May 23, 2008

by Jeff Smith
Contributor, BigTen.org

The Michigan men's track and field program captured the conference's very first Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship in 1901. The Wolverines went on to win the 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1906 crowns as well. They own a conference-best 31 league titles - three more than second-place Illinois and 14 more than Wisconsin. Yet for the Wolverines, their 31st title captured last weekend is perhaps their most significant. Why? Because it was Michigan's first league crown in 25 years.

You also have to give the Maize and Blue credit for knocking off the Badgers as well. The Wolverines totaled 129 points, 10 ahead of Wisconsin's 119 and third-place Ohio State's 100. UW had won the last four outdoor titles and won every Big Ten men's cross country, indoor and outdoor championship meet since the 2003 outdoor meet. That, is a dynasty, and Michigan performed valiantly last weekend to potentially begin one of its own.

Head coach Ron Warhurst, who has spent 35 years in Ann Arbor and the last nine as the Wolverines' head coach, is certainly one to credit for the success. However, always a believer that its great athletes and not great coaches that win championships, Warhurst was quick to point out the individual successes last weekend that led to the championship victory.

"Three things really stand out in my mind," he said. "We had Grant Till, who was ranked 20th in the javelin, finish sixth, Rob Fiorillo in the hurdles finish fifth and then (Brandon) Fellows take fourth in the 5,000. Those were the three critical events that put it over the edge for us."

Warhurst admitted to being tired and exhausted after the historic win, but was quick to point out that it was a great feeling for him and certainly a new type of feeling for his student-athletes."

"We haven't done it in 25 years," the Wolverine coach told the Michigan Daily's Anthony Oliveria following the meet. "These kids weren't even alive the last time we won one."

One competitor that Warhurst was confident in getting results from was junior Adam Harris. The Michigan sprinter opened the Wolverines' championship run with an explosive final sprint as the anchor of the winning 4x100-meter relay team. He then responded with a career-best and NCAA Regional time of 20.75 to win the 200 meters for his second gold of the event. He fell short of capturing the top spot in the long jump and the 100 meters, but still managed to find the podium with a second (25'-4.75") and third-place (10.36 seconds) finish, respectively.

Not only did Harris contribute a great deal to the team's milestone victory, but his individual performances were also made for the history books. He helped the 4x100-meter relay team to its first Big Ten title since 1982 with a time of 40.26. His 200-meter win was also the school's first since 1982 as well. In addition, he became the first Michigan sprinter to win the 60-meter dash (indoor) and 200-meter dash (outdoor) in the same year.

Following the race, Harris admitted he was confident in his ability in the 200 meters, but hinted it felt better to shock the Badgers in the team race.

"It feels great. Wisconsin probably came in here thinking they were going to take it because they have won it before, so it feels great to take it away from them," Harris said. "I came in with a pretty good time in the 200. I just ran the race that I have been running and was happy to help the team to victory."

Both Harris and Warhurst, who led Michigan to a third-place finish at the 2007 Big Ten Outdoor Championships, were honored by the conference office on Wednesday. Harris earned his first ever Big Ten Coach of the Year on the outdoor track side (he is a four-time honoree in cross country), while Harris was selected as the league's Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Championships. Prior to Harris winning the conference's top honor, Michigan had not had an Athlete of the Year or Championships since 1998.

The 2008 season has closed much better than it began for the Wolverines. Stricken by numerous flu bugs earlier in the year, and a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, Michigan responded with a late charge with leadership from both Warhurst and his troops.

In addition to Harris, U-M was represented by Andre Barnes, Dan Harmsen, Frank Shotwell, Stann Waithe, Andrew Wechter and Troy Woolfork on the All-Conference first team. Shotwell won the Big Ten decathlon title with a school record 7,362 points, while Harmsen won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.12. Only Waithe and Wechter will be lost to graduation.

Michigan is now set to send 14 regional qualifiers to the NCAA Mideast Regional, May 30-31, in Fayetteville, Ark.

Perhaps it is a new sign of the times for the Wolverines. Twenty-five years was the school's longest drought in between conference titles. After winning the 1906 crown, Michigan waited 12 years before climbing back on top once again. It was 11 years between the 1944 and 1955 titles, followed by 14 years separating the 1962 and 1976 titles. But what should also be noted is that Michigan's last championship prior to this year came at the end of fourth straight victories from 1980-83.

Will 2009 be another stepping stone in Wolverines' storied track and field history?

We'll have to wait and see, but if it is, you can chalk it up to yet another Michigan milestone.