54 // VARSITY February 20, 2014
INSIDE
TRACK & FIELD
Stretch run: UW closes in
on championship season
Badgers host Red & White Open in final tuneup
BY AJ HARRISON @BADGER_TRACK
I
n their final meet before the
2014 Big Ten Champion-
ships at the SPIRE Institute
in Geneva, Ohio, the Badgers
plan on putting on a show in
front of a home crowd at the
Red & White Open on Friday
at the Camp Randall Memorial
Sports Center.
The Badgers are excited to
compete at home, according to
UW Director of Track & Field
and Cross Country Mick Byrne.
"We like competing at
home," Byrne said. "We like the
advantages of being at home as
we won't have to travel. We do
get some favorable 200-meter
flat track adjustments, and we
are going to try to take advan-
tage of that."
One of the highlights of the
meet, which starts with the
women's weight throw at 3
p.m., will be the second section of the
men's 3000 meters, which is the final
event of the meet.
Reed Connor, after running the fourth-
fastest 5000 meters in the world last
week at the Iowa State Classic, will run
the 3000 with Olympian Mohammed
Ahmed, who will race for only the sec-
ond time this year. Redshirt freshman
Malachy Schrobilgen, the 2013 Big Ten
cross country champion, will also run in
the heat.
"The object on Friday is to get the
NCAA qualifying time," Byrne said. "You
hope to take advantage of being at home.
We will get after it and hopefully get
some great times."
Another event to watch for is the men's
mile, as All-American Austin Mudd and
freshman Carl Hirsch look to run sub-
four-minute miles.
"They haven't raced a lot this year," By-
rne said. "Mudd has been down a little
bit this year, but he is on his way back.
He seems to be getting over the hump."
With the NCAA eliminating "last-
chance" meets, this weekend's event will
be one of the last opportunities for the
Badgers to get NCAA qualifying marks.
"All of a sudden the season has been
shortened by one week," Byrne said. "I
like the new format. I like the fact that we
will go to Big Tens and after that, that's
it. To me, the conference meet should be
the final meet before the NCAA champi-
onship."
SCHEDULE
COMING UP
Friday Red & White Open 3 p.m.
Feb. 28 Big Ten Championships
March 1 Big Ten Championships
