The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/848029
SECOND TO NONE Redshirt junior Jamie Phelan won Michigan's first-ever NCAA title in the 1,500 meters June 10. During the penultimate lap at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., the Ontario native crossed the line last out of the 12 entrants in the finals. However, Phelan passed the entire field, which included three former national champions, in the final quarter-mile, and then held off all competitors in a photo finish to claim the crown with the second-narrowest margin of victory (.02 seconds) in the event's NCAA history. Phelan's time of 4:13.78 resulted in the Big Ten's first title in the event since 1995 and broke Michigan's program-best showing of fourth in the race (although they have now had a first-team All-American in the event five straight years, the longest active such streak nationally). It also marked the program's first women's outdoor track title of any kind since 2009. The fantastic finish on the last day of the meet paved the way for the Wolverines to tie for 21st with Big Ten champion Purdue and trail only Indiana (tied for 19th) among conference teams in the final standings. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS