Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Track Competes At MAC Championships
2/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | MTF
Feb. 21, 2000
THE TEAM--The Central Michigan University men's track and field team competes at the Mid-American Conference championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-26, at Eastern Michigan University.
THE COACHING STAFF--The CMU men's track and field program is headed up by head coach Jim Knapp, assistant coach Craig Fuller and graduate assistant Greg Halberg. Knapp, who is in his 15th season, led the Chippewas to second-place finishes at both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference championships in 1999 and was named MAC "Coach of the Year" for both seasons. Since 1986, he has coached 31 individual MAC champions and four All-Americans including Greg Richardson and Richie Brinker in 1999. Fuller, who also serves as the Chippewas' head cross country coach, led Central to the MAC cross country championship in 1999. He has helped four CMU athletes to All-American status including Richie Brinker (1997-98) and Ryan Watson (1998). Halberg is in his first season with the Chippewas.
LAST WEEKEND--The Chippewas hosted the non-scoring Jack Skoog Open on Friday, Feb. 18.
Several Chippewas took first-place finishes. Brian Fairchild (Milan/So.) won the high jump with a mark of 6-8 and the triple jump with a distance of 41-8 1/2. Matt Elsesser (Reese/Fr.) took top honors in the shot with a put of 54-9 1/2. In the dashes, Tom Kessel (Redford/Sr.) won the 400m in 49.16 and Braden Bush (Stanwood/Jr.) won the 200m in 22.82. CMU's 4x400m relay team won the event while clocking 3:24.86.
Second-place finishers for CMU included Ronnie Zatkoff (Clinton Township/So.) in the high jump (6-8), Pat Walderzak (Frankenmuth/So.) in the shot put (54-4 1/2) and the weight throw (52-8 3/4), Shaka Dhladhla (East Lansing/So.) in the 60m high hurdles (8.21), Dana Thomas (East Lansing/Fr.) in the 200m dash (23.05) and the 400m dash (49.19), Mike Wilusz (Royal Oak/So.) in the mile (4:20.66) and Ryan Lantzer (St. Louis/Jr.) in the 800m (1:54.23).
KNAPP ON THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS--"We feel that we have a great chance to compete with everyone at the MAC championships. We have a lot of injuries but there is no sense dwelling on it. The athletes that are healthy will run and do their best."
KNAPP ON LAST WEEKEND--"I thought that things went well for the size of the meet. We had a lot of athletes with personal bests and it gave some people a chance to run in events that they normally wouldn't get to at a bigger meet."
MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW--The Chippewas are trying to improve upon last year's second-place finish. Head coach Jim Knapp earned MAC "Coach of the Year" honors at last year's event.
DOUBLE DIP--Sophomore Brian Fairchild (Milan) won both the high jump and triple jump at last Friday's Jack Skoog Open. He took top honors in the high jump with a mark of 6-8 and the triple jump with a 41-8 1/2.
UPCOMING--The NCAA championships are set for March 10-11 at the University of Arkansas.
