There was a buzz in the air as finely tuned collegiate athletes, representing six universities and some unattached, prepared to compete in the Silverston Invitational, hosted by the University of Michigan Men’s and Women’s Track Teams, at the U-M Indoor Track Building, Ann Arbor, Saturday February 18, 2012.

In the midst of the hubbub, were seven finely tuned post collegiate athletes, five Ann Arbor Track Club members, preparing to kickoff the meet with the Mixed 1 Mile Run, the first running event of the day.

Not quite ten years ago, the Ann Arbor Track Club made a $10,000 donation to the U-M Track Team to purchase a clock/video display for their indoor track facility.

“The year of the donation,” explained Club member and mile organizer, Paul Mayer, “U-M invited the Club to come to the meet, present the display to the Team and run an AATC open mile.”

The display unit still exists today as does the time-honored open mile event.

Hailing from Lansing, Steve Arch set a fervent pace, racing to victory in 5:07.40.

“I’m training for the USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships in March,” Arch explained.

Merely seven seconds behind, Mayer took second, 5:14.37.

“I love running the mile!  It’s exhilarating, fast and just when you start to hurt - it’s over!”

AATC President, Mitch Garner, 6:20.17, agreed.

“It’s exciting to test yourself in the mile.”

Pleased with his performance, Garner, having battled through a number of injuries and surgeries over the years, continued, “That was the fastest I’ve run in a long time.  I had a strong second half, I negative split and took 20 seconds off last year’s time.”

Further noteworthy, Mitch affirmed, “U-M is pleased to have us participate.”

“Coach Fred LaPlante”, Head Men’s Track & Field Coach, “has personally invited us back in 2013 to kickoff the meet once again.”

“This is a real testament to the partnership between the AATC and U-M Track Team, dedicated to advancing the sport of track & field in our community.”

Complete results of the 2012 Silverston Invitational, including the Mixed 1 Mile Run, can be found at http://www.mgoblue.com/livestats/m-track/

For information on the AATC Mixed 1 Mile Run at the 2013 Silverston Invitational, named in honor of Harold Silverston, ‘a longtime, outstanding head track & field timer at the University of Michigan’, stay tuned to http://www.aatrackclub.org/