IU primed for Big Ten battle

The IU men's track and field team travel to Purdue this weekend to compete in the Big Ten outdoor championships. The competition begins at noon Friday and concludes after Sunday's 4x400-meter relay, scheduled for 3:45 p.m. After last year's third-place finish, IU's best since 1992, the Hoosiers have set their sights high this year. \n"This time of year it's all about business," coach Randy Heisler said. "We have a chance to be very competitive. You never know what will happen in championship meets."\nA number of athletes are prepared to score big points. Reigning triple and long jump champ, junior Aarik Wilson, currently leads the Big Ten rankings in both events. Freshman Kiwan Lawson is ranked third in the long jump, the same spot he claimed at the Indoor Championships in February.\nThe 2004 season has also been kind to junior thrower Ryan Ketchum, who currently ranks fourth in the shot put and a close fifth in the discus. \nPerhaps IU's most important new asset this outdoor season is freshman sprinter David Neville, who earned All-American status at the NCAA indoor championships by placing seventh in the 200-meter. Neville currently ranks second in the conference in the 400-meter, wedged between last year's NCAA champion and third placer, both of whom will be in action for Minnesota. Neville is also ranked second in the 200-meter, and will also contribute to IU's relays, where he will get help from Hoosier football players, seniors Herana-Daze Jones and Courtney Roby.\n"The only race David has lost this year is the NCAA indoor championship," said Heisler. "Who knows how good he can be? He doesn't even know." \nThe distance races provide IU with an opportunity for a victory in nearly every event. Junior Rodney Hollis ranks fourth in the 800-meter, where he was second at indoors to eventual NCAA champion Nate Brannen of Michigan. With Brannen redshirting, Hollis now has an improved shot at victory.\nThe 1500-meter provides IU's best chance at a distance victory with NCAA mile champion sophomore Sean Jefferson entered. Jefferson also finished second to an eventual NCAA champion from Michigan who will also redshirt the outdoors meet.\n"I always look forward to championship races because it's about racing," said Jefferson, currently ranked fourth nationally. "Most other races are about hitting a qualifying time. This is about winning."\nSenior All-American Chris Powers will race the 10,000-meter Friday evening, an event he has run only once, three years ago at the Drake Relays.\n"Last year I was kicking myself for not running the 10K," said Powers. "It was so slow. I told myself I was going to run to win it this year." \n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.