2008 Woodie Awards
Track and field teams delighted to host Big 12 championship
Kris Knowlton
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Sports
The Nebraska track and field teams and their fans can thank the Texas Tech Red Raiders for the Big 12 Conference Indoor Track Championships being hosted in Lincoln at the Bob Devaney Sports Center this weekend.
The Red Raiders of Texas Tech, currently ranked 16th in the men's national polls, were supposed to host the big meet this weekend but failed to get their facilities ready in time. Nebraska was chosen to host this weekend instead and now will enjoy all the perks that go along with it.
"It's great to have a facility like this," NU athletic director Tom Osborne said. "We're going to have the Big 12 indoor meet here this year, which hopefully will add up to giving us a little bit of a home track advantage. I think when you're indoors it makes a difference."
The Cornhuskers were planning on traveling to Lubbock, Texas, this weekend, and the fact that being the home team came as an unexpected surprise has made it that much sweeter.
"Everybody is really excited because we weren't supposed to have the conference meet here," said NU senior multi-event athlete Patrick Burke. "We got lucky because another school was supposed to host it given that they had their facility renovated, but we ended up getting it because they dropped the ball. It was really fortunate for us to be able to have it back here again, so a lot of the guys are really excited about that."
Nebraska hosted six straight indoor conference tournaments before last year, and the Devaney Center is generally respected as one of the best facilities in the country. The facility features a hydraulically-raised track which is one of only three in the nation and seven in the world.
"Fortunately we can host so many meets here with our awesome facility," Burke said.
However, the conference championship will still be decided based upon a team's talent and execution, so how much of a difference will the home track advantage make this weekend?
"To have it at home is obviously a huge advantage," Burke said, "and it's such an honor to be able to compete in front of Lincoln fans that will pack the house."
Burke said he thinks his team will feed off the energy the crowd supplies this weekend, especially in the pressure-packed environment of a championship meet.
"It's always a big plus and can certainly be a motivating factor, and I think another strong point about being at home is that you're sleeping in your own bed," NU coach Gary Pepin said. "It puts you at ease a little bit more."
NU junior distance runner Natalja Zarcenko also said the crowd will be a big boost for the Big Red, but she mentioned the very nature of this weekend should propel her and her teammates to new levels.
"It's really exciting because quite a few people come to watch us, and attendance is not as good at other meets," Zarcenko said. "The Big 12 is the most exciting race of the year. It's very team-oriented. In other meets you kind of always run for yourself, but at this meet you really run for your team because you know that every single point counts for the whole team. I think it really changes your attitude and your performance because you try your hardest not just for yourself, but for your whole team."
KRISKNOWLTON@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
The Red Raiders of Texas Tech, currently ranked 16th in the men's national polls, were supposed to host the big meet this weekend but failed to get their facilities ready in time. Nebraska was chosen to host this weekend instead and now will enjoy all the perks that go along with it.
"It's great to have a facility like this," NU athletic director Tom Osborne said. "We're going to have the Big 12 indoor meet here this year, which hopefully will add up to giving us a little bit of a home track advantage. I think when you're indoors it makes a difference."
The Cornhuskers were planning on traveling to Lubbock, Texas, this weekend, and the fact that being the home team came as an unexpected surprise has made it that much sweeter.
"Everybody is really excited because we weren't supposed to have the conference meet here," said NU senior multi-event athlete Patrick Burke. "We got lucky because another school was supposed to host it given that they had their facility renovated, but we ended up getting it because they dropped the ball. It was really fortunate for us to be able to have it back here again, so a lot of the guys are really excited about that."
Nebraska hosted six straight indoor conference tournaments before last year, and the Devaney Center is generally respected as one of the best facilities in the country. The facility features a hydraulically-raised track which is one of only three in the nation and seven in the world.
"Fortunately we can host so many meets here with our awesome facility," Burke said.
However, the conference championship will still be decided based upon a team's talent and execution, so how much of a difference will the home track advantage make this weekend?
"To have it at home is obviously a huge advantage," Burke said, "and it's such an honor to be able to compete in front of Lincoln fans that will pack the house."
Burke said he thinks his team will feed off the energy the crowd supplies this weekend, especially in the pressure-packed environment of a championship meet.
"It's always a big plus and can certainly be a motivating factor, and I think another strong point about being at home is that you're sleeping in your own bed," NU coach Gary Pepin said. "It puts you at ease a little bit more."
NU junior distance runner Natalja Zarcenko also said the crowd will be a big boost for the Big Red, but she mentioned the very nature of this weekend should propel her and her teammates to new levels.
"It's really exciting because quite a few people come to watch us, and attendance is not as good at other meets," Zarcenko said. "The Big 12 is the most exciting race of the year. It's very team-oriented. In other meets you kind of always run for yourself, but at this meet you really run for your team because you know that every single point counts for the whole team. I think it really changes your attitude and your performance because you try your hardest not just for yourself, but for your whole team."
KRISKNOWLTON@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
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