2010 UDM-OU Dual Schedule of Events

The University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's track and field squads will compete in their lone home event of the season on Wednesday and Thursday, hosting nearby rival Oakland University for the fifth installment of the UDM-OU Dual at Titan Field.

Competition kicks off at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday with the first day of the heptathlon and decathlon, while all individual events will take place on Thursday.

“This is an exciting event for our team,” said UDM head coach Guy Murray. “In a dual meet the focus is more on scoring and placing in events as opposed to just getting times and distances like most of the meets we compete in. This gives more people a chance to directly contribute for the team, and sometimes the best performances come when you have that team focus and mindset.”

The Titan women remained undefeated with their most lopsided victory in the head-to-head series in 2009, outscoring the Grizzlies 104-63. Senior thrower Brittany Horne (Okemos, MI/Okemos) will look to repeat after winning three events last year, taking the title in the shot put with a then PR of 13.16 meters, and set new meet records in the hammer throw, with a mark of 50.21 meters, and the discus, with a 39.10 meter throw. Also defending their titles in the dual meet will be senior Ashley Schinske (Paw Paw, MI/Paw Paw) in the javelin, junior Sequoyia Calhoun (Belleville, MI/Belleville) in the 400 meter dash, junior Kirstin Mooney (Stirling, ON/St. Theresa Catholic) in the 400 meter hurdles and sophomore Stephanie Rossman (Caledonia, MI/Caledonia) in the 3,000 meter run.

On the men's side, Detroit bounced back after stumbling in the 2008 edition of the meet to record their most lopsided victory in the series, 102-62, winning every running events and 14 of the 16 contested events. A handful of meet records were set last year by the Titan men, including junior Pat Liederbach (Petoskey, MI/Petoskey) who's time of 4:13.68 for the outdoor mile broke a 70-year-old school record. Junior Earnest Cleary (Detroit, MI/Ferndale) set meet records in the 100 and 200 meter races, with times of 10.89 and 22.18, respectively, and senior Alex Gould's (Comstock Park, MI/Comstock Park) time of 1:55.58 in the 800 meters was also a new record at the dual.

Both the men's and women's squads will look to retain bragging rights in the 4x400 meter relay as well.
More than just the athletes for Detroit and Oakland will have a chance to compete on the track, however. The UDM-OU Dual will also feature a Tommy Titan vs. Oakland Grizzly Kid's Race and the popular alumni/open/student mile on Thursday.

“It's always a really nice way to get everyone involved,” Murray said. “Hopefully we'll continue to have great weather like we have in the past, because these are always some great events.”

The UDM track and field program will also take the opportunity to recognize its seniors – Alex Gould, Samuel Jones, Kevin Wozniak, Chantel Henry, Brittany Horne, Megan Miller and Ashley Schinske – who will be making their final appearance in front of a Motor City crowd. A senior presentation will take place before the evening concludes with the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.