Leo Grad Bayer Earns Big Ten Honor

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana’s Andy Bayer is the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week, the conference has announced. Bayer leads the conference and is qualified for NCAAs in the 3,000 meters after his performance at the Meyo Invitational. Bayer claims a weekly Big Ten award for the eighth time in his career, the second time this season and the fifth time indoors.
 
Indiana track and field director and head coach Ron Helmer said that Bayer ran a good race and .
 
“Andy started the race with the goal of getting under the NCAA automatic standard,” said Helmer, “and that is what he went out and did. We had a very good meet at Notre Dame. I liked that we went on the road for the first time this season and weren’t afraid to just go out and compete.”
 
Bayer took second in the Ryan Shay 3,000m Invitational. At 7:50.23, Bayer automatically qualified himself into the NCAA meet. The time is the sixth fastest in DI this year. He has run under eight minutes twice this season, and is the only Big Ten runner to do so this season. He leads the conference by nearly 10 seconds, as teammate Ben Hubers finished third in 8:00.44, which is the second - best time in the Big Ten this season.
 
The Hoosiers split up this weekend with some athletes staying home for the Hoosier Hills Invitational and others attending the GaREAT Invitational in Ohio. For complete coverage of all things IU track and field, stay tuned to IUHoosiers.com.