WMU News

Men's track team heads to MAC Championships

May 18, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The WMU men's track and field team (6-1 overall) will conclude its 2000 outdoor season at the Mid-American Conference Championships, hosted by the University at Buffalo today through Saturday (May 18-20). UB Stadium, which opened in 1991, hosted the 1998 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and served as the track venue for the 1993 World University Games.

WMU placed third at last year's MAC Championship meet and has finished in the upper echelon of the MAC (no lower than fifth) every year since 1974.

Says head coach Jack Shaw, "I see four teams battling for the top spot in the MACs this week: Kent, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and us. Ball State could also sneak up into the pack. Weather will probably be a factor, and it may come down to which team maintains its composure the best against the elements."

Western Michigan spent last weekend (May 13) at the 22nd annual Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University. The open meet was not scored. Top WMU performances came from Jermaine Lewis in the 200 (3rd 21.27); Dale Cowper in the hammer (3rd 186'-9"); Tim Morehouse in the 3,000 (4th 8:52.65); Matt Mayer in the steeplechase (4th 9:25.83); and William Henagan in the hammer (4th 178'-8"). WMU's 4x100 relay team of BeeJay Dothard, Coye Bouyer, Derek Shoup and Jermaine Lewis took third place (42.24).

Tim Morehouse became the first Bronco this season to run the 3,000 in under nine minutes at IU. Jermaine Lewis' wind-aided time of 21.27 in the 200 was a WMU season-best mark.

Head coach Jack Shaw (Muskingum, 1961) is in his 30th season at WMU. A six-time MAC Coach of the Year recipient, Shaw has led the Broncos to six outdoor track titles. He owns a dual record of 113-34-1 (.767), including a 83-24-1 ledger outdoors, and has coached 48 All-Americans. His assistant coaches are Mike Turk and Von Smith.

Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 616 387-4122; daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu


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