Hoosiers to battle with Kentucky, Louisville

The Indiana-Kentucky rivalry will take on a new twist as the Hoosier track and field squads will travel south to Louisville, Ky., to take part in the Border Battle.

The meet will feature Team Indiana, consisting of Notre Dame and IU, taking on Team Kentucky, consisting of Louisville and Kentucky.

The Hoosier throwers, led by senior Dan Galos, are primed for a breakout weekend, he said.

“Each week, it seems as though most of us have been progressing very well,” Galos said. “This weekend’s meet at Louisville will be a smaller meet, but it will have some big competitors. We’re looking forward to a big weekend and to keeping the ball rolling.”

Individually, Galos said he is determined to carry the momentum of setting a personal record in the hammer throw two weeks ago at the Mike Poehlein Invitational.

The Border Battle gives the Hammond, Ind., native an opportunity to prove himself against Louisville’s throwers, who are considered to be among the nation’s best.

“In the past, I’ve struggled at big meets and seeing how far those guys are throwing,” Galos said. “I’ve messed up and gotten nervous, but I think I’ve gotten better with that, and I know the girls have gotten better with that.”

Galos is also focused on the big picture, with preparation for the NCAA Championships coming in the form of meets such as the Border Battle.

“Moving into the rest of the season, I’ve been watching a lot of video and breaking things down to the finer points of my technique,” Galos said. “I’m at a level where I’m strong enough and I understand the throw well enough that I can continue to hit these marks and move forward.”

Galos’ coach, Ron Helmer, said he believes sending his athletes to a smaller meet such as the Border Battle has a specific purpose for his team.

“I always enjoy bringing everybody together at the same place,” Helmer said. “Too often in track and field, teams are split up. This weekend will be the first time that we have most of our top-level athletes, along with the rest of the group, together at the same place.”

However, Helmer said he is not buying into the IU-Kentucky rivalry that has permeated the Bloomington campus for the better part of the past four months.

“I think that’s a basketball thing,” Helmer said. “I don’t think we’re any more excited about trying to beat Kentucky than we would be about beating Ohio State or Wisconsin.”