Feb. 26, 2006

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Wisconsin won its sixth straight Big Ten Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship on Sunday afternoon, racking up 124.5 points. The Badgers have also won nine of the last 12 Indoor Championships. Minnesota took second in the overall team competiton with 94 points, just edging out Illinois (93). Michigan (76) and Illinois (72) rounded out the top five.

For individual highlights, Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky and Indiana's David Neville were both double event winners in the meet. Solinsky won the 3000- and 5000- meter runs, while Neville won the 200 and the 400. Wisconsin's Nate Brown was the heptathlon champion, holding on to his day one lead.

To start the second day of heptathlon competition, Penn State's Shawn Colligan won the first heat of the 60m hurdles with an 8.43, which held up to be the best time of the day. Wisconsin's Ben Roland took second overall, winning his heat with an 8.55, while overall leader Nathan Brown posted the third-best team at 8.60, also winning his individual heat. Brown retained his overall lead in the event, but Ohio State's Scott Hudepohl leapfrogged Iowa's Ryan Niver for second place.

Illinois' Andrew Zollner continued an impressive second day of competition with the top mark in the heptathlon pole vault at 4.65m. Indiana's Nick Panozzo finished second with 4.35m, ahead of Wisconsin's Ben Roland at 4.25m.

In the heptathlon's final event, Illinois' Ed Mastny won the 1000m run by almost three seconds with a time of 2:47.90. Penn State's Shawn Colligan was runner up at 2:50.29, slightly ahead of Ohio State's Scott Hudepohl at 2:50.60.

While not winning any of the day two events, Brown held on to win the heptathlon with an NCAA provisionally qualifying score of 5,304 points. His teammate Ben Roland took second with 5,159 points, followed by Ohio State's Scott Hudepohl (5,099), Iowa's Ryan Niver (4,984), and Penn State's Shawn Colligan (4,826).

In the mile, Michigan's Mike Woods took off from a strong pack in the race's penultimate lap and coasted to the win with a time of 4:14.26. Wisconsin's Ben Gregory finished second at 4:15.04, just edging Minnesota's Ben Hanson (4:15.27) and Michigan's Justin Switzer (4:15.29) at the line.

In the 60m dash, Wisconsin's Demi Omole continued his strong running that saw him set a new Big Ten Championship record on Saturday in the event. Omole finished with a time of 6.70 seconds in the final, outreaching Illinois' Dominique Worsley at the line (6.75). Ohio State's Anthony Cole (6.82) just snuck past Michigan's Adam Harris (6.83) for third.

Indiana's David Neville won a split-heat 400m final with a time of 47.11, the first of two wins on the day for the Hoosier. Neville's time set a new facility record. Illinois' Nathan Vadeboncouer (47.77) and Wisconsin's Chad Melotte (47.97) took second and third respectively.

Neville came back to win the 200m final, also in a split heat with a time of 21.21. Illinois' Dominique Worsley finished second in the event, his second of two runner-up finishes on the day, while Purdue's Jh'Rome Tuggle took third at 21.77 seconds.

Minnesota's Kevin Netzer took home top honors in the high jump, with a best leap of 2.17m. Penn State's Ryan Fritz and Minnesota's John Albert tied for second in the event with a mark of 2.14m.

Leonard Jastek of Ohio State set a new facility record in the weight throw, with a best toss of 20.78m, more than a meter better than his closest competitor, which provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Championships. Minnesota's Adam Schnaible (19.71m), Iowa's Adam Hamilton (19.70m), Penn State's Scott Vernon (19.12m), and Indiana's Ryan Ketchum (19.10m) also posted provisionally qualifying throws in the event as part of a very deep field.

Illinois' Trammel Smith (1:17.22) claimed first in the 600m final by just .01 seconds over Minnesota's Aaron Buzard (1:17.23), who ran in the other heat of the split heat final. Wisconsin's James Groce (1:18.10) took third in the event. In the 800 meter run, Minnesota's Trent Riter took first with a time of 1:51.22, besting Michigan State's Bobby Sherman (1:51.81) and Penn State's Mark Miller (1:51.91).

Ricky Pinkney continued his success in the 60m hurdles after recording the top time in the Saturday heats. Pinkney won the final by .03 seconds over Michigan's Jeff Porter. Penn State's Ron Jules (7.91) took third, while Purdue's Keith Hopkins (7.96) was fourth.

In one of the final races of the day, Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky became the second double-event winner when he took home the crown in the 5,000m run with a time of 13:51.34. Solinsky had won the 3,000m on Saturday afternoon as well. Ohio State's Brian Olinger took second in the 5000 with a 13:57.18, while Indiana's Stephen Haas finished third (14:07.57).

In the final field event of the day, Michigan's Michael Whitehead won the triple jump with a mark of 15.64m. Wisconsin's Alonzo Moore took second at 15.56m, while Ohio State's Brandon Cathcart finished third with a leap of 15.54m.

Illinois wrapped up the competition with a win in the 4 x 400 relay. The Illini took a lead on the first leg and led throughout the race, finally finishing with a mark of 3:12.05. Minnesota was second at 3:13.76, while Michigan was third (3:14.35).

Big Ten Men's Indoor Track

Printer-friendly format	Email this article