Four Spartans Traveling to NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

2022 NCAA Indoor Championships
Date: Friday-Saturday, March 11-12
Time: 3 p.m. CT (Friday); 4 p.m. CT (Saturday)
Location: Birmingham CrossPlex (Birmingham, Ala.)
Live Results: NCAA.com
Watch: ESPN3
Championship Central: UABSports.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State track and field program has four athletes set to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend in Birmingham, Ala.

Distance runners Morgan Beadlescomb (men's mile and 3000m) and Jenna Magness (women's 5000m), along with pole vaulters Sophia Franklin and Trevor Stephenson, were all announced as qualifiers last week for the national championships, being held at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Friday-Saturday, March 11-12.

"We look forward to the championship this weekend," said Director of Track and Field Lisa Breznau. "Given the scope and competitiveness of qualifying, it's impressive to be here. With that being said, Jenna, Morgan, Sophia, and Trevor have done the work to qualify and have experience competing at this level. Now they have the opportunity to let go and have some fun."

The first Spartan to compete will be Stephenson in the men's pole vault, as that event is slated for a 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET) start on Friday. In addition to winning individual titles at three meets this season, Stephenson holds the highest vault this year in the Big Ten, recording a 5.46m personal best at the Windy City Invite that ranks 12th in the nation.

Beadlescomb's first race is set for 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET) on Friday with the men's mile semifinal, and would race at 4 p.m. CT Saturday for that event's final if he advances. He will then compete in the men's 3000m finals at 5 p.m. CT Saturday. The two-time Indoor NCAA All-American set school record in both distances this season, being the top collegiate finisher at a 7:43.22 PR in the Millrose Games' 3000m race and then running the fourth-fastest indoor mile in NCAA history with a 3:52.03 PR at the Windy City Invite. His mile time is top in the country this season, while his 3000m posting ranks seventh nationally.

The 2019 and 2022 Big Ten indoor champion, Franklin will compete in her first NCAA Championships at 6:45 p.m. CT (7:45 p.m. ET) on Friday in the women's pole vault. The MSU record holder in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault, Franklin broke her own school record twice this season, first vaulting 4.27m at the Michigan Invitational and then surpassing that mark with a 4.38m vault at the Meyo Invitational. She then captured her second indoor Big Ten title with a 4.32m vault on her first try at the height two weeks ago and currently sits 12th in the nation with her Meyo Invitational vault.

Magness will look to achieve All-American status once again in the women's 5000m after placing seventh last season at the NCAAs, racing that distance on Friday at 8:05 p.m. CT (9:05 p.m. ET). The two-time defending Big Ten champion at 5000m, Magness set personal records in the mile at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational and the 3000m at the Indiana Relays, setting her up to post a school-record 15:36.60 time when she won the 5000m race at the Music City Challenge. Magness then took silver in the 3000m at the Big Tens at 9:06.98 before winning the 5000m conference race with a time of 16:09.73 that was 12 seconds ahead of any competitor. Her Music City Challenge mark stands 10th in the NCAA this season.

The four individual NCAA indoor qualifiers are the most for the Spartans since sending five to the 2015 national championships.

ESPN3 will stream the championships live starting at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, March 11, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET for Saturday, March 12. A re-air of the championship will take place starting at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 13 on ESPNU.

Following the NCAA Indoor Championships, Michigan State will open the outdoor season March 24-26 at the Raleigh Relays.

Four Spartans Traveling to NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Beadlescomb

Sophia Franklin

Jenna Magness

Trevor Stephenson