By Michael Selecky
VIEW Sports Writer

KALAMAZOO — At Western Michigan University, 2004 Grand Blanc High School graduate Michelle Wittbrodt joined both the cross country and track and field programs as a walk on her freshman year. Now, as a senior who’s sitting on the precipice of her final competitive seasons, Wittbrodt has helped anchor two separate Div. 1 athletic squads without a single cent in scholarship support.
“She’s not on scholarship. Michelle is doing it by paying her own way,” said Western Michigan cross country and track and field coach Kelly Lycan. “She does this because she loves this and wants to be part of a team. Michelle is real outgoing, positive and very optimistic. She’s got the bright lights on every day when she comes to practice.”
Results from the 2006 cross country season for Wittbrodt include the Mid American Conference (MAC) Championships on Oct. 28 in Buffalo, NY, where she placed 35th in 21:43.9. She also ran in the George Dales Invitational on Oct. 13 of that year, finishing 12th in 19:35.0.
“Michelle has a great attitude and was co-captain for the cross country team last season because she exudes leadership and is a take charge kind of person,” Lycan said. “Her organizational skills are definitely on the forefront and I’d say persistence is her key.”
In the 2007 campaign, which began Sept. 7 at the Valparaiso Invitational with a second- place showing in an eight-team field and concluded Nov. 10 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Bloomington, IN, where they placed 24th in a field of 30, Wittbrodt had results that included placing 21st at the Dales Invitational on Oct. 12 in 19:51.89.
“She was a walk-on when she came here and through hard work she became a top- five runner for our team at the MAC championships last season in cross country,” said Lycan. “The conditions were horrible and the course was a quagmire. It was just a mess but she plugged away. She’s not blessed with Olympic speed but her guts go a long way.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Wittbrodt, a sales and business marketing major, won’t have much time to rest as the indoor portion of the track and field season jumps off Jan. 6.
“Whenever you start something and see it all the way through, it adds some texture to your character. The fact that she stuck with it shows how and why she’s been a vital part of our team,” Lycan said. “She’s learned when you’re not at your best you can still get things done at a high level. I think the fact she’s suffered will carry over when she jumps out to the business world.”
Track and field results from the 2007 season for Wittbrodt include placing 12th in the 3000 meter run at the Notre Dame Invitational in 11:14.07 on Jan. 19, as well as a seventh place finish at the Bowling Green Quadrangular in 11:00.06 on Jan. 13.
“She’s been able to withstand the pressure of athletics while carrying a very high GPA, so I think she’s developed,” said Lycan. “In her free time she studies a lot and is pretty involved in some off-campus business related projects.”
Past track results for Wittbrodt include placing 12th in the mile at the Bowling Green Invitational and 17th in the 3000m at the Central Michigan University (CMU) Quad during the 2004-05 season.
In 2006 her highlights included finishing fifth at the Grand Valley State open in the 3000m, in addition to finishing fifth in the 2000m steeplechase verse CMU and fifth in the 3000m against Michigan while competing in five cross country events.
“With this being her final season, I’m sure she’d like to go out and improve. I know Michelle wants to score some points in the longer races at the MAC championships and I’d love to see her go out like that,” Lycan said. “We may not even see her best. Typically, distance runners don’t peak until their late 20s. Some of her finest days may be yet to come, and she’s competed well as a Div. 1 athlete.”

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