Gopher Big Ten Preview

Minnesota's men's team returns three All-Big Ten performers from last year's squad in Harun Abda, Micah Hegerle, and Jack Szmanda. Abda, who also was named 2012 Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and Co-Track Athlete of the Big Ten Championships, picked up two individual titles in 2013 in the 400 meters (46.51 in his first race of the season) and the 600 meters (1:15.86, a Big Ten Indoor Championships record). Hegerle picked up his second-consecutive Big Ten title in the weight throw at 21.50 meters (70' 6.5") while Szmanda finished third in the heptathlon. 

Minnesota came up just four points short of its fourth-straight Big Ten indoor title last season after an impressive rally in the final day of competition. Minnesota  entered the final day of competition in fifth place with the team title coming down to the final event of the meet. The Gophers won back-to-back-to-back Big Ten indoor titles from 2009-11 after the school earned its first indoor championship in 1998.

Seniors Harun Abda and Micah Hegerle had memorable performances in the final home meet of their careers. Abda earned Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors with his winning time of 1:49.68 in the 800 meters. The performance set a new University of Minnesota Fieldhouse record, the second best mark in the Big Ten this season and the sixth best in the nation. Meanwhile, Hegerle earned Big Ten Indoor Field Athlete of the Week honors after winning the weight throw at 21.84 meters. The senior's throw was the second best in the nation this year (best in the Big Ten) and was just short of Hegerle's school indoor record. 

Senior Sean King currently has the fastest 60-meter time in the Big Ten this season at 6.68 seconds, and the sprinter will look to make his mark in his final Big Ten indoor championship. King's time of 6.68 ranks second in school history while the time is the 17th fastest in the nation this season. 

"We're better than last year," director of women's track and field/cross country Matt Bingle said. "Most of our Big Ten competitors from last year are healthy this year. I think we'll score a lot more points than last year. We're heading in the right direction. The Big Ten is a really deep conference, but the team has worked hard and is heading into the meet with the right attitude. This weekend will help us move into the outdoor season."

Seven Big Ten scorers from last season are on this year’s travel roster. Seniors Kylie Peterson (seventh in the 60 meters) and Heather Brunn (eighth in the 800 meters) scored individually. Kathryn Ritter, Megan Geyen, Jessica Waldvogel, Katie Moraczewski and Lauren Domski ran on the Gopher relay teams. Todea-Kay Willis, the 2011 Big Ten indoor long jump runner-up, missed last year’s indoor season with an injury but is back in the mix this year.

Todea-Kay Willis, Kylie Peterson and Alena Brooks highlight a senior class that will compete in its final indoor conference championships this weekend. Willis set new personal records of 20'3.75" (6.19m) in the long jump (second at the ISU Classic) and 7.50 in the 60-meters (first at the Jack Johnson) this season. Peterson won the 60 meters at ISU in 7.46, .01 away from her PR.