Men's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Wrap-Up Release

March 15, 2005

Final Release
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For the second straight year, the Big Ten produced four individual champions and one relay champion on the men's side at the 2005 NCAA Track & Field Championships, held March 11-12 at the Tyson Indoor Track Complex on the campus of the University of Arkansas. In the team standings, the Conference placed three teams in the top 10, as Wisconsin finished third, followed by fifth-place Indiana and ninth-place Michigan. Purdue and Minnesota rounded out the League teams in the final standings in 26th and 34th, respectively.

Indiana's Aarik Wilson capped off his 2005 indoor season with two individual titles, as he claimed the long jump title with a personal best mark of 26-09.75 (8.17m) and a first-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 55-06.25 (16.92m). Wilson made history as he became the first Hoosier to ever win two NCAA titles in the same meet. The Fallon, Nev., native was also tabbed as the Great Lakes Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, the United States Track Coaches Association announced on March 8.

The Wolverines' Nick Willis (4:00.69) edged out IU's Sean Jefferson (4:01.56) to claim the title in the mile. Michigan's distance medley relay repeated as national champions after the squad was awarded first place when Arkansas was disqualified for illegal contact near the finish line. The foursome of Rondell Ruff, Stann Waithe, Andrew Ellerton and Nate Brannen finished with a time of 9:30.82.

Wisconsin was led by individual national champion Chris Solinsky. The sophomore became the Badgers' first national indoor champion since 1996 as he won the 3,000-meter run in 7:53.59.

With the conclusion of the indoor season, all Big Ten teams will open up their respective outdoor seasons in the coming weeks.