguably the two best weight throwers in the nation and they both showed it today by going over 22 meters. Also had a good shot put. Disc is only an outdoor event.
January 20th, 2018 at 6:59 PM ^
Thanks great pics of the new track in action.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Great win. Thanks for posting.
(Of course, even in track the “refs are against us.”
Sing the Song. Go Blue.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:19 PM ^
Any chance you have times? I could look this up immediately.
January 20th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
Here's one big one: Erin Finn ran 8:58 in the 3k which is absolutely bonkers. Fastest time ever run on Michigan soil.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
As a point of comparison, Jenny Barringer (Simpson), one of the premier middle distance runners over the past decade in the U.S., holds the Colorado record at 8:42. 8:33 is the American record and that's held by Shalane Flanagan. Erin's run is early in the season, so she'll get faster.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
the 400 is a sprint, not a distance event but thank you for the post, go blue!
January 21st, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
it's a distance event for some of us!
January 20th, 2018 at 7:43 PM ^
Crisler watching the end of the Michigan WBB game, WD?
The game is now over, BTW, total domination by U of M, as they beat Illinois 86-42.
Katelyn Flaherty "only" scored 27 with 8 assists. Now at 2505 career points. Wow.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
In two weekends, (Feb. 3rd) we’ll be hosting maybe the biggest home meet in history. Coach Henry (my dad) wants to absolutely pack the place with as many people as possible. Some of the best programs in the country are coming to compete: Baylor, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Minnesota, N.C. State, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia.
It’ll be one hell of a day and some STIFF competition. Bring your friends, family and even strangers. Pass it along as well!
We hope to see you all there!!
Go Blue.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^
Michigan should have no problem recruiting the best Track Athletes in Michigan anymore. So many of the top Track and Field performers from MI have gone South or West in search of better facilities. Michigan can now match or succeed most of the traditional National Track powerhouses. We need to get better in the sprints and sprint relays, and jumps however to take the program to the next level.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:31 PM ^
In track and field......the future looks bright!!
January 20th, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
These are the type of events that make life so much better in a college town and easily missed if you live outside A2.
Hopefully the UM track great can match the quality of the facilities in the coming years and become a top program.
January 20th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
the Indoor track rankings, I tried goggling it but couldn't find anything current?
January 20th, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
If you want individual rankings TFRRS is the best. Team duel meet rankings, which are pointless because track is not run that way, would be track and field news.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^
Today and on the new arena, which looks almost exactly like Arkansas' indoor facility. Arky has a great banked track design that runners love. Glad Michigan duplicated it, because it will help them land some big pro meets in the future.