Friday, May 14
Champaign, Ill.
All Day
Michigan State University
at
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Spartan Track & Field Begins Action at B1G Championship Friday
5/12/2021 9:48:00 AM | Track and Field
EAST LANSING, Mich. -Â Â Michigan State track & field opens postseason action at the 2021 Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Illinois at Demirjian Park at Gary Wieneke Track, Friday-Sunday, May 14-16. This will be the first Big Ten Championship since 2019 when Iowa captured the men's title and Ohio State won the women's title. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 outdoor track & field season.
"Our expectations this weekend remain the same - be at your best each day by supporting one another, having a plan, controlling our environment and focusing on the process," Interim Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said.Â
Events on Friday, May 14 will begin with the decathlon 100m at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the decathlon long jump at 1:15 p.m. Field events will start with the men's hammer at 2:30 p.m. Michigan State starts action on the track at 5:30 p.m. with the trials of the men's 400m, followed by the women's 400m trials at 5:55 p.m. The Spartans will end the first day with the finals of the men and women's 10,000m.
Saturday's action will once again begin with the decathlon, opening with the 110m hurdles at 11:30 a.m. The field events start with the men's discus at 3 p.m., followed by men's high jump at 3:15 p.m. On the track, the trials of the women's 100m will commence at 4:45 p.m. with the trials of the men's 110m hurdles following afterward. Saturday's events will end with the finals of the men's and women's 3000m steeplechase.
Competition concludes on Sunday, crowning men's and women's Big Ten Champions. The women will get the action started with the women's discus, pole vault and high jump all beginning at 12 p.m. The first track events will be the men's 4x100m relay at 1:45 p.m. The championships will once again end with the men's and women's 4x400m relays.
1 | BACK ON THE TRACK
Michigan State returns to the Big Ten track & field championships after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 outdoor track & field season. This unusual outdoor season has seen the Spartan compete only against other Big Ten teams.
"Having competed within the conference only this season, we have a greater sense of the competitiveness of the Big Ten. It's exciting and at the same time important for us to focus on what's helped us succeed in the past," Breznau said.
2 | THE DISTANCE SQUAD
On the women's side, the Spartans are looking for some strong performances from the distance group. Jenna Magness holds the No. 2 spot in the Big Ten in the 5000m with a time of 15:40.14. Teammates India Johnson (16:02.05) and Lynsie Gram (16:05.45) stand fifth and sixth in the conference in the 5000m, heading into the B1G Championship. Gram and Johnson will also be running the 10,000m.
On the men's side, MSU is led by Morgan Beadlescomb, who is No. 1 in the Big Ten in the 5000m heading into the championship with a time of 13:40.44. Overall, the Spartans have four runners in the 20 in the Big Ten in the event. James Uhlenberg holds the No. 6 spot in the 5000m with a time of 13:51.86. Joe Riordan will make his season debut in the 10,000m for the MSU men.
"We are fortunate to have upperclassmen leadership out of Morgan Beadlescomb, Joe Riordan and John Gove on the men's side for the distances and Lynsie Gram, India Johnson and Jenna Magness on the women's side. They all lead in their own way have a impactful influence on not only the distances but all events," Breznau said.
3 | WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The 2021 Michigan State squad is a diverse group with strengths in several events. The Spartans continue to thrive in pole vault on both the men and women's sides. Sophia Franklin who is a former Big Ten Indoor Pole Vault Champion currently is second in the conference, clearing 4.24m. On the men's side, Trevor Stephenson is ninth in the league with a season-best vault of 5.20m.
In the women's 1500m, Sarah Anderson has the fourth-best time in the Big Ten (4:17.14). Transfer Brittany Krug is also a contender in the women's javelin. Her throw of 48.34m is the fifth-best in the Big Ten in 2021.
4 | SOMETHING ABOUT SPRINTS
Michigan State's sprints and hurdles corps has made great strides this season. Veterans like Brooke Bogan and Jonathan Fife have combined with newcomers like Kaia Scheffler and Antonio Postell. Shakira Dancy is currently third in the Big Ten in the 200m (23.73).
"Our sprints and hurdles group has seen progress this season. All of our student-athletes should stay within their character this weekend. Their intention to be at their best and be a supportive teammate should remain the same," Breznau added.
5 | FIELDING A STRONG SQUAD
All-Americans Jerimiah Evans and Rebecca Mammel look to lead the Michigan State throwers at the Big Ten Championship. Evans will compete in both the men's discus and the shot put. He is currently fifth in the B1G in the discus (57.28m). Mammel will see action in both the discus and the hammer throw. She is fourth in the B1G in the hammer (62.20m) and 17th in the discus (49.08m).
