Lined up at the starting line just prior to the 3,000-meter run
at Saturday’s Boston Indoor Games, Michigan sophomore Nick
Willis was laughing and smiling. Willis seemed unfazed by the fact
that he was lining up alongside the best in the world, including
Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, who had run eight of the 10
fastest times in the history of the 3,000-meter run.

“This is more fun,” Willis said. “There is no
pressure on me to beat any of these guys. I knew I could, but there
is no pressure from school rivalries.”

Perhaps the relaxed attitude was good for Willis, as he
proceeded to run faster than almost anyone could have anticipated,
setting a new NCAA record with a time of 7:44.90. Michigan coach
Ron Warhurst knew that Willis had the potential.

“(Michigan alum Kevin Sullivan) told me he thought he
could run around (7:46), and I thought if he could, then Willis
could too,” Warhurst said. “I wasn’t surprised;
it was only a matter of time.”

Willis — who is normally reserved in talking about his
achievements — was clearly proud of his new record, something
he had set his sights on and finally reached.

“It was the ultimate goal,” Willis said. “I
knew it was possible, but it was in the corner of my mind. It means
a lot.”

Willis finished fifth in the race, which was won by
Gebrselassie. Sullivan finished third, about a half-second faster
than Willis, who had beaten Sullivan in last weekend’s Kris
Eggle Invitational 3,000-meter run. Willis’ time was 15
seconds faster than last week, and 11 seconds faster than the NCAA
automatic qualifying time.

Though the spotlight was on Gebrselassie and Willis, the rest of
the Wolverines’ delegation performed admirably, as well.

“We had a good day,” Warhurst said. “The men
in blue ran well.”

Junior Nate Brannen had his own shot at breaking the NCAA record
in the 1,000-meter run, but fell just short as the pack started out
a little slower than anticipated. Brannen finished fourth, after a
late race sprint to move up in the pack. He was mere steps behind
former World Indoor 800-meter champion David Krummenacker, and beat
last year’s NCAA outdoor 800-meter champion Sam Burley.

The Wolverines were also represented by a distance medley relay
team, which finished fourth. Warhurst was pleased, but seemed to
have anticipated a little more from them.

“It was nice to get fourth,” Warhurst said.
“We got out OK — the first three ran respectable
— but (Michigan sophomore Andrew Ellerton) got caught in no
man’s land.”

Ellerton, typically an 800-meter runner, ran the mile leg of the
relay and found himself caught in between the lead and chase packs,
too far behind to run down the leaders. Junior DarNell Talbert ran
his 400-meter leg in just under 48 seconds, the fastest time of the
year by a Michigan runner.

With such strong performances by the team, Warhurst now has
several options he can consider for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Brannen will likely defend his title in the 800-meter run, while
Willis could compete in either the 3,000-meter run or the
1,500-meter run, as well as the distance medley. Warhurst is
weighing the options of both, considering what will give his
runners a jump on the competition.

“It’s nice to have options, but it’s also
confusing to have options,” Warhurst said.

The Wolverines also had several athletes competing at the
Eastern Michigan Open, including junior football standout Braylon
Edwards. Edwards earned his first intercollegiate track victory
— he previously won two high jump titles — in the
200-meter dash, and also finished fourth in the 60-meter dash.
Sophomore Brad Miller finished second in the high jump, and junior
Paul Sarantos was third in the shot put.