The University of Wisconsin men's track and field team has worked hard all season to achieve its No. 6 national ranking. As the pinnacle of the track season approaches Friday and Saturday in the form of the 2005 Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Badgers finally will get the payoff for their hard work. The team will be sending 13 athletes to the meet-held on the University of Arkansas campus, in Fayetteville-to compete in seven events.
\We're very excited about the opportunity to take a large number of our athletes to compete at the national meet,"" head coach Ed Nuttycombe said.
However, Nuttycombe is not satisfied to just get there. ""Right now, I think indoors we have an opportunity to be top six with a very good meet. Of course, when you get that close, being top-four would be a higher goal because you would be a trophy team.""
The strength of the UW track team lies in its distance runners, led by senior captain Matt Tegenkamp. Tegenkamp has had quite a year, setting two UW records, one Big Ten Conference record, and holding the nation's top time in the 5,000 meter race. Clocked at 13 minutes, 36.48 seconds, the second-fastest time ever run by an American collegian, he is the favorite in this event going into this weekend. In addition, Tegenkamp is running in the 3,000 meter race, in which he currently ranks fifth.
Also qualifying in multiple events is sophomore Chris Solinsky. Solinsky turned in an impressive 13 minute, 39.07 second time in the 5,000 meter run to pull a No. 3 ranking, and is No. 7 heading into the 3,000 meter. Also competing in the 5,000 meter will be No. 7-ranked junior Simon Bairu and No. 10-ranked sophomore Tim Nelson. Rounding out the distance participants are the distance medley relay participants, Ben Gregory, Joe Detmer, Dan Murray and Josh Spiker.
Although the distance runners may get most of the credit, other team members are not too shabby themselves. Speedy sophomore Demi Omole is a threat to win the 60 meter sprint, as he is ranked No. 4 in that event. The Badgers have two participants in the triple jump, juniors Rick Bellford and Alonzo Moore, and one participant each in the shot put and heptathlon, sophomore Joe Thomas and junior Ben Roland, respectively.
Events commence on Friday morning at 9:00 with the heptathlon, followed by the field events.