"For many of our veterans, including those in throws and pole vault, this is an exciting time. I've always felt that the Big Ten Championship meets are the most memorable. Our seniors are prepared to go into competition and be at their best," Breznau said.
"Our expectations this weekend remain the same - be at your best each day by supporting one another, having a plan, controlling our environment and focusing on the process," Interim Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Lisa Breznau said.Â
Events on Friday, May 14 will begin with the decathlon 100m at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the decathlon long jump at 1:15 p.m. Field events will start with the men's hammer at 2:30 p.m. Michigan State starts action on the track at 5:30 p.m. with the trials of the men's 400m, followed by the women's 400m trials at 5:55 p.m. The Spartans will end the first day with the finals of the men and women's 10,000m.
Saturday's action will once again begin with the decathlon, opening with the 110m hurdles at 11:30 a.m. The field events start with the men's discus at 3 p.m., followed by men's high jump at 3:15 p.m. On the track, the trials of the women's 100m will commence at 4:45 p.m. with the trials of the men's 110m hurdles following afterward. Saturday's events will end with the finals of the men's and women's 3000m steeplechase.
Competition concludes on Sunday, crowning men's and women's Big Ten Champions. The women will get the action started with the women's discus, pole vault and high jump all beginning at 12 p.m. The first track events will be the men's 4x100m relay at 1:45 p.m. The championships will once again end with the men's and women's 4x400m relays.
1 | BACK ON THE TRACK
Michigan State returns to the Big Ten track & field championships after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 outdoor track & field season. This unusual outdoor season has seen the Spartan compete only against other Big Ten teams.
"Having competed within the conference only this season, we have a greater sense of the competitiveness of the Big Ten. It's exciting and at the same time important for us to focus on what's helped us succeed in the past," Breznau said.
2 | THE DISTANCE SQUAD
On the women's side, the Spartans are looking for some strong performances from the distance group. Jenna Magness holds the No. 2 spot in the Big Ten in the 5000m with a time of 15:40.14. Teammates India Johnson (16:02.05) and Lynsie Gram (16:05.45) stand fifth and sixth in the conference in the 5000m, heading into the B1G Championship. Gram and Johnson will also be running the 10,000m.
On the men's side, MSU is led by Morgan Beadlescomb, who is No. 1 in the Big Ten in the 5000m heading into the championship with a time of 13:40.44. Overall, the Spartans have four runners in the 20 in the Big Ten in the event. James Uhlenberg holds the No. 6 spot in the 5000m with a time of 13:51.86. Joe Riordan will make his season debut in the 10,000m for the MSU men.
"We are fortunate to have upperclassmen leadership out of Morgan Beadlescomb, Joe Riordan and John Gove on the men's side for the distances and Lynsie Gram, India Johnson and Jenna Magness on the women's side. They all lead in their own way have a impactful influence on not only the distances but all events," Breznau said.
3 | WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The 2021 Michigan State squad is a diverse group with strengths in several events. The Spartans continue to thrive in pole vault on both the men and women's sides. Sophia Franklin who is a former Big Ten Indoor Pole Vault Champion currently is second in the conference, clearing 4.24m. On the men's side, Trevor Stephenson is ninth in the league with a season-best vault of 5.20m.
In the women's 1500m, Sarah Anderson has the fourth-best time in the Big Ten (4:17.14). Transfer Brittany Krug is also a contender in the women's javelin. Her throw of 48.34m is the fifth-best in the Big Ten in 2021.
4 | SOMETHING ABOUT SPRINTS
Michigan State's sprints and hurdles corps has made great strides this season. Veterans like Brooke Bogan and Jonathan Fife have combined with newcomers like Kaia Scheffler and Antonio Postell. Shakira Dancy is currently third in the Big Ten in the 200m (23.73).
"Our sprints and hurdles group has seen progress this season. All of our student-athletes should stay within their character this weekend. Their intention to be at their best and be a supportive teammate should remain the same," Breznau added.
5 | FIELDING A STRONG SQUAD
All-Americans Jerimiah Evans and Rebecca Mammel look to lead the Michigan State throwers at the Big Ten Championship. Evans will compete in both the men's discus and the shot put. He is currently fifth in the B1G in the discus (57.28m). Mammel will see action in both the discus and the hammer throw. She is fourth in the B1G in the hammer (62.20m) and 17th in the discus (49.08m).
"For many of our veterans, including those in throws and pole vault, this is an exciting time. I've always felt that the Big Ten Championship meets are the most memorable. Our seniors are prepared to go into competition and be at their best," Breznau said.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Hurdles/Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and FieldProcess Oriented | Spartans All-Access
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