Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Track Heads To Central Collegiates
5/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | MTF
May. 1, 2000
THE TEAM--The Central Michigan University men's track and field team competes at the Central Collegiate Championships on May 6 at Western 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 competed at the non-scoring Drake Relays on April 28-29.
Leading the Chippewas were Tom Kessel (Redford/Sr.) and Jacob Brundage (Stanton/Sr.). Kessel won the 800m in a time of 1:50.53 while Brundage finished second in the 10,000m in a time of 30:19.46.
Other strong performances were turned in by: Matt Loughead (Clinton Township/Sr.) who took eighth in the javelin (205-7), Greg Richardson (Lansing/Sr.) fifth in the 110m hurdles (13.99), Jared Biniecki (Canton/Jr.) fifth in the steeplechase (9:03.72) and Ian Searcy (Canton/So.) ninth in the 800m invitational (1:51.00).
KNAPP ON THE CENTRAL COLLEGIATES--"It will be a battle among, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and us. The competition will help us get ready for the MAC championships. It is going to be tough to get a lot of practice in this week because of final exams."
KNAPP ON LAST WEEK--"Things went pretty well considering the fact that there was tremendous competition at the meet. It was good for us to face this kind of competition, it will help us further down the road. The highlight of the meet was Tom Kessel winning the 800m. Jacob Brundage also did a wonderful job of pulling out a second-place finish in the 10,000m."
WINNER--Senior Tom Kessel took top honors in the 800m at the Drake Relays in a time of 1:50.53. Kessel is looking to improve upon his second-place finish at the MAC indoor championships.
PROVISIONAL QUALIFIER--Senior Greg Richardson posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 110m hurdles at the Drake Relays. He recorded a 13.95 in the qualifying round and took fifth in the finals with a 13.99. Richardson earned All-American honors last year in the 110m hurdles.
UPCOMING--The Chippewas are off next weekend in preparations for the MAC championships on May 18-20 at the University at Buffalo.
