Feb. 27, 2007

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February 24-25 • Indiana University • Bloomington, Ind. • Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse

The Wisconsin men's indoor track and field team tied a Big Ten record by winning its seventh straight conference title on Sunday at the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse on the Indiana University campus. The win is the 22nd for Badger head coach Ed Nuttycombe, tying him with Illinois' Harry Gill (1904-29) for most career conference track and field championships (indoor and outdoor).

Demi Omole got the Badgers off to a quick start, shattering the Big Ten Championships record with a time of 6.63 in the 60-meter dash. Omole broke his own record of 6.70, which he set at last year's conference meet. The Badgers also received major points from Chris Solinsky, the 3,000-meter winner, and Joe Detmer, who claimed first place in the heptathlon with a total score of 5360.

Minnesota finished second for the second consecutive year, trailing Wisconsin by 27 points. Aaron Buzard led the Gophers, placing first in the 400-meter dash with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 46.64, also running the closing leg of the champion 4x400-meter relay team.

Finishing in third and fourth, respectively, Michigan and Ohio State each matched Wisconsin's total with three individual winners at the championships. The Wolverines claimed first-place points as Andrew Ellerton won the 800 meters (1:50.91), Lex Williams took the 5,000 meters (14:04.43) and its Distance Medley Relay squad clocked in with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 9:45.39.

Ohio State received a push from Antony Cole, the winner in the 200 meters (21.18), who also finished second in the 60 meters (6.66). The Buckeyes also received first-place honors in the mile run, with Jeff See's time of 4:04.16, and the weight throw, on Leonard Jatsek's 60'11.25" toss.

With their first-place finish, the Badgers earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on March 9-10, hosted by the University of Arkansas. Selections for the NCAA Championships will be announced on March 5.