Expectations high for Big Ten's best men's team

The No. 7 IU track and field team, the highest rank team in the conference, will compete this weekend at the Big Ten Indoor Championships in Minneapolis.

The No. 18 women’s team will also compete this weekend at Penn State.

Similar to the dual meet against Purdue earlier this year, each school receives a cumulative team score this weekend. The performance of an individual in his or her given event will earn points toward the school’s overall score.

IU coach Ron Helmer explained how this format changes the team dynamic.

“If one or two people go out there and perform at a high level, one person’s success can lead to the next person’s success, and the team gets on a roll,” Helmer said. “You need people to go out there with a competitive spirit like our leaders, and once you get that snowballing, it can have a great effect on the team as a whole.”

Seniors Jeff Coover and Ashley Rhoades are two team leaders whom Helmer will be looking to this weekend. Each understands the effect of his respective events on the team as a whole.

“It’s more motivating,” Rhoades said. “Instead of going out there and jumping for a personal best, you’re jumping for the whole team score.”

Coover, who won the men’s pole vault last year, said he agrees that “what really matters is the point you score for the team.”