Two Events Contested Before FSU Relays Rained Out

March 23, 2013

Site: Tallahassee, Fla. (Mike Long Track)
Event: Florida State Relays (Day 2)
U-M Team Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 6 - vs. California and Virginia Tri-Meet (Berkley, Calif.)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The University of Michigan men's track and field team competed in two events on the final day of the Florida State Relays on Saturday (March 23) before the remainder of competition was rained out and cancelled at Mike Long Track.

Three Wolverines finished in the top five in the discus to lead U-M before competition was rained out. In his collegiate outdoor debut, sophomore/freshman Derek Sievers (Byron Center, Mich./Byron Center) finished runner up with a toss of 48.26 meters (158-4). Junior/sophomore Justin Gaumer (Holly, Mich./Holly) (48.02 meters, 157-6) and junior/sophomore Cody Riffle (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) (47.29 meters, 155-2) followed in third and fifth place, respectively.

On the opening day, sophomore/freshman Scotty Albaugh (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott) won the 5,000-meter run in his collegiate debut with a time of 14:46.98.

In the 400-meter dash, junior Ali Arastu (Northville, Mich./Northville) ran a career-best time of 46.80, while sophomore Philip Washington (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield) placed fifth in 48.52.

In the first time transitioning from 60- to 110-meter hurdles, junior Herman Washington (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) finished runner up with a time of 14.08 -- just .04 seconds off his career best. Junior Erick Gavin (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) took sixth place with a career-best time of 14.16.

In his first collegiate outdoor competition and first race since the 2011 indoor season, junior/sophomore Nathan Karr (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) finished fourth in the 1,500-meter with a time of 3:50.52.

In the field, the Wolverines had two long jumpers finish in the top five. Sophomore/freshman James Vincent (Farmington, Mich./Farmington) placed third with a mark of 6.95 meters (22-9.75), while junior/sophomore Patrick Cochran (Erie, Pa./McDowell) finished fifth with a career-best jump of 6.86 meters (22-6.25).

Michigan's school-record holder in the hammer throw, senior/junior Ethan Dennis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grandville), recorded a toss of 48.11 meters (157-10) to finish fourth.

In his collegiate debut, freshman Stephen Burk (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) took fifth place in the javelin with a mark of 55.78 meters (183-0). Fifth-year senior Kurt Reichenbach (Brighton, Mich./Pinckney Community) registered a personal-best throw of 54.35 meters (178-4) to place sixth.

The Wolverines will take a week off to continue training before traveling to Berkley, Calif. for a tri-meet with California and Virginia on Saturday, April 6.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Event Winners/U-M Finishers (Day 2)

200-meter Dash
1. Jonathan McCants, Virginia Tech 21.14
15. Philip Washington, U-M 21.99
20. Herman Washington, U-M 22.38
24. Patrick Cochran, U-M 22.81
27. James Vincent, U-M 23.11
28. Erick Gavin, U-M 23.22

Discus
1. Jeff Pelage, Florida State 48.85m (160-3)
2. Derek Sievers, U-M 48.26m (158-4)
3. Justin Gaumer, U-M 48.02m (157-6)
5. Cody Riffle, U-M 47.29m (155-2)
• Day 1 Results

PERSONAL RECORDS:
Philip Washington -- 200m (21.99)
Herman Washington -- 200m (22.38)
Justin Gaumer -- Discus (48.02m, 157-6)





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Fred LaPlante
On highlights from the events that were contested ... "The two best performances of the day were Herman Washington in the high hurdles and Ali (Arastu) in the 400. Herman ran a really fast time in the high hurdles, just off his lifetime best, and I'm sure it will be one of the faster times in the country for March. Ali ran 46.80 in the open 400, which is really fast and a lifetime best for him. That will be one of the best marks this weekend across the country. As far as our distance guys, Nate Karr ran his first race in about two years and he ran 3:50 in the 1,500, which is a lifetime best for him. And then Scotty Albaugh ran his first race as a Michigan guy. He redshirted last year and really didn't run indoors this year and he got a win in the 5,000 -- that was a nice competitive performance for him."

On competing in bad weather conditions today ... "In the discus, they were competing in the rain and the circles were wet, so their marks weren't the best, but they got second, third and fifth with some good guys in there. I thought they competed well in not great conditions. During the season, certain things can come up, whether it's weather or whatever, and you always have to refocus. Those who want to do well sometimes have imagery of how they want to perform in their event and sometimes it's not going to go by the gameplay and you have to readjust your game plan and compete in the conditions you're in. The marks may not seem very good, but then you realize that everyone else is dealing with the same conditions and it's all relative. There is some good that comes from dealing with these elements. It was still good four our team to be together -- it's been about a month since we've all collectively been in the same place at the same time, because at practice we're all spread out. It's been a pretty good weekend for the guys as far as communication with each other and supporting each other."

On adding the javelin for outdoor season ... "For Kurt Reichenbach, this was his first meet this year -- he's a fifth-year senior and a decathlete and he had a personal best in the javelin, which was great. Stephen Burke saw his first action, so it was good for him to get out there."

On this being U-M's only competition before the tri-meet at Cal ... "Even though some of the events were not competed, our guys were preparing to compete. It gets their focus going so I think they are excited about competing. Just getting out and seeing other teams was good and on the first day, whether they competed or not, they saw competition and it hit them that we're back in season and it's time to go again. I think our guys will be really excited about competing in a couple weeks and our training will be really good. The guys that didn't get to compete still got their competitive juices flowing and it will help them with their focus. We had a couple performances that were really outstanding and I think that is good for all our guys to see."

Courtesy Michigan