Friday, February 26
Geneva, Ohio
TBA
Wisconsin Badgers
at
Big Ten Championships
Long road back: Mudd looks to regain form
February 24, 2016 | Men's Track & Field
Senior strives to end indoor season on a high note at Big Ten championships
In 2013, Wisconsin middle-distance standout Austin Mudd was excelling for the Badgers. He set the school record in the mile, helped the team finish third at the NCAA indoor championships and was an All-American indoors in the mile and outdoors in the 1500 meters.
Now, two injury-plagued seasons later, Mudd looks to regain his form this weekend as the Badgers open postseason competition with the 2016 Big Ten Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
"It feels great to be back," Mudd said. "I still don't think I'm running to my potential but just being back in that Wisconsin uniform and wearing the spikes is a good feeling."
A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Mudd is coming off a season-best mile time of 4 minutes, 1.68 seconds, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
But ahead of Mudd in the rankings is UW sophomore Morgan McDonald, who broke Mudd's school standard of 3:57.93 in the mile with a terrific run of 3:57.83 on the famed Armory track in New York.
For his part, Mudd has already made a leap from the start of the season, when he opened with a 4:07.71 mile in the Badgers' dual with Minnesota.
"For being out of racing for 18 months, it's always a challenge because you don't have your race legs under you," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "Just having Morgan around him and having that kind of laissez-faire attitude of 'Coach put me in this race and I'm going to go,' that's refreshing, especially for Austin because of where he has come from.
"He just has to keep the faith and stay focused as it's coming around."
"I'm trying to keep it all in perspective," Mudd said. "I would like to be running a little quicker. I'm a little far off from my PRs. But I am getting quicker and faster with each race and that's all I can ask for at this point. I'm hoping it translates well into a good outdoor season."
The Big Ten meet gives Mudd a chance to accomplish something he hasn't done in his career -- win an individual Big Ten title. He's come as close as second, posting back-to-back runner-up finishes in the indoor 800 meters in 2013 and 2014.
"My chances of making it to nationals don't look great right now," Mudd said, "but I definitely want to end the indoor season on a good note. I would like to get my first individual Big Ten title."
"The Big Ten final is notorious for being a tactical race," Byrne said. "It's known for being slow, with a fast last closing lap. It becomes a thinking-man's race, and he's very good at that.
"But it would be awesome to see him win a Big Ten title. It's something he really wants to do before he leaves."
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Now, two injury-plagued seasons later, Mudd looks to regain his form this weekend as the Badgers open postseason competition with the 2016 Big Ten Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
"It feels great to be back," Mudd said. "I still don't think I'm running to my potential but just being back in that Wisconsin uniform and wearing the spikes is a good feeling."
| Wisconsin at 2016 Big Ten Indoor Championships | |
| Date | Friday-Saturday, Feb. 26-27 |
| Location | Geneva, Ohio | SPIRE Institute |
| Admission | Tickets |
| Watch | Friday (BTN2Go)Â | Saturday (BTN2Go) |
| Meet Info | Schedule | Entries | Heat Sheets |
| Follow | Live Results |Â @BadgerTrackXC  |
| Meet Notes | Men's Notes | Women's Notes |
A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Mudd is coming off a season-best mile time of 4 minutes, 1.68 seconds, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
But ahead of Mudd in the rankings is UW sophomore Morgan McDonald, who broke Mudd's school standard of 3:57.93 in the mile with a terrific run of 3:57.83 on the famed Armory track in New York.
For his part, Mudd has already made a leap from the start of the season, when he opened with a 4:07.71 mile in the Badgers' dual with Minnesota.
"For being out of racing for 18 months, it's always a challenge because you don't have your race legs under you," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "Just having Morgan around him and having that kind of laissez-faire attitude of 'Coach put me in this race and I'm going to go,' that's refreshing, especially for Austin because of where he has come from.
"He just has to keep the faith and stay focused as it's coming around."
"I'm trying to keep it all in perspective," Mudd said. "I would like to be running a little quicker. I'm a little far off from my PRs. But I am getting quicker and faster with each race and that's all I can ask for at this point. I'm hoping it translates well into a good outdoor season."
The Big Ten meet gives Mudd a chance to accomplish something he hasn't done in his career -- win an individual Big Ten title. He's come as close as second, posting back-to-back runner-up finishes in the indoor 800 meters in 2013 and 2014.
"My chances of making it to nationals don't look great right now," Mudd said, "but I definitely want to end the indoor season on a good note. I would like to get my first individual Big Ten title."
"The Big Ten final is notorious for being a tactical race," Byrne said. "It's known for being slow, with a fast last closing lap. It becomes a thinking-man's race, and he's very good at that.
"But it would be awesome to see him win a Big Ten title. It's something he really wants to do before he leaves."
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Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Middle Distance
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