Five things to know: 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships

Friday, March 9

College Station, TX

12 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

NCAA Indoor Championships

Ollie Hoare at Big Ten Indoor Championships

Photo by: Walt Middleton

Five things to know: 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships

March 07, 2018 | Men's Track & Field

Six Badgers will take on the national stage for the first time in College Station

NCAA Indoor Championships

Friday, Mar. 9 - Saturday, Mar. 10 | College Station, Texas

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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's track and field team will send two heptathletes, one track athlete, and a distance medley relay squad to the Gilliam Indoor Stadium in College Station, Texas for the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and can stream the meet live on WatchESPN.

1. FOR THE FIRST TIME: All six Badgers competing this weekend are no strangers to big competition, as their collective resumes include appearances at the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In addition, Hardy and Hoare have NCAA cross country appearances under their belt and Hardy competed at last year's NCAA outdoor meet. However, this year's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships marks the first time that these Badgers have competed at the indoor national championships.

2. MIGHTY MULTIS: Wisconsin's heptathletes rewrote the record books while putting up some impressive marks at last weekend's Big Ten Indoor Championship meet. Trent Nytes won the Big Ten title in the event with his personal best score of 5,810. Nytes' score ranks third all-time in UW program history, just behind Olympian Zach Ziemek and former UW standout Japheth Cato, and also currently ranks sixth nationally. Teammate Zach Lorbeck also saw success at the conference meet, as he came in with 5,663 points to take fourth overall in the event. Lorbeck's score ranks sixth all-time at UW and currently sits at No. 13 nationally.

3. THAT'S A SWEEP: After sweeping the distance events at this year's Big Ten Indoor Championships, it's no surprise that Oliver Hoare will be taking on the national meet. The sophomore won the 3000 meters on Friday with a time of 8 minutes, 11.07 seconds and came back Saturday to take the crown in the 5000 meters, crossing the line in 14:07.50. This dynamic feat earned the Sydney, Australia native Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships honors, the conference announced Tuesday. Hoare has earned three Big Ten titles this academic year, and will look to shine in the 3000 meters and the distance medley relay in Texas.

4. DYNAMITE DMR: For the first time since 2012, Wisconsin will be sending a distance medley relay squad to the national meet. The team of Joe Hardy, Corbin Ellis, Eric Brown, and Oliver Hoare made history in February at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, as they shattered the previous school record with their overall time of 9 minutes, 27.72 seconds. Their total time not only currently ranks No. 5 in the NCAA this year, but also checks in at No. 10 in NCAA history.

5. OUTDOOR AGAIN: After the conclusion of the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships, the Badgers will start to prepare for the outdoor season, kicking off competition at the UC San Diego Invite on Saturday, March 31.