Michigan State University
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Ruiz Paces Spartans After Day One of Big Ten Championships
5/11/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Behind a thrilling third-place finish in the 10,000m, senior Clark Ruiz (30:28.13) paced the Michigan State track & field team to a solid opening day of the Big Ten Championships in Bloomington, Indiana on Friday.
The MSU men are currently fifth with 11 points, while the Spartan women are tied for eighth with four points. Michigan men's squad has a slight lead over Penn State with 27 points, while the Minnesota women are in the lead after the first day with 47 points.
"We are asking young kids to compete hard, starting with the hammer Kayli (Johnson) throws a personal best Nick (Kramer) threw almost a two meter PR. I thought that they all competed really well. The things that we asked them to do after Big Ten Indoors was really to just be a little more engaged. Be a little bit more of a teammate and have it be less about them," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Walt Drenth said. "So far, right off the bat we have been really good at that, and it showed in their performances."
Track Events
Ruiz stayed with the pack for much of the race before it became a battle for the top spot between Ruiz, Michigan's Ben Flanagan and Indiana's Ben Veatch. Flanagan earned a little separation, winning with a time of 30.23.86, while Veatch was second, clocking in at 30:26.98. Ruiz captured bronze with a time of 30:28.13.
"He has had a remarkable career. He has trusted me; he has allowed me to really coach him and he has gotten better every year. He has learned from his mistakes, which is really admirable, and something we talk about. If we had talked to him his sophomore year and said, 'You are going to be on the podium in both cross country and on the track.' He probably would have laughed at us," Drenth added.
Michigan State really began to shine in the 1,500m. On the women's side, Dillon McClintock finished first in her heat to qualify for Sunday's final. Her time of 4:22.28 was the top MSU time of the night. Sophomore Carlyn Arteaga was sixth in her heat and 18th overall (4:29.15). On the men's side, three Spartans reached the final, led by PR by senior Andrew Middleton, who had the seventh-fastest time (3:47.86). Redshirt-junior Justine Kiprotich (3:50.41) and freshman Morgan Beadlescomb (3:50.48) also reached the final, finishing 1-2, respectively in their heat.
Junior Taylor Mullins advanced to the finals of the women's 400m hurdles with a career-best time of 59.16, advancing on time. She finished in second place in the second heat.
Freshman Earvin DaSilva had a PR in the men's 200m (21.77), but did not qualify for the final. On the women's side freshman Brooke Bogan also added a personal-best in the prelims of the women's 200m with a time of 25.12.
Field Events
In the women's pole vault, freshman Sophia Franklin captured the first points for the Michigan State women, finishing eighth in her first Big Ten Outdoor Championship with a vault of 4.02m.
"It feels really good to put points on the board for Michigan State today. I want to do a little better at this meet, but at least getting on the podium and getting points is something. I am really proud to be able to do that as a freshman," Franklin said.
For the second-straight season, senior Jade Madison made the podium in the women's javelin. After reaching the final in eighth place, Madison threw a season-best to finish in sixth place 47.82m. Last season, Madison finished fourth with a throw of 48.30m.
Senior Max Knoblock put the MSU men on the board, finishing fourth in the javelin with a season-best toss of 64.81m. Last season at the Big Ten Championship, he finished 10th with a throw of 63.34m. The senior was just shy of his career best of 65.16 in Louisville last season.
After five events in the decathlon, sophomore Nick Guerrant is currently in fourth place with 3,961 points. He started the decathlon with a personal-best time of 11.11 in the 100m. His previous best was 11.29 at the Big Ten Championships at Penn State last season. The sophomore added another PR in the shot put with a heave of 13.54. Guerrant continued his solid first day with another personal best in the high jump. He finished second with a jump of 2.00m.
In the men's hammer, freshman Nick Kramer scored a personal best of 61.35m on his second attempt. His previous best was 59.68m at the Ashland Alumni Open on April 27. Despite the PR, he was unable to advance to the final.
Michigan State continues action at the Robert C. Haugh Complex on Saturday, May 12, as the decathlon resumes at 10:30 a.m.
Big Ten Championship Notes
- Nick Guerrant's 100m time of 11.11 was a personal best.
- In the men's hammer, freshman Nick Kramer registered a personal best with a throw of 61.35m
- Senior Jade Madison reached the podium for the second-straight season finishing sixth with a season-best throw of 47.82m.
- Three Spartan men and one MSU woman reached Sunday's final of the 1,500
- Saturday's action includes the conclusion of the decathlon and heptathlon, as well as finals of the steeplechase, shot put, long jump and women's high jump.
Players Mentioned
