There have been six Mid-American Conference indoor track and field championship meets. Eastern Michigan has left with the title in all six. This weekend, however, Ball State will travel to Bowling Green with hopes of ending that streak.
"They call [the top schools] 'the Big Four.' They are the three Michigan schools and Kent State," head coach Jim Sprecher said. "But some other schools, including us, have taken our program to the next level."
According to Sprecher, this is the first time Ball State's men's program has come to the MAC meet as a legitimate contender.
Ball State has never placed higher than fourth in an indoor MAC meet, and last year they were sixth. Sprecher said the new role is both an advantage and a disadvantage.
"This is our first time as a contender," he said. "It is different when you go to MAC knowing you can't win it. This year we are in the hunt, and that means we have to perform like contenders. That is also our strength, though. We can compete without the pressure of being the favorite."
If history is an indicator, there is a lot of pressure on the MAC favorites. With 13 schools sending their top athletes, there is never a lack of talent. Last year 17 athletes from MAC schools were All-Americans.
"These are some of the best athletes in the country," Sprecher said. "But even the best athlete is never a shoe-in."
Sprecher was hesitant to single out any of his athletes as keys to victory. He said the result of the meet will be the sum of the team's parts.
"One person won't carry us, and one person won't break us," he said. "We started together and we are going to come out as a team."
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