Hoosiers leap to Big Ten Championship

Now is the time champions are crowned.

With postseason play beginning this weekend in Columbus, Ohio, the IU track and field team is out to prove itself as the best team in the Big Ten.

But IU coach Ron Helmer has more modest expectations for the Hoosiers.

“Our goal is to be in the top five or top half (of the Big Ten),” he said. “I would guess some place between fourth and seventh is a reasonable expectation.”

Senior Audrey Smoot, who was the 2008 Big Ten indoor champion in the 600-meter run, said she is hoping to make it through to the final round again this weekend.

“I am ranked 11th or 13th in the 800 (-meter run) and hope to pull off a spot in the finals,” Smoot said.

To determine a Big Ten champion, the meet will use a scoring system that awards 10 points to each event winner with eight, six, five, four, three, two and one point going to finishers in positions two through eight.

Helmer said the Big Ten is talented and, to win, the Hoosiers must be on their game.

“It is a great conference with some great people, and to be a Big Ten champion you have to hit a big mark that day,” he said.

– By Ari Shifron