University of Minnesota Athletics
Bingle Previews B1G Championship
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle discussed the Gophers as the team prepares for the 2015 Big Ten Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend.
Action gets underway at the B1G Championship at 11 a.m. CT Friday at Michigan State's Ralph Young Track and Field in East Lansing, Mich. The Gophers will compete in hammer throw, pole vault, and the 10,000m run, along with select events in the heptathlon on day one.
Gopher Sports: How do you feel about the team heading into this weekend?
Matt Bingle: I feel like we're in a good spot. We've had another good season. We put up some good marks and had a lot of fun. I think the team culture is very positive. I'm super happy and excited that we're really healthy heading into the weekend, too. We feel like we're in a good spot to have a strong finish to the season.
GS: What events are key for the team at the Big Ten meet?
MB: The throwers have already had a very good season, and they're in a good spot to perform well. They're very confident and they're very happy, so I think they're excited to see how the season finishes, not just this weekend but all the way through the championship part of the season.
I think in the other groups, there have been some very good performances with personal bests all across the board. In the sprints/hurdles/jumps group, pretty much everyone has had personal records. Some of the key distance runners have had similar success, so I would go back to the fact that overall we are in a good spot. The team culture is in the right place, and everything is coming together. If the season ended today, I would say we had a good year.
GS: What's the biggest thing for the team to focus on this weekend in order to be successful?
MB: They just have to be free-spirited and be themselves. Compete how they compete, and focus on each other. That's the key, and that's what we're really going to go after this weekend. Just like at the Iowa meet, they were dancing around and having fun.
Outdoor, I think they've done a better job of just being themselves. When they're in that spot mentally, everyone competes well. That's the key this weekend. Our approach is to just let the party begin. We are different. We have a different culture. Every year I've been here, I've always said that. Every year it's been a little different, but the culture this year is probably very unique. Some people might think it's weird, but they feed off that and have a great time. Have fun, be goofy and enjoy one another. That's when we compete our best.
###
