Coming off a strong performance last weekend at the revered Drake Relays, the Wisconsin track and field teams will look to follow up with a good showing in final preparation for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. After several personal-best times last weekend, the Badgers are clicking on all cylinders and none faster than sophomore Demi Omole.
Omole won the 100-meter dash last Saturday in Iowa and will be the favorite coming into this weekend's event. Also anchoring the 4 x 100 relay, Omole will look to improve upon last week's result, falling just short of first, .2 behind Oregon to take second.
\I was pretty excited about the win last weekend. I wasn't too excited about the time, but given the conditions, it was good to get a win,"" said Omole, who seemed eager to run this weekend at home.
""This is basically our peak weekend. We're expected to run fast, and we're really looking forward to putting on a show for the home crowd.""
Omole's goal for this weekend includes running a sub-40 second leg of the 4 x 100 relay, which would come at a good time. Three of the top five teams at the Drake Relays will be competing in the event this weekend as well, so this relay is sure to be, as men's head coach Ed Nuttycombe said, ""a very hot event.""
After hosting its only outdoor home meet of the season this weekend, Wisconsin will attempt to capture the Big Ten triple crown, which includes titles in outdoor track, indoor track and cross country. Since Wisconsin will be defending its outdoor track title this weekend, and has had impressive showings all season, Wisconsin will be looked at as the favorite coming into Saturday, though Nuttycombe assures people this will not go to their heads.
""I can assure you that come next weekend, that will mean very little as we go to the track because, you never want to underestimate your opponent,"" Nuttycombe said Monday.
The pressure of defending their title does not seem to be an issue either.
""When it's something like a home meet, and you get to feed on the home crowd, you want the pressure on you,"" Omole said.
The biggest news from last weekend's events was junior Simon Bairu's demolition of UW's 10,000 meter time by more than 20 seconds. With Omole peaking at the perfect time and several other athletes stepping up recently, the Badgers are in prime position to take the Big Ten outdoor title before shattering the nine points they are predicted to get at the NCAA Championships.
""I'm pleased with where we are, particularly with our up-front runners-our athletes that are kind of the leaders in their respective events,"" Nuttycombe said. He was particularly impressed with Bairu's run, adding, ""to break a record, and to actually shatter the record by quite a distance is a tremendous mark.""
Redshirt freshman Luke Hoenecke has been improving all season, and after winning the 400 meters and the 4 x 400, he looks to put on a show for his family this weekend.
""I'm looking forward to improving this weekend,"" Hoenecke said. ""The most important thing is just to stay healthy.""
The meet will be at the McClimon Memorial Track and admission is free. Field events will commence at 1:30 p.m. while running events begin at 3:30 p.m.
