Three members of the University of Michigan men’s track and field – sophomores Alan Webb and Nathan Brannen and graduated senior Mike Wisniewski – competed in the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge, La. on June 2. All three returned to Ann Arbor with All-America honors in their respective events.
- Paul Wong
- Sophomore Alan Webb lived up to the hype his freshman year with an All-American performance in the 1,500-meter run. He finished fourth in June. (ALYSSA WOOD/Daily)
Michigan tied for 28th place overall with nine points, but the individual accomplishments of its three representatives were much more impressive. Wisniewski set the tone, placing 10th in the 10,000-meter run (29:47.74) in his final race as a Wolverine. It earned him All-America status for the first time in his career.
“It was a nice way to finish his senior year at Michigan,” coach Ron Warhurst said.
Brannen followed suit, placing fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:46.00, breaking a six-year-old school record. “Placing didn’t really matter to me today,” Brannen said. “Normally, 1:46.00 would have been a solid second … I’m just pretty pumped.”
In addition to earning All-America status, Brannen’s time qualified him for the Commonwealth Games in England.
Webb capped off the meet with a fourth-place 3:43.23 in the 1,500-meter run. His time earned him his second All-America honor of the year, having been named a cross country All-American in the fall.
“We didn’t have a real successful Big Ten meet, but I’m pretty pleased with the way things have gone,” Warhurst said. “It’s been really successful.”
Host Louisiana State took the team title with 64 points, edging out second-place Tennessee.