Matt Bingle Looks Back on the Big Ten Meet

Down the Backstretch: It all came down to the last day, last event. Is this sort of cliffhanger more difficult to deal with than other scenarios, a less tense finish?

Matt Bingle: You would always like to have a large lead and not have to worry about anything. But I would rather it be close and have a chance than be out of it on the final day.

DtB: What did you tell the team afterwards? How do you approach the recovery from this sort of finish?

MB: I just said how proud of them I was for fighting the whole weekend, and that we have a lot to be thankful for. I also told them that we win together and we lose together.

DtB: If you look at the point totals from the various specialties, it shows that Penn State and Michigan were both strong in the field events, as well as the sprints, while Minnesota dominated in the distances. Was that sort of how you expected it to work out? Any surprises?

MB: We did do well in the distances and did dominate the 10k and 800m. But we also scored ten points or more in the discus, 100, pole vault, and multi. There are always some surprises. I enjoyed the 800 going 2-3-4-5 and the 400 with Rikita Butler breaking the school record and placing third.

DtB: What were the highlights of the weekend for the team?

MB: One of the highlights was going to Gameworks on Thursday and playing video games for two hours as a team.

DtB: What are the memories you’ll take away from this meet?

MB: I would say there was a lot of drama during the meet, so many ups and downs. It was just crazy. Through it all we kept fighting. It was also the last time that this group will be together. So I think we all tried to enjoy all of our seniors.

DtB: You’ve got the NCAA meets next, what are the goals there?

MB: I would just like to see the women that qualified go out and take on the challenge of competing against the best athletes there are.