Brian Mason will be posting regular updates from Jesse Owens Memorial
Stadium as the 2009 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field
Championships conclude Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
The
men's
pole vault began at 9:30 a.m. (Central time), while running events
begin with the finials of the women's 4x100-meter relay at 11:45 a.m.
Big Ten Championships links
Live Results | Meet Home | Sunday Heat Sheets | W-Notes | M-Notes
9:14 a.m.
The
men's pole vault is just a few minutes away, so here's a quick update
for the day. The weather has cooled off a lot, with the high expected
to be only in the low 60s by this afternoon, but the clouds have peeled
back and it is sunny out on the track.
Big Ten Network
apparently has taken over the stadium, because there are camera
positions and BTN banners everywhere you look. Their big production
truck is on-site now, as well. The network will show the championships
on a tape-delay basis at 3 p.m. next Sunday (May 24).
The
Badgers will have Mickey DeFilippo and Wes Kavelaris in the pole vault
to open things up. It was a comfortable ride over from the hotel, as it
was just me, Mickey, Wes and athletic trainer Kristy Walker on the bus
for the first shuttle of the day at 7:45 a.m. (Central).
I'll have updates as the competition gets going.
12:10 p.m.
Quick
update between events ... the men's 4x100 relay team finished sixth in
41.28 off a great anchor carry by Kyle Jefferson ... Mickey DeFilippo
is one of four competitors remaining in the men's pole vault after
clearing a personal-best 17-1 3/4 ... Chavon Robinson finished fourth
in the women's triple jump at 42-3 1/4
12:45 p.m.
Craig
Miller has given the Badger men their second championship of the
weekend, winning the 1,500 meters in 3:57.57 over teammate Jack Bolas,
who was second in 3:57.72. Miller is already a five-time All-American
and was regional champion in the 1,500 last year, but now has an
individual Big Ten title to his credit.
The race went out slowly with both UW runners hanging toward the back, but the pace was blistering over the final 600 meters.
Junior Nate Larkin scored a runner-up finish in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.23.
On
the women's side, Egle Staisiunaite ran a personal-best time of 13.69
to finish sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, improving her NCAA regional
mark in the process. She also will run the 400-meter hurdles later
today.
I also forgot to mention earlier that Jordan Helgren -- a freshman -- took sixth in the women's triple jump.
I'm
off to check on the progress of the women's high jump and men's pole
vault, which has now resumed after being delayed because the event is
using the backstretch of the track, which was also needed for several
races, for a runway.
4:05 p.m.
A few updates quickly from the bus: Robert Dehn took second in the
men's javelin, the men's 4x400-meter relay team took third to wrap up
the meet ... Zach Beth (fifth) and Steve Ludwig (seventh) both scored
in the 800 meters ... Egle Staisiunaite took seventh in the women's
400-meter hurdles to go along with her sixth-place finish in the
100-meter hurdles.
I'll have complete recaps for both the men's and women's teams, as well as a photo gallery, as soon as possible.