MSU track and field prepares for Big Ten Indoor Track and Field championships

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Jenna Magness competes for MSU track and field/Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Jake Lyskawa, Track and Field Beat Reporter

The Michigan State track and field program will head to the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, to compete at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field championships on Friday and Saturday. Should either team win, it would be the men’s first indoor conference title since 1999 and the women’s first indoor title ever.

The meet follows another successful weekend for the Spartans, which saw a few first-place finishes and a record-breaking performance. 

At the Alex Wilson Invitational last Saturday, the men’s distance medley relay team broke the school record for the event. The team, composed of John Petruno, Noah Sage, Jalen Smith and Morgan Beadlescomb, is looking to better their fifth-place finish from last year’s Big Ten meet, which is where they set the previous record of 9:40.00. 

Although exclusively running the 5000m at last year’s Big Ten Championships, Beadlescomb could switch things up at this year’s meet when it comes to individual events.

Beadlescomb will likely have his eyes set on the 3000m crown, as he’s emphasized that event more than the 5000m this indoor season. As it stands, he holds the fifth-fastest 3000m time in the NCAA this year, which he set at the Millrose Games in January after running a 7:43.22 time.

It remains to be seen if Beadlescomb will choose to compete in the mile race, an event which he’s the fastest in at the collegiate level this season, or the 5000m, which he finished second in at last year’s Big Ten Championships by just under four-tenths of a second. 

Morgan Beadlescomb competes for MSU track and field/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

A 3000m/DMR combination appears most likely, however. 

The Silverston Invitational took place last Friday, and a few first-place finishers from that meet will look to build upon their performances in Geneva this weekend. 

Sophia Franklin, who finished first at the Silverston Invite in the pole vault and has broken her own school record twice this season, will look to better her second-place finish at last year’s Big Ten Championships. She’s the top women’s pole vaulter in the conference heading into the meet. 

Erin McCallum will also look to compete for a top spot in the long jump event, which she placed first in at the Silverston Invite with a 5.45m finish.

Jenna Magness is looking to repeat as 5000m champion on the women’s side, and she comes into the meet prepared to do so. Magness broke her own record for the 5000m at the Music City Invite earlier this year with a time of 15:36.60. This time is the best in the Big Ten this season, while also being the 10th fastest time nationally. 

Lynsie Gram hopes to join Magness with a top spot in that event, as she finished third overall in the 5000m at last year’s Big Ten meet. 

As the top pole vaulter in the conference this year, Trevor Stephenson will look to improve upon his eighth-place finish from last year’s championship meet as well. 

This meet will spell the end of the indoor season for many of MSU’s track and field athletes, but those who qualify will head to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama on March 11-12.