5 Things to Watch at the Big Ten Championships

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MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's track and field team is headed to Bloomington, Ind., for the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 12-14.

All aspects of the meet will be either streamed or televised via the Big Ten Network or B1G+. Tickets are available to purchase now and can be found here and many more aspects of the meet can be found at the Big Ten Championship central page.

Leading up to the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships take a look at five things to be excited for on the women's side. Check out the men's Big Ten Championships preview here.

The Straightaway Gophers

After a stellar season indoors the Maroon and Gold's success on the straightaway has been just as good outdoors. In her final college season Amira Young leads the group in both the 100m (11.25) and 200m (23.10) this season and is ranked No. 2 in the conference in the 200m heading into Bloomington. Fellow veteran Akilah Lewis, the school's record holder in the 100m, is looking to reach her first Big Ten outdoor final while Odell Frye will look to make her second straight after finishing fifth last season in the 100m. Young, who was the 60m and 200m Big Ten champion earlier this year indoors, is aiming to earn Minnesota's first ever Big Ten outdoor title in either the 100m or the 200m.

Hurdling to a Final in 2023?!

Minnesota has a few other individuals who will be looking to make their first Big Ten finals on top of Lewis. Seeking their first finals appearance are the dynamic 100m hurdles sophomore duo of Zariyah Black and Maja Maunsbach. During the indoor season both reached the Big Ten 60m hurdles final and have significantly dropped their lifetime bests in the 100m hurdles this year. Maunsbach has dropped her college best time from 13.66 to 13.39 this year while Black's best times have gone from 13.68 in 2022 to 13.37 in 2023.

Veteran Big Ten Experience

Minnesota has always been a factor at the Big Ten meet in the 400m and Janielle Josephs and Jayla Campbell look to continue that trend in 2023. Josephs dropped a lifetime best time this season in the quarter mile with a time of 52.33, which enters this weekend as the No. 5 time in the conference. Josephs will be attempting to make her third-straight 400m outdoor final while Campbell will attempt to make her second straight outdoor Big Ten final after finishing seventh last season in the Twin Cities. The 4x400m relay team will also look to make a move at the Big Ten Championships without star Abigail Schaaffe (redshirt). Minnesota's best time this season came back in April at the LSU Alumni Gold with the team consisting of Campbell, Josephs and Dalayni Etienne and Lauren Hansen in a time of 3:35.20. That time has Minnesota entering with the No. 5 time in the event this season in the Big Ten. The Maroon and Gold haven't finished outside the top three of the 4x400m relay at the Big Ten outdoor meet since 2019 (seventh).

Third Times the Charm

Minnesota's tale of the 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the women's side may be focused on the short sprinters both individually and relays. The returning All-American 4x100 team of Odell Frye, Lauren Hansen, Akilah Lewis and Amira Young are all back and are looking to build on their success. Minnesota has finished as the conference's runner-up in the 4x100m relay for two straight years and the squad enters this year's championships with the No. 2 time during the regular season at 43.88, setting that time back on April 6. The returning All-American group will look to make program history in Bloomington as no Minnesota 4x100m relay team has ever won the Big Ten title.

The Year of the Redshirt

Heading into the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships the Maroon and Gold women will be without a large portion of the team's returning scorers. Seven different impact Gophers have competed unattached during the outdoor campaign with those most notable being two-time Big Ten 400m hurdles champion Abigail Schaaffe, 2022 Big Ten discus silver medalist Shelby Frank and 2022 Big Ten pole vault silver medalist Lexy Berger. Minnesota also has a redshirt placed on first-year Gopher Alliyah McNeil (scored in both high jump and long jump at 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships), Erin Reidy (two-time 800m indoor scorer) and freshman Ali Weimer (2022 Big Ten Cross Country Freshman of the Year).

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For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.

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University of Minnesota Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Lexy Berger

Zariyah Black

Jayla Campbell

Dalayni Etienne

Shelby Frank

Odell Frye

Lauren Hansen

Janielle Josephs

Akilah Lewis

Maja Maunsbach

Alliyah McNeil

Erin Reidy

Abigail Schaaffe

Ali Weimer

Amira Young

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