Having just taken a monumental step forward in the history of the program by earning its first-ever No. 1 ranking, the Wisconsin men's track team is attempting to take the next step at the national meet this weekend. Already known as the perennial power in the Big Ten — UW won its seventh-straight Big Ten Indoor title just two weeks ago — these Badgers feel like this is the year they will truly step into the national spotlight.
"I think we could definitely win it all this weekend," said Craig Miller, 2006 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year. "We've got just as many guys going in as some of the other top teams, so there's no reason we can't come out with an NCAA Championship."
As the Badgers head to Randal Tyson Center in Fayetteville, Ark., they go into the meet in unfamiliar territory. They are now the top-ranked team in the nation, taking over the top spot from Florida State, who has been ranked No. 1 the entire indoor season, in both polls released earlier this week. They also go into the meet with all eight qualifiers ranked in the top eight in their respective events.
"It's the meet that you look forward to as far as doing the best you can at the highest level," head coach Ed Nuttycombe said at a press conference Monday. "We had a very good conference championship meet and obviously came out on top. But that's kind of old news now. We're looking to try to see what we can do at the NCAA level. And we've got a good number of athletes ready to go and we're hoping to make a big impact."
The Badgers are led by senior Chris Solinsksy, who goes into the meet as the favorite to three-peat in the 3,000-meter run and is favored to win the 5,000-meter run — an event he won at last year's NCAA outdoor championship. Some think Solinsky may have deeper motivation going into this weekend's championship. As a member of the cross country team last fall, he was a favorite to win the individual title but did not run up to his ability, finishing 73rd overall.
"He's an awful good cross country (runner), but he's just a better track athlete and has more confidence on the track than he does in cross country," Nuttycombe said. "And I think it made him hungry. He was embarrassed and it made him hungry for the track season. I think he's ready to go."
Other qualifiers include senior Demi Omole, who is ranked second behind Jacoby Ford of Clemson in the 60-meter dash. Omole's Big Ten Conference record time of 6.55 is just .03 slower than Ford's.
Sophomore Stu Eagon is seeded third behind Solinsky and Colby Wissel of Kansas in the 3,000 meters at a time of 7:54.09. He is also seeded fourth in the 5,000 meters running in 13:41.52. Senior Tim Nelson joins Solinsky and Eagon in the top five of the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:42.18.
Wisconsin's distance medley relay team consisting of Miller, James Groce, Joe Pierre and Solinsky is seeded fifth in 9:34.54. Rounding out the list of qualifiers is senior Joe Detmer, ranked eighth in the heptathlon with a UW-record total 5,651 points.
"The first thing you have to do is get the opportunity to score and then take advantage of the moment," Nuttycombe said. "When you have that few opportunities, you're right, it's about hitting on a great number of them, if not all of them in some capacity."
The Badgers earned their first No. 1 ranking in their team history this week, and, with that, are looking to top their best finish of third at an NCAA meet. They are also looking to become the first Big Ten team ever to win the NCAA Indoor Championship.
