June 28, 2010
Men's Top Marks | Women's Top Marks
By Samantha Franz
Athletic Communications
In Oakland University's mere five years into the foray of outdoor track and field and only three in the indoor arena, the Golden Grizzlies have shown remarkable growth and success, with the bar being raised higher by the season. In 2009-10, OU added a grand total of 46 new entries into the top-10 between both seasons, as well as eight top-three finishes at championship meets and an NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field semifinalist in senior Jason Bigelow, who competed on the big stage in Eugene, Ore.
"This was definitely the most successful track campaign we have had in our young existence," said head coach Paul Rice. "The team success combined with the long list of individual success really shows that we are heading in the right direction with this program and probably at a quicker rate than many expected."
Prior to the indoor championship, 10 Golden Grizzlies were honored as all-league for recording a top-three performance in The Summit League during the regular season. For the men, the distance medley relay team of Bigelow, Michael Flemming, Kevin Luce and David Magnotte recorded the league's top time and Zack Jones had top marks in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs prior to the championship. The women's DMR team of Autumn Cleverley, Lia Jones, Desiree Pettiford and Emily Wickemeyer were team also earned recognition, as did Kelsey Carmean for her performance in the 5,000.
At the championship meet, the men's DMR team continued to show its dominance, with the Golden Grizzlies taking first place for the second year in a row, setting a school, league and facility record of 10:01.32.
"Watching the men's DMR defend their title was pretty exciting at the indoor championships," said Rice. "A great way for Flemming and Bigelow to end their indoor careers."
Bigelow and Flemming also had success off the relay team, with the former finishing second in the mile run and the latter in third in the 800. Jones also took the top prize in the 5,000 run (14:57.02) and Jeff Decator earned himself a pair of second place marks in the 60 dash and long jump. For the women, Breanna Peabody tallied a top-three finish in the 60 hurdles, setting a school record (8.75).
"For me, a huge highlight of this year was Zack pulling off the win in the 5,000 indoors," said Rice. "I work closely with Zack year round and manage all of his training and we have been working a bit more on his speed. To see him close that race with the speed he needed to pull it off really shows the adjustment to his training has paid off."
As for the 2010 outdoor season, the Golden Grizzlies hosted their first-ever track championship at the University of Toledo with great success.
"Hosting the Summit League Championships this year was one of the most challenging and time consuming events I have ever been involved with," said Rice. "However, it was a great experience for all involved and our entire athletic department staff stepped up and made sure we put on the type of show that Oakland University is known for."
Prior to the championship, four student-athletes earned all-league accolades for their top-three performances amongst the Summit League. Bigelow and Carmean were once again honored, this time for the 1,500 and 800 runs for the former and the 10,000 for the latter. Pat Cassady and Tony Schafer were also recognized for their performances in the 10,000.
With the meet about to commence on their home turf, the Golden Grizzlies aimed high and their efforts paid off in droves. Luce was the league runner-up in the 110 hurdles, breaking his own school record with a time of 14.50, while Peabody took third in the 400 hurdles with a school record of her own (1:01.46).
"Breanna put together a great indoor and outdoor season this year," said Rice. "Making the podium for the 60 hurdles indoor and then again the 400 hurdles outdoor really shows the range she has. Next year, we will be focusing on the longer hurdles with her in hopes of getting her qualified for the NCAA's."
But the biggest surprises came from Micah Jones and Jason Bigelow. Jones, after consistently performing as Oakland's No. 1 threat in the jump events, qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries in the long jump when she leaped to a third-place finish with a distance of 19 feet, 8.25 inches. And while Bigelow was the league champion in the 1,500 in Toledo (3:47.96), it was his performance in the event at the Jesse Owens Invitational back on April 30 that qualified him for the NCAA Preliminary with a mark of 3:47.09.
"At the end of the regular season, we weren't sure if Jason would get in but things fell into place and he got the final spot in the East," said Rice. "Micah stepped up big time at the league meet to get herself in for the long jump. Both were a bit of a pleasant surprise, as we weren't really sure we were going to be making that trip to Greensboro."
At the preliminary, Bigelow turned many heads when he advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal and subsequently finished fourth in his second round heat to earn himself a spot on the national stage in Eugene, Ore. at the NCAA National Championship.
"In Greensboro, things just continued to fall into place for Jason and his famous kick got him through to the semis in Eugene," said Rice. "That trip was such a thrill for many reasons, but it was a real nice way for Jason to end a much decorated career at OU."
With the 2009-10 track and field campaign in the books, the Golden Grizzlies now look to continue what they have been doing for the past five years: raising the bar.
"We lost some big names this year with athletes like Bigelow, Flemming, Decator and Dave Thomas graduating, so we will need some new individuals to really step up their game next year," said Rice. "I know we have those athletes in place, and now we just need to get them there."
And with many talented student-athletes returning and even more eagerly waiting to don the Black and Gold next season, there is no doubt that if this season is any indication, the Golden Grizzlies will only continue to grow in leaps and bounds and become a standard representative in the postseason.
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