Boasting seven teams ranked among the top 30 in the nation, coupled with the top four finishers in the conference meet a year ago returning, the 2002 Big Ten Championships may be one of the most competitive in recent history.
The odds-on favorite is defending champion Wisconsin who has claimed eight out of the last 11 Big Ten titles. The last time Wisconsin did not win the title was in 1998 when Michigan won its second of two consecutive titles. After finishing fifth at the NCAA meet in 2001, the Badgers started out the year ranked fourth in the country, but injuries have limited many of their top runners and they have slipped to No. 11.
Although Wisconsin has dominated the conference for much of the 90's, Minnesota head coach Steve Plasencia has seen the competitiveness in the conference rise in the last few years, setting up a very interesting Big Ten meet.
"Last year was very competetitive. I think over the last couple of years the number of good teams in the Big Ten has gotten larger. Seven teams in the top 30, I think speaks a lot about the conference. No other conference can say that."
With so many teams so similar, and so close to each other, it wouldn't be a surprise if the seven teams in the top 30 finished in any order. It all depends on who is at their best for the start of the championship season. Besides the Badgers and the 15th ranked Golden Gophers, Michigan (12), Indiana (18), Ohio State (20), Michigan State (23) and Iowa (29) are among the nation's best.
"It is going to come down to grit and a little bit of luck. Michigan on paper is a good team, along with Indiana. It's i hard to differentiate them from us. Michigan State is always ready to run at the big meets and Ohio State, on occasion, has popped up and surprised people. It wouldn't surprise me one bit the order that those teams finish because they are so close together."
Even with two victories under their belt against Wisconsin this season, the Gophers have yet to compete against the Badgers when they have all their runners finish a race. "Wisconsin has been pulling runners out of races during the season and letting us beat them a couple times. In doing that, they may be more likely to fade at the end of races. If our guys start to believe that they can beat them, it is going to happen, " Plasencia said.
Though they have yet to compete a full squad,Plasencia still calls the Badgers the favorites, but whether his squad or any other Big Ten teams has closed the gap remains to be seen.
"They have the best talent of anyone in the league. This should be one of the best teams they have had and even with all the dancing around they have done this year, you still have to call them the favorites, "Plasencia said. "Are we any closer to them then we have been in the last few years? I am not sure, but there is only won way to find out and that comes Sunday."
Last year, competing with a young squad who was not used to racing with one another, the Big Ten meet was not a highlight of the season for the Golden Gophers. Plasencia hopes that changes this year.
"We did not get out very well last year. I talked to our guys before the meet and told them how important it was to get out early. I hope this year we can get our runners out in the top third at the beginning of the race. Hopefully, they are going to be able to maintain that for the rest of the race. The first mile and a half will be crucial and if we are up there after the first mile and a half, we will be right there til the end."
In Minnesota's biggest meet to date, Plasencia expects his top runners to come out prepared and ready to run with the tough Big Ten competition.
"I am hoping Will McComb and Andrew Carlson can continue to run as well as they have this year," Plasencia said. "I really think McComb has something extra in his tank that will allow him to run his best-something I don't think he has done this year," Plasencia said. "Carlson has been good all season.
"Erik Grumstrup has not got to where he can be. We are hoping the rest he has received will help him perform to his capabilities. Andrew McKessock has been improving all year and we look for a big performance from him. Neil Hanson suffered a debilitating back injury, but he has made a good comeback from that in the past week and will be able to run in the meet. We are going to rely on those guys very heavily."
Plasencia has the team headed in the right direction to be in position to end a Big Ten title drought that dates back to when they won their last title in 1969.
"1969 is a long time for this program in winning a Big Ten title. All I can say is that we keep hacking away at it," Plasencia said, smiling.
Boasting seven teams ranked among the top 30 in the nation, coupled with the top four finishers in the conference meet a year ago returning, the 2002 Big Ten Championships may be one of the most competitive in recent history.
The odds-on favorite is defending champion Wisconsin who has claimed eight out of the last 11 Big Ten titles. The last time Wisconsin did not win the title was in 1998 when Michigan won its second of two consecutive titles. After finishing fifth at the NCAA meet in 2001, the Badgers started out the year ranked fourth in the country, but injuries have limited many of their top runners and they have slipped to No. 11.
Although Wisconsin has dominated the conference for much of the 90's, Minnesota head coach Steve Plasencia has seen the competitiveness in the conference rise in the last few years, setting up a very interesting Big Ten meet.
"Last year was very competetitive. I think over the last couple of years the number of good teams in the Big Ten has gotten larger. Seven teams in the top 30, I think speaks a lot about the conference. No other conference can say that."
With so many teams so similar, and so close to each other, it wouldn't be a surprise if the seven teams in the top 30 finished in any order. It all depends on who is at their best for the start of the championship season. Besides the Badgers and the 15th ranked Golden Gophers, Michigan (12), Indiana (18), Ohio State (20), Michigan State (23) and Iowa (29) are among the nation's best.
"It is going to come down to grit and a little bit of luck. Michigan on paper is a good team, along with Indiana. It's i hard to differentiate them from us. Michigan State is always ready to run at the big meets and Ohio State, on occasion, has popped up and surprised people. It wouldn't surprise me one bit the order that those teams finish because they are so close together."
Even with two victories under their belt against Wisconsin this season, the Gophers have yet to compete against the Badgers when they have all their runners finish a race. "Wisconsin has been pulling runners out of races during the season and letting us beat them a couple times. In doing that, they may be more likely to fade at the end of races. If our guys start to believe that they can beat them, it is going to happen, " Plasencia said.
Though they have yet to compete a full squad,Plasencia still calls the Badgers the favorites, but whether his squad or any other Big Ten teams has closed the gap remains to be seen.
"They have the best talent of anyone in the league. This should be one of the best teams they have had and even with all the dancing around they have done this year, you still have to call them the favorites, "Plasencia said. "Are we any closer to them then we have been in the last few years? I am not sure, but there is only won way to find out and that comes Sunday."
Last year, competing with a young squad who was not used to racing with one another, the Big Ten meet was not a highlight of the season for the Golden Gophers. Plasencia hopes that changes this year.
"We did not get out very well last year. I talked to our guys before the meet and told them how important it was to get out early. I hope this year we can get our runners out in the top third at the beginning of the race. Hopefully, they are going to be able to maintain that for the rest of the race. The first mile and a half will be crucial and if we are up there after the first mile and a half, we will be right there til the end."
In Minnesota's biggest meet to date, Plasencia expects his top runners to come out prepared and ready to run with the tough Big Ten competition.
"I am hoping Will McComb and Andrew Carlson can continue to run as well as they have this year," Plasencia said. "I really think McComb has something extra in his tank that will allow him to run his best-something I don't think he has done this year," Plasencia said. "Carlson has been good all season.
"Erik Grumstrup has not got to where he can be. We are hoping the rest he has received will help him perform to his capabilities. Andrew McKessock has been improving all year and we look for a big performance from him. Neil Hanson suffered a debilitating back injury, but he has made a good comeback from that in the past week and will be able to run in the meet. We are going to rely on those guys very heavily."
Plasencia has the team headed in the right direction to be in position to end a Big Ten title drought that dates back to when they won their last title in 1969.
"1969 is a long time for this program in winning a Big Ten title. All I can say is that we keep hacking away at it," Plasencia said, smiling.
